Metabolism of inositol phosphates in parotid cells: implications for the pathway of the phosphoinositide effect and for the possible messenger role of inositol trisphosphate

Rat parotid acinar cells were used to investigate the time course of formation and breakdown of inositol phosphates in response to receptor-active agents. In cells preincubated with [3H]inositol and in the presence of 10 mM LiCl (which blocks hydrolysis of inositol phosphate), methacholine (10(-4)M) caused a substantial increase in cellular content of [3H]inositol phosphate, [3H]inositol bisphosphate and [3H]inositol trisphosphate. Subsequent addition of atropine (10(-4) M) caused breakdown of [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate and little change in accumulated [3H]inositol phosphate. The data could be fit to a model whereby inositol trisphosphate and inositol bisphosphate are formed from phosphodiesteratic breakdown of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol phosphate respectively, and inositol phosphate is formed from hydrolysis of inositol bisphosphate rather than from phosphatidyl-inositol. Consistent with this model was the finding that [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate levels were substantially increased in 5 sec while an increase in [3H]inositol phosphate was barely detectable at 60 sec. These results indicate that in the parotid gland the phosphoinositide cycle is activated primarily by phosphodiesteratic breakdown of the polyphosphoinositides rather than phosphatidyl-inositol. Also, the results show that formation of inositol trisphosphate is probably sufficiently rapid for it to act as a second messenger signalling internal Ca2+ release in this tissue.     

Formation of inositol pentakisphosphate by ovarian follicles of Xenopus laevis from metabolism of inositol (1,4,5)trisphosphate and inositol (1,3,4,5)tetrakisphosphate and from receptor activation

Small amounts of a higher inositol phosphate with chromatographic properties of [3H]inositol (1,3,4,5,6)pentakisphosphate were formed from [3H]inositol (1,4,5)trisphosphate added to homogenates of ovarian follicles of Xenopus laevis, and from [3H]inositol (1,3,4,5)tetrakisphosphate after injection into follicular oocytes. Other intermediate forms of inositol tetrakisphosphate were not detectable. [3H]inositol (1,3,4,5,6)pentakisphosphate prepared from chicken erythrocytes was metabolized in homogenates to an inositol tetrakisphosphate eluting later than the (1,3,4,5) isomer. Activation of receptors in ovarian follicles of Xenopus laevis with acetylcholine or stimulation with injected GTP gamma S caused formation not only of inositol trisphosphate and its expected metabolites but also of small amounts of inositol pentakisphosphate. These results suggest that the latter may be formed from metabolites of inositol (1,4,5)trisphosphate in this tissue during receptor activation.     

Interleukin 2 rapidly stimulates synthesis and breakdown of polyphosphoinositides in interleukin 2-dependent, murine T-cell lines

Several T-cell functions are controlled by the regulatory peptide interleukin 2 (IL-2). Binding of IL-2 with specific receptors has been well documented, but the molecular mechanism by which IL-2/IL-2 receptor interaction is transduced is not known. We have found that treatment of IL-2-dependent T-cell lines with IL-2 is followed by a rapid stimulation of inositol phospholipid metabolism, as determined by isotopic methodology employing myo-[1,2-3H]inositol. Increased incorporation of the metabolic precursor into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate, together with the appearance of radiolabeled phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, occurred within minutes of treatment with IL-2 of factor-dependent CT6 cells. Analysis of labeled water-soluble compounds from prelabeled cells indicated a rapid (within 1 min) stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis following IL-2 treatment. Increased recovery of [3H] inositol phosphates and appearance of [3H]inositol trisphosphate were observed after treatment with IL-2 of CT6 cells, as well as of a second IL-2-dependent cell line, CTB6. These findings suggests that inositol phospholipid-derived metabolites (i.e. diacylglycerol and inositol trisphosphate) may be part of the mechanism by which certain IL-2 signals are transduced.     

Polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis in endothelial cells and carotid artery segments. Bradykinin-2 receptor stimulation is calcium-independent

Bovine aortic and cerebral microvascular endothelial cells and cultured segments of canine common carotid artery possess functional receptors for the nonapeptide bradykinin which mediate a rapid increase in the formation of [3H]inositol 1-phosphate, [3H]inositol 1,4-bisphosphate, and [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate from cell membranes containing isotopically labeled myo-inositol. Bradykinin stimulated the formation of [3H]inositol phosphates from cells in culture or tissues at threshold concentrations of 0.1 nM and 1 nM, and with a half-maximal effective concentration of 0.6-1.0 nM and 30 nM, respectively. In cultured cells, the formation of [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol bisphosphate preceded the formation of [3H]inositol monophosphate. Similarly, [3H]inositol phosphate formation was not inhibited by addition of calcium channel blockers, a calcium chelator, or an intracellular calcium antagonist. Calcium ionophore A23187 did not promote [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation. The receptor selectivity of the bradykinin response in cultured cells was most compatible with a type-2 mediated response. Kallidin stimulated with the same potency as bradykinin but was more potent than methionyl-lysyl-bradykinin or des-Arg9-bradykinin. The B1 receptor antagonists des-Arg9-[Leu8]-bradykinin and des-Arg10-[Leu9]-kallidin were without effect. The rapidity of the inositol phosphate response as well as the close correspondence between the bradykinin type-2 receptor mediated hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides and changes in prostacyclin synthesis, vessel dilation, and permeability suggests that breakdown products of inositol lipids serve as second messengers mediating the effects of bradykinin on the vascular endothelium.     

Short chain alcohols activate guanine nucleotide-dependent phosphoinositidase C in turkey erythrocyte membranes

The ability of alcohols to regulate inositol lipid-specific phospholipase C (phosphoinositidase C) was examined in turkey erythrocyte ghosts prepared by cell lysis of erythrocytes which were prelabeled with [3H] inositol. Guanosine 5'-[gamma-thiotriphosphate] GTP[S] stimulated the production of both [3H]inositol bisphosphate (18-fold) and [3H]inositol trisphosphate (6-fold) in this system. The accumulation of [3H]inositol bisphosphate and [3H]inositol trisphosphate was linear up to 8 min following an initial lag period of 1-2 min. Ethanol (300 mM) reduced the lag period for [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation at submaximal GTP[S] concentrations and caused a shift to the left (3-fold) in the dose-response curve. Other short chain alcohols, methanol (300 mM), 1-propanol (200 mM), and 1-butanol (50 mM) also enhanced the accumulation of [3H] inositol phosphates in the presence of submaximal GTP[S] concentrations. Receptor activation by the purinergic agonist adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]disphosphate (ADP[S]) (10 microM) also reduced the lag period for [3H] inositol phosphate formation and shifted the GTP[S] dose response to the left (10-fold). In addition, ADP[S] increased the response to maximal GTP[S] concentrations. The formation of [3H]inositol phosphates induced by GTP[S] was associated with a concomitant decrease in labeling of both [3H]phosphatidylinositol monophosphate and [3H]phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, but no decrease in [3H]phosphatidylinositol was observed. All of the alcohols tested enhanced the breakdown of [3H]polyphosphoinositides in the presence of GTP[S]. The dose response to guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imino]triphosphate for [3H]inositol phosphate formation was displaced to the left by ethanol (300 mM) and ADP[S] (10 microM) (2- and 7-fold), respectively. ADP[S] also enhanced the maximal response to guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imino]triphosphate. The [3H]inositol phosphate formation produced in response to NaF was unaffected by either ethanol or receptor activation. These results indicate that alcohols initiate an activation of phosphoinositidase C, mediated at the level of the regulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein.     

Stimulation by Bradykinin, Angiotensin II, and Carbachol of the Accumulation of Inositol Phosphates in PC-12 Pheochromocytoma Cells: Differential Effects of Lithium Ions on Inositol Mono-and Polyphosphates

Rat PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells respond to stimulation with bradykinin, angiotensin II, and carbachol with an increased formation of labeled inositol phosphates after preincubation of the cells with [3H]inositol. Li+ potentiates greatly the agonist-induced increase in amount of inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphate but not the increase in amount of inositol tetrakisphosphate. Separation of the isomers of inositol trisphosphate shows that the lithium-induced increase in amount of inositol trisphosphate is due to potentiation evoked by lithium of the accumulation of inositol-1,3,4-trisphosphate.     

