# Ononitol

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**Ononitol** is an [organic compound](/source/Organic_compound) with the formula (CHOH)5(CHOCH3). It is derivative of [inositol](/source/Inositol), specifically 4-O-methyl-*myo*-inositol: an [ether](/source/Ether) that can be described as the result of replacing the [hydroxyl](/source/Hydroxyl) (–OH) in position 4 of [*myo*-inositol](/source/Myo-inositol) by a [methoxy group](/source/Methoxy_group).

This compound occurs in several organisms.[1] It is one of the predominant soluble carbohydrate derivatives in the [root nodules](/source/Root_nodule) of the [pea](/source/Pisum_sativum) plant created by the bacterium *[Rhizobium leguminosarum](/source/Rhizobium_leguminosarum)*,[2] and a constituent of *[Medicago sativa](/source/Medicago_sativa)*.[3]

## Biosynthesis

The enzyme [inositol 4-methyltransferase](/source/Inositol_4-methyltransferase), which has been characterised from *[Mesembryanthemum crystallinum](/source/Mesembryanthemum_crystallinum)* and *[Vigna umbellata](/source/Vigna_umbellata)*, catalyses a [methylation](/source/Methylation) reaction in which inositol (myo-inositol) is converted to ononitol. The methyl group comes from the [cofactor](/source/Cofactor_(biochemistry)), [S-adenosyl methionine](/source/S-adenosyl_methionine) (SAM).[4][5]

## References

1. Singh, Madhulika; Kumar, Jitendra; Singh, Samiksha; Singh, Vijay Pratap; Prasad, Sheo Mohan (2015). "Roles of osmoprotectants in improving salinity and drought tolerance in plants: A review". *Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology*. **14** (3): 407–426. [Bibcode:2015RESBT..14..407S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015RESBT..14..407S). [doi:10.1007/s11157-015-9372-8](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-015-9372-8)

1. Lief Skøt, Helge Egsgaard (1984): "Identification of ononitol and O-methyl-*scyllo*-inositol in pea root nodules". *Planta*, volume 161, pages 32–36. [doi:10.1007/BF00951457](https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00951457)

1. E. A. McComb and V. V. Rendig (1962). "Ononitol (4-O-methyl-myo-inositol) as a constituent of Medicago sativa". *Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics*. **99** (1): 192–193. [doi:10.1016/0003-9861(62)90261-8](https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-9861(62)90261-8)

1. Vernon DM, Bohnert HJ (1992). "A novel methyl transferase induced by osmotic stress in the facultative halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum". *EMBO J.*. **11** (6): 2077–85. [doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1992.tb05266.x](https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1460-2075.1992.tb05266.x). [PMC 556674](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC556674). [PMID 1600940](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1600940)

1. Wanek W & Richter A (1995). "Purification and characterization of myo-inositol 6-O-methyltransferase from Vigna umbellata Ohwi et Ohashi". *Planta*. **197** (3): 427–434. [Bibcode:1995Plant.197..427W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995Plant.197..427W). [doi:10.1007/bf00196663](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00196663)

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