Formation of lipid tubules induced by a sugar-like molecule myo -inositol.

The sugar-like molecule myo -inositol (InOH) bears an uncanny structural resemblance to the pyranose form of the sugar D-glucose (DG). InOH and its derivatives play a pivotal role in cell biology; whereby its interaction with the model membrane needs to be studied. Here, we have demonstrated that lipid tubules are formed as a result of the above-said interactions and that these interactions can be prevented by using hydroxyl protected InOH derivatives. We have tried to elucidate the nature of the InOH-membrane interactions by comparing them with DG-membrane interactions and have proposed a mechanism for the same.