The effects of fatty acids on phosphoinositide synthesis and myo-inositol accumulation in exocrine pancreas

The effects of arachidonic acid (20:4) on phosphoinositide turnover were examined in rat pancreatic acinar cells prelabeled with myo-[3H]inositol. Arachidonic acid (50 microM) increased the accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol, but not that of [3H]inositol monophosphate, [3H]inositol bisphosphate, or [3H]inositol trisphosphate. By contrast, 10 microM carbamoylcholine increased the accumulation of all four compounds. A combination of arachidonic acid plus carbamoylcholine caused a selective and marked accumulation of myo-[3H]inositol, which was abolished by 10 mM LiCl. Arachidonic acid (10-100 microM) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of myo-[3H]inositol incorporation into phosphoinositides and markedly depressed carbamoylcholine-induced increases in myo-[3H]inositol incorporation into inositol phospholipids. Several other unsaturated and saturated fatty acids failed to elicit a synergistic response with carbamoylcholine in stimulating myo-[3H]inositol accumulation and did not retard the incorporation of myo-[3H]inositol into phosphoinositides. The fact that eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5), but not arachidic acid (20:0), mimicked the depressant effect of arachidonate on phosphoinositide labeling suggests that the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid, rather than chain length, is important for inhibition of phosphoinositide synthesis. The arachidonate-induced decrease in myo-[3H]inositol incorporation was accompanied by a reduction in the steady state level of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The mass of arachidonic acid liberated in response to carbamoylcholine was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the time course of stimulated arachidonate accumulation paralleled that of inositol phosphate accumulation and amylase release. These observations suggest that in exocrine pancreas, endogenous arachidonic acid serves as a negative feedback regulator of phosphoinositide turnover.     

Leukotriene C4-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat basophilic leukemia cell.

Leukotriene C4 (LTC4), one of the major constituents of the slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis, induced a dose-dependent hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in [3H]inositol-prelabeled rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells. The EC50 for LTC4 to elicit the half maximum accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates (IPs) was around 20 nM. The increase in the formation of [3H]inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and [3H]inositol trisphosphate (IP3) was detectable at 2 min after the stimulation and progressed up to 30 min. Accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate (IP1) was observed only during the late phase of 5-30 min in the presence of LiCl. When cells were stimulated with LTC4 and LTD4 together, there was no additive accumulation in [3H]IPs. Pretreatment of cells with either LTC4 or LTD4 resulted in a decrease in production of [3H]IPs on further stimulation with the same agonist. The desensitization appeared to be heterologous since pretreatment of cells with LTC4 attenuated the responsiveness to LTD4. Conversely, pretreatment with LTD4 also diminished the responsiveness to LTC4 markedly. These results suggest that both LTC4- and LTD4-induced hydrolysis of phosphoinositides are mediated through the same effector in RBL-1 cells.     

GABAB Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of Histamine H1-Receptor-Induced Inositol Phosphate Formation in Slices of Rat Cerebral Cortex

Histamine-stimulated accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]IP1) in lithium-treated slices of rat cerebral cortex was inhibited by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (IC50 0.30 +/- 0.03 mM). The maximum level of inhibition was 69 +/- 2%. GABA alone caused a small stimulation of basal accumulation of [3H]IP1. The inhibitory action of GABA on the response to histamine was mimicked by the GABAB agonist (-)-baclofen, IC50 0.69 +/- 0.04 microM, which was 430-fold more potent as an inhibitor than the (+)-isomer. (-)-Baclofen also inhibited histamine-induced formation of [3H]inositol bisphosphate ([3H]IP2) and [3H] inositol trisphosphate ([3H]IP3). Inhibition curves for GABA and for (-)-and and (+)-baclofen had Hill coefficients greater than unity. (-)-Baclofen, at concentrations that caused inhibition of histamine-induced [3H]IP1 accumulation, did not alter the basal level of [3H]IP1 or the incorporation of [3H]inositol into total inositol phospholipids. Isoguvacine, a GABAA agonist, had no effect on either the histamine-stimulated or basal accumulation of [3H]IP1. GABA had no effect on carbachol-stimulated [3H]IP1 formation.     

