Phenylethylamine induces an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ in yeast

Beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) induced an increase in cytosolic free calcium ion concentration (Ca2+]c) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells monitored with transgenic aequorin, a Ca2+-dependent photoprotein. The PEA-induced Ca2+]c increase was dependent on the concentrations of PEA applied, and the Ca2+ mostly originated from an extracellular source. Preceding the Ca2+ influx, H2O2 was generated in the cells by the addition of PEA. Externally added H2O2 also induced a Ca2+]c increase. These results suggest that PEA induces the Ca2+]c increase via H2O2 generation. The PEA-induced Ca2+]c increase occurred in the mid1 mutant with a slightly smaller peak than in the wild-type strain, indicating that Mid1, a stretch-activated nonselective cation channel, may not be mainly involved in the PEA-induced Ca2+ influx. When PEA was applied, the MATa mid1 mutant was rescued from alpha-factor-induced death in a Ca2+-limited medium, suggesting that the PEA-induced Ca2+]c increase can reinforce calcium signaling in the mating pheromone response pathway.