Overshooting cytosolic Ca2+ signals evoked by capacitative Ca2+ entry result from delayed stimulation of a plasma membrane Ca2+ pump

The effect of capacitative Ca2+ entry on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) was examined in calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells treated with thapsigargin. Restoration of extracellular Ca2+ evoked an overshoot in [Ca2+]c: the initial rate of Ca2+ influx was 12.4 +/- 0.5 nM/s as [Ca2+]c rose monoexponentially (time constant, tau = 36 +/- 2 s) to a peak (322 +/- 16 nM) before declining to 109 +/- 14 nM after 2000 s. Rates of Ca2+ removal from the cytosol were measured throughout the overshoot by recording the monoexponential decrease in [Ca2+]c after rapid removal of extracellular Ca2+. The time constant for recovery (tau rec decreased from 54 +/- 4 s when Ca2+ was removed after 10 s to its limiting value of 8.8 +/- 1.0 s when it was removed after 2000 s. The time dependence of the changes in tau rec indicate that an increase in [Ca2+]c is followed by a delayed (tau = 408 s) stimulation of Ca2+ removal, which fully reverses (tau approximately 185 s) after Ca2+ entry ceases. Numerical simulation indicated that the changes in Ca2+ removal were largely responsible for the overshooting pattern of [Ca2+]c. Because prolonged (30 min) Ca2+ entry did not increase the total 45Ca2+ content of the cells, an increased rate of Ca2+ extrusion across the plasma membrane most likely mediates the Ca2+ removal, and since it persists in the absence of extracellular Na+, it probably results from stimulation of a plasma membrane Ca2+ pump. We conclude that delayed stimulation of a plasma membrane Ca2+ pump by capacitative Ca2+ entry may protect cells from excessive increases in [Ca2+]c and contribute to oscillatory changes in [Ca2+]c.     

Millisecond analyses of Ca2+ initiation sites evoked by muscarinic receptor stimulation in exocrine acinar cells.

High speed laser confocal microscopy (8 ms/image) was applied to the dissociated parotid acini as a model to study Ca2+ signaling mechanisms in non-excitable exocrine secretory cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed the localization of IP3 receptor type 2 along the apical membrane region. Muscarinic stimulation with carbachol evoked a rise in [Ca2+]i that was initiated from apical region and propagated into basal region as Ca2+ waves. This was most clearly observed when extracellular Ca2+ was omitted. Carbachol also triggered the abrupt increase of [Ca2+]i simultaneously at both basal and apical regions in many acini. Within an acinus, each cell responded synchronously. The present results suggest that one Ca2+ initiation site in the rat parotid acinar cell is apical region, corresponding to the localization of IP3 receptors. Another Ca2+ initiation site is basal region, which seems to be related to Ca2+ entry from extracellular medium and/or Ca2+ release from basally located organelles such as nuclei and endoplasmic reticulum.     

Mechanisms of receptor-mediated Ca2+ signaling in rat hepatocytes.

The Ca2+ signal observed in individual fura-2-loaded hepatocytes stimulated with the alpha 1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine consisted of a variable latency period, a rapid biphasic increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+, followed by a period of maintained elevated cytosolic Ca2+ (plateau phase) that depended on the continued presence of both agonist and external Ca2+. Microinjection of guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiophosphate) elicited a Ca2+ transient with the same basic features. The Ca2+ transient resulting from microinjecting inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins-1,4,5-P3) occurred with essentially no latency period and consisted of a rapid spike that decayed back to preinjection levels within 15 s. Microinjection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphorothioate (thio-IP3), a nonmetabolizable analog of Ins-1,4,5-P3, elicited a Ca2+ transient that was initially identical to that observed with Ins-1,4,5-P3, except that the cytosolic Ca2+ remained elevated. The maintained thio-IP3-induced Ca2+ increase was dependent on the presence of external Ca2+, suggesting an activation of Ca2+ influx. Reintroduction of external Ca2+ in the presence of 5 microM phenylephrine to Ca(2+)-depleted cells resulted in a 2-fold greater rate of rise in the cytosolic Ca2+ compared to the rate observed upon Ca2+ addition to cells Ca(2+)-depleted by preatement with thapsigargin. The rate of Ca2+ rise upon Ca2+ addition to cells microinjected with thio-IP3 was similar to that observed with phenylephrine. Coinjection of the cells with thio-IP3 plus heparin reduced the rate of Ca2+ rise upon Ca2+ addition to that observed in thapsigargin-treated cells. These data indicate that the mechanism responsible for receptor-mediated stimulation of Ca2+ entry into hepatocytes involves not only capacitative Ca2+ entry but also an additional component mediated directly by Ins-1,4,5-P3.     

O-Glycosylation of the V2 vasopressin receptor.