Deoxycholate induces the preferential hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides by human platelet and rat corneal phospholipase C

Deoxycholate promotes phospholipase C degradation of endogenous phosphatidyl[3H]inositol (Pl), phosphatidyl[3H]inositol monophosphate (PIP) and phosphatidyl[3H]inositol bisphosphate (PIP2) in rat cornea and human platelets. Hydrolysis of phosphatidyl[3H]inositol significantly lags polyphospho[3H]inositide degradation. Concomitantly, formation of [3H]inositol monophosphate (IP1) lags behind [3H]inositol bisphosphate (IP2) and [3H]inositol trisphosphate (IP3) production. These results demonstrate that rat cornea and human platelet phospholipase C cause a preferential hydrolysis of the endogenous polyphosphoinositides rather than phosphatidylinositol.     

Developmental changes in the activity of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferases in rat brain.

A complete separation of myo-inositol 1,4,5-[4,5-(32)P]trisphosphate prepared from human erythrocytes, and myo-[2-3H]inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate prepared from carbachol-stimulated rat parotid glands [Irvine, Letcher, Lander & Downes (1984) Biochem. J. 223, 237-243], was achieved by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. This separation technique was then used to study the metabolism of these two isomers of inositol trisphosphate in carbachol-stimulated rat parotid glands. Fragments of glands were pre-labelled with myo-[2-3H]inositol, washed, and then stimulated with carbachol. At 5s after stimulation a clear increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was detected, with no significant increase in inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. After this initial lag however, inositol 1,3,4-phosphate rose rapidly; by 15s it predominated over inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and continued to rise so that after 15 min it was at 10-20 times the radiolabelling level of the 1,4,5-isomer. In contrast, after the initial rapid rise (maximal within 15s), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate levels declined to near control levels after 1 min and then rose again very gradually over the next 15 min. When a muscarinic blocker (atropine) was added after 15 min of carbachol stimulation, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate levels dropped to control levels within 2-3 min, whereas inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate levels took at least 15 min to fall, consistent with the kinetics observed earlier for total parotid inositol trisphosphates [Downes & Wusteman (1983) Biochem. J. 216, 633-640]. Phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PtdInsP2) from stimulated and control cells were degraded chemically to inositol trisphosphate to seek evidence for 3H-labelled PtdIns(3,4)P2. No evidence could be obtained that a significant proportion of PtdInsP2 was this isomer; in control tissues it must be less than 5% of the total PtdInsP2 radiolabelled by myo-[2-3H]inositol. These data indicate that, provided that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is studied independently of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate, the former shows metabolic characteristics consistent with its proposed role as a second messenger for calcium mobilization. The metabolic profile of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate is entirely different, and its function and source remain unclear.     

Receptor-mediated release of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate in rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells permeabilized with streptolysin O

Antigen-mediated exocytosis in intact rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells is associated with substantial hydrolysis of membrane inositol phospholipids and an elevation in concentration of cytosol Ca2+ ([ Ca2+i]). Paradoxically, these two responses are largely dependent on external Ca2+. We report here that cells labeled with myo-[3H]inositol and permeabilized with streptolysin O do release [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate upon stimulation with antigen or guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) at low (less than 100 nM) concentrations of free Ca2+. The response, however, is amplified by increasing free Ca2+ to 1 microM. The subsequent conversion of the trisphosphate to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate is enhanced also by the increase in free Ca2+. Although [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate accumulates in greater amounts than is the case in intact cells, [3H]inositol 1,4-bisphosphate is still the major product in permeabilized cells even when the further metabolism of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is suppressed (by 77%) by the addition of excess (1000 microM) unlabeled inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and the phosphatase inhibitor 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. It would appear that either the activity of the membrane 5-phosphomonoesterase allows virtually instantaneous dephosphorylation of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate under all conditions tested or both phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate and the 4,5-bisphosphate are substrates for the activated phospholipase C. The latter alternative is supported by the finding that permeabilized cells, which respond much more vigorously to high (supraoptimal) concentrations of antigen than do intact RBL-2H3 cells, produce substantial amounts of [3H]inositol 1,4-bisphosphate before any detectable increase in levels of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate.     

Platelet-activating factor-induced hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate stimulates the production of reactive oxygen intermediates in macrophages.

To investigate the relationship between inositol lipid hydrolysis and reactive oxygen-intermediate (ROI) production in macrophages we have examined the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on normal bone marrow-derived macrophages. Addition of PAF to macrophages prelabelled with [3H]inositol caused a marked and rapid increase in [3H]inositol trisphosphate levels. Similarly when PAF was added to [3H]-glycerol prelabelled macrophages there was a rapid increase in 1,2-diacyl[3H]glycerol levels. These events preceded any increase in the rate of PAF-stimulated ROI production by a discernible period of several seconds. Increasing concentrations of PAF led to a markedly similar increase in both ROI production and [3H]inositol lipid hydrolysis suggesting that inositol lipid hydrolysis may lead to the generation of ROI in macrophages. Further evidence that this is the case came from experiments in which pretreatment of macrophages with phorbol esters was shown to inhibit both PAF-stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate production and ROI production to a markedly similar degree. Similarly pertussis toxin inhibited both PAF-stimulated ROI production and [3H]inositol phosphate production. Phorbol esters were shown to activate ROI production in normal bone marrow-derived macrophages whereas the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, did not. These experiments suggest that PAF stimulates a pertussis toxin-sensitive activation of inositol lipid hydrolysis leading to the formation of inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. The diacylglycerol formed can then activate protein kinase C leading to the stimulation of ROI production in normal bone marrow-derived macrophages.     

Effects of in vitro hypoxia on depolarization-stimulated accumulation of inositol phosphates in synaptosomes

The effects of potassium and in vitro histotoxic hypoxia (i.e. KCN) on phosphatidylinositol turnover in rat cortical synaptosomes were determined. [2-3H] Inositol prelabelled rat synaptosomes were prepared from cerebral cortex slices that had been incubated with [2-3H] inositol. Depolarization with 60 mM KCl increased [2-3H] inositol phosphates in a time dependent manner. Depolarization with 60 mM KCl increased [2-3H] inositol trisphosphate transiently at 5 s. K+ induced rapid formation of [2-3H]-inositol bisphosphate and maintained an elevated level for at least 5 min. K+ stimulated gradual formation of [2-3H] inositol monophosphate with time. One minute of hypoxia enhanced potassium-stimulated [2-3H] inositol bisphosphate formation. However, 30 min of hypoxia impaired potassium-stimulated accumulation of [2-3H] inositol phosphates. The effects of histotoxic hypoxia were all dependent upon calcium in the medium and on K+-depolarization. Thus, hypoxia altered the K+-induced accumulation of inositol phosphates in prelabelled synaptosomes in a time dependent, biphasic manner that was calcium dependent.     

Inositol trisphosphates in carbachol-stimulated rat parotid glands.

Carbachol stimulation of rat parotid gland fragments prelabelled with myo-[3H]-inositol results in a large accumulation after 15 min of [3H]inositol trisphosphate. Only some of this is the D-1,4,5 isomer which would be expected to be derived from the known phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate. The predominant inositol trisphosphate is not susceptible to hydrolysis by human erythrocyte membranes. It yields altritol after periodate treatment followed by reduction and dephosphorylation, and, from partial dephosphorylation experiments, does not have a phosphate in the 2 position; the most likely structure of this inositol trisphosphate is therefore (D/L)-myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. The possible origin and significance of this compound are discussed.     

Inositol(3,4)bisphosphate and inositol(1,3)bisphosphate in GH4 cells--evidence for complex breakdown of inositol(1,3,4)trisphosphate

Analysis of inositol bisphosphates in GH4 cells labelled with [3H]myo-inositol shows that these cells contain three detectable inositol bisphosphates: inositol(1,4)bisphosphate, and two novel inositol bisphosphates. These latter inositol bisphosphates were degraded by periodate oxidation, borohydride reduction and alkaline phosphatase dephosphorylation; each yielded single non-cyclic alditols, ribitol and threitol, indicating that they must be respectively inositol(1,3)bisphosphate and inositol(3,4) bisphosphate. These two inositol bisphosphates are putative breakdown products of inositol(1,3,4)trisphosphate, and their occurrence suggests a complex route of hydrolysis of inositol(1,3,4)trisphosphate in intact cells.     