The human V2 vasopressin receptor contains one consensus site for N-linked glycosylation at asparagine 22 in the predicted extracellular amino terminal segment of the protein. This segment also contains clusters of serines and threonines that are potential sites for O-glycosylation. Mutagenesis of asparagine 22 to glutamine abolished N-linked glycosylation of the V2 receptor (N22Q-V2R), without altering its function or level of expression. The N22Q-V2R expressed in transfected cells migrated in denaturing acrylamide gels as two protein bands with a difference of 7000 Da. Protein labeling experiments demonstrated that the faster band could be chase to the slower one suggesting the presence of O-linked sugars. Sialidase treatment of membranes from cells expressing the N22Q-V2R or of immunoprecipitated metabolically labeled V2R accelerated the migration of the protein in acrylamide gels demonstrating the existence of O-glycosylation, the first time this type of glycosylation has been found in a G protein coupled receptor. Synthesis of metabolically labeled receptor in the presence of 1 mM phenyl-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosaminide, a competitive inhibitor of N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactose and N-acetylneuraminic acid transferases, also produced a receptor that migrated faster in denaturing gels. Serines and threonines present in the amino terminus were analyzed by alanine scanning mutagenesis to identify the acceptor sites. O-glycosylation was found at most serines and threonines present in the amino terminus. Because the disappearance of a site opened the availability of others to the transferases, the exact identification of the acceptor sites was not feasible. The wild type V2R expressed in HEK 293, COS, or MDCK cells underwent N- and O-linked glycosylation. The mutant V2R bearing all serine/threonine substitutions by alanine at the amino terminus yielded a receptor functionally indistinguishable from the wild type protein, whose mobility in polyacrylamide gels was no longer affected by sialidase treatment.     

Luminal Ca2+ controls the activation of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor by cytosolic Ca2+.

Luminal Ca2+ controls the sensitivity of the intracellular Ca2+ stores to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3). Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ release is also controlled by cytosolic Ca2+; low concentrations of Ca2+ stimulate the release. The aim of this work was to investigate whether luminal Ca2+ would affect the stimulation of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor by cytosolic Ca2+ in permeabilized A7r5 smooth muscle cells. We also report that the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor in A7r5 cells is activated by low concentrations of cytosolic Ca2+. Cytoplasmic Ca2+ increases the Ins(1,4,5)P3 sensitivity without affecting the cooperativity. The increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 sensitivity becomes relatively more pronounced when the Ca2+ content of the stores decreases. This modulatory effect of luminal Ca2+ on the responsiveness to cytosolic Ca2+ is an intrinsic property of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor.     

Role of a nonmitochondrial Ca2+ pool in the synergistic stimulation by cyclic AMP and vasopressin of Ca2+ uptake in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The subcellular distribution of 45Ca2+ accumulated by isolated rat hepatocytes exposed to dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) followed by vasopressin (Vp) was studied by means of a nondisruptive technique. When treated with dbcAMP followed by vasopressin, hepatocytes obtained from fed rats accumulated an amount of Ca2+ approximately fivefold higher than that attained under control conditions. Ca2+ released from the mitochondrial compartment by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) accounted for only a minor portion of the accumulated Ca2+. The largest portion was released by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and was attributable to a nonmitochondrial compartment. DbcAMP + Vp-treatment also caused a maximal stimulation of glucose production and a twofold increase in cellular glucose 6-phosphate levels. In hepatocytes obtained from fasted rats, dbcAMP + Vp-stimulated Ca2+ accumulation was lower, although with the same subcellular distribution, and was associated with a minimal glucose production. In the presence of gluconeogenetic substrates (lactate plus pyruvate) hepatocytes from fasted rats were comparable to cells isolated from fed animals. However, Ca2+ accumulation and glucose 6-phosphate production could be dissociated in the absence of dbcAMP, in the presence of lactate/pyruvate alone. Under this condition in fact Vp induced only a minimal accumulation of Ca2+ in hepatocytes isolated from fasted rats, although glucose production was markedly increased. Moreover, treatment of fed rat hepatocytes with 1 mM ATP caused a maximal activation of glycogenolysis, but only a moderate stimulation of cellular Ca2+ accumulation. In this case, sequestration of Ca2+ occurred mainly in the mitochondrial compartment. By contrast, the addition of ATP to dbcAMP-pretreated hepatocytes induced a large accumulation of Ca2+ in a nonmitochondrial pool. Additional experiments using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator Fura-2 showed that dbcAMP pretreatment can enlarge and prolong the elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ caused by Vp. A nonmitochondrial Ca2+ pool thus appears mainly responsible for the Ca2+ accumulation stimulated by dbcAMP and Vp in isolated hepatocytes, and cyclic AMP seems able to activate Ca2+ uptake in such a nonmitochondrial pool.     