The NK-1 Receptor and a Calcium-Phospholipid Pathway: Inositol Trisphosphate Production and Calcium Movements Induced by Selective Agonists of Neurokinin Receptors in Rat Parotid Glands

In the rat parotid gland, substance P has been shown to induce a phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate breakdown resulting in an inositol trisphosphate production. These data suggested that substance P activated a phospholipase C and thus mediated its effects through the calcium-phospholipid pathway. To determine which neurokinin (NK) receptor was involved in the substance P response, we have used selective agonists of the different NK receptors and examined their effects on both inositol trisphosphate production and calcium movements. A selective NK-1 receptor agonist, [Sar9Met(O2)11]-substance P, evoked an [3H]inositol trisphosphate production and a rapid and transient 45Ca2+ efflux. On the other hand, selective NK-2 and NK-3 receptor agonists, [beta-Ala8]-NKA(4-10) and [MePhe7]-NKB, respectively, were without effect. We conclude that, in the rat parotid glands, only the NK-1 receptors are coupled to the calcium-phospholipid pathway. The C-terminal part of substance P appeared to be sufficient to stimulate this route because the C-terminal octapeptide, substance P(4-11), mimicked substance P effects on both inositol trisphosphate production and calcium movements. The NK-2 and NK-3 receptors, if present in the rat parotid glands, are not associated with the calcium-phospholipid pathway.     

Analysis of the regulation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate synthesis by arachidonic acid in exocrine pancreas

In pancreatic acinar cells prelabeled with either 32Pi or myo-[3H]inositol, arachidonic acid (10-50 microM) rapidly decreased the steady-state levels of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4',5'-bisphosphate [( 32P]PtdIns4,5P2) and inhibited carbachol-stimulated accumulation of [3H]inositol trisphosphate [( 3H]InsP3). Both actions of arachidonic acid were rapidly reversed by bovine serum albumin (BSA). Indomethacin and nordihydoguaiaretic acid failed to block the inhibitory effects of arachidonic acid on [32P]PtdIns4,5P2 levels. Arachidonic acid (10-50 microM) also caused a prompt depletion of cellular ATP which was rapidly reversed by BSA. The ATP-depleting action of arachidonate paralleled in terms of concentration dependence and time course its inhibitory effects on [32P]PtdIns4,5P2 and [3H]InsP3 levels. Exposure of acinar cells to 50 microM arachidonic acid produced an increase in oxygen consumption which exceeded that elicited by either carbachol or ionomycin. Arachidonic acid (10-50 microM) also caused a concentration-dependent rise in cytosolic Ca2+, which was partially obtunded by Ca2+ deprivation. A proposed mechanism involving arachidonic acid as a negative feedback regulator of polyphosphoinositide turnover in exocrine pancreas is discussed.     

Comparison of effects of HGF and EGF on cellular calcium in rat hepatocytes.

We compared the effects of HGF and EGF on cytoplasmic free calcium concentration, [Ca2+]c, and inositol trisphosphate production in rat hepatocytes. HGF induced a prompt and transient elevation of [Ca2+]c. EGF also induced an immediate increase in [Ca2+]c, the magnitude of which was greater than that by HGF. In contrast, in the presence of 1 microM extracellular calcium EGF increased [Ca2+]c to a lesser extent than HGF. When cells were pretreated with EGF, the effect of HGF on [Ca2+]c was greatly enhanced. However, such enhancement was not observed in medium containing 1 microM extracellular calcium. In hepatocytes prelabeled with [3H]-inositol, both HGF and EGF increased [3H]inositol trisphosphate. HGF and EGF acted synergistically to stimulate production of inositol trisphosphate. These results indicate that both HGF and EGF increase [Ca2+]c by a mechanism involving phosphoinositide turnover and that the actions of HGF and EGF on hepatocyte calcium metabolism are not totally identical.     

Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and not phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate is the probable precursor of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in agonist-stimulated parotid gland.

When [3H]inositol-prelabelled rat parotid-gland slices were stimulated with carbachol, noradrenaline or Substance P, the major inositol trisphosphate produced with prolonged exposure to agonists was, in each case, inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. Much lower amounts of radioactivity were present in the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate fraction separated by anion-exchange h.p.l.c. Analysis of the inositol trisphosphate head group of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate in [32P]Pi-labelled parotid glands showed the presence of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, but no detectable phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate. Carbachol-stimulated [3H]inositol-labelled parotid glands contained an inositol polyphosphate with the chromatographic properties and electrophoretic mobility of an inositol tetrakisphosphate, the probable structure of which was determined to be inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. Since an enzyme in erythrocyte membranes is capable of degrading this tetrakisphosphate to inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate, it is suggested to be the precursor of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in parotid glands.