Ca2+ stores regulate ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channels via luminal and cytosolic Ca2+ sites

The free [Ca2+] in endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores regulates excitability of Ca2+ release by stimulating the Ca2+ release channels. Just how the stored Ca2+ regulates activation of these channels is still disputed. One proposal attributes luminal Ca2+-activation to luminal facing regulatory sites, whereas another envisages Ca2+ permeation to cytoplasmic sites. This study develops a unified model for luminal Ca2+ activation for single cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR2) and RyRs in coupled clusters in artificial lipid bilayers. It is shown that luminal regulation of RyR2 involves three modes of action associated with Ca2+ sensors in different parts of the molecule; a luminal activation site (L-site, 60 microM affinity), a cytoplasmic activation site (A-site, 0.9 microM affinity), and a novel cytoplasmic inactivation site (I2-site, 1.2 microM affinity). RyR activation by luminal Ca2+ is demonstrated to occur by a multistep process dubbed luminal-triggered Ca2+ feedthrough. Ca2+ binding to the L-site initiates brief openings (1 ms duration at 1-10 s(-1)) allowing luminal Ca2+ to access the A-site, producing up to 30-fold prolongation of openings. The model explains a broad data set, reconciles previous conflicting observations and provides a foundation for understanding the action of pharmacological agents, RyR-associated proteins, and RyR2 mutations on a range of Ca2+-mediated physiological and pathological processes.     

Effect of hypothyroidism on the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration in rat hepatocytes during rest and following stimulation by noradrenaline or vasopressin

The mean resting concentration of cytosolic free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) in parenchymal liver cells, as determined with the intracellular Ca2+ indicator quin2, was lowered by about 30% in hypothyroidism (0.17 microM vs. 0.27 microM in normal cells). The [Ca2+]i level in hypothyroid cells at 10 s following stimulation by noradrenaline (1 microM) was about 64% lower than in normal cells (0.33 microM vs. 1.0 microM). The response to noradrenaline in hypothyroid cells was slower in onset (significant at 5 s vs. 3 s in euthyroid cells), and the maximum of the initial [Ca2+]i increase was reached later (14 s vs. 8 s in normal cells). In hypothyroid hepatocytes the initial increase was followed by a slow but prolonged secondary increase in [Ca2+]i. With vasopressin similar results were found. Chelation of extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA immediately prior to stimulation had no effect on the initial [Ca2+]i increase. Treatment with T3 in vivo (0.5 micrograms/100 g body weight daily during 3 days) completely restored the basal and stimulated [Ca2+]i in hypothyroid cells. The half-maximally effective dose of noradrenaline was the same in euthyroid and hypothyroid liver cells (1.8 X 10(-7) M). Hypothyroidism had no significant effect on the number of alpha 1-receptors determined by [3H]prazosin labeling in crude homogenate fractions, while the Kd for [3H]prazosin was 21% lower than in the euthyroid group. These results show that thyroid hormone has a general stimulating effect on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by Ca2+-mobilizing hormones, probably at a site distal to the binding of the agonist to its receptor. The results also support our idea that thyroid hormone may control metabolism during rest and activation, at least partially, by altering Ca2+ homeostasis.     

Fc epsilon receptor mediated Ca2+ influx into mast cells is modulated by the concentration of cytosolic free Ca2+ ions.

The relationship between the Fc epsilon receptor mediated stimulation of mast cells and the Ca2+ signal it induces were studied using thapsigargin (TG), a blocker of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump. TG induced, in mucosal mast cells (RBL-2H3 line), a dose-dependent and an InsP3-independent increase in [Ca2+]i (from resting levels of 83-150 nM to 600-680 nM), and a secretory response amounting to 30-50% of that observed upon Fc epsilon RI clustering. The TG induced rise of [Ca2+]i is most probably provided by both arrest of its uptake by the endoplasmic reticulum and influx from the medium. Thus, Ca2+ influx in mast cells may be modulated by the [Ca2+]i level.     

Immediate prostaglandin E2 synthesis in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts following vasopressin V1a receptor stimulation

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) induces immediate prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts. Judging from effects of several inhibitors, cytosolic phospholipase A(2)alpha (cPLA(2)alpha) and cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) were mainly involved in this reaction. The antagonist of vasopressin receptor V1a, and not that of V2, inhibited the AVP-induced PGE(2) synthesis, indicating that AVP activates cPLA(2)alpha through V1a receptor. Treatment of 3Y1 cells with AVP resulted in transient activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and cPLA(2)alpha, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor blocked not only AVP-induced PGE(2) synthesis but also MAPK activation, suggesting that PI3K is involved in the AVP-induced MAPK and cPLA(2)alpha activation, which initiates the production of PGE(2). These results suggest that PGE(2) generated by the stimulation of AVP probably modulates the physiological effects of AVP.     

Dynamics of the G protein-coupled vasopressin V2 receptor signaling network revealed by quantitative phosphoproteomics

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate diverse physiological processes, and many human diseases are due to defects in GPCR signaling. To identify the dynamic response of a signaling network downstream from a prototypical G(s)-coupled GPCR, the vasopressin V2 receptor, we have carried out multireplicate, quantitative phosphoproteomics with iTRAQ labeling at four time points following vasopressin exposure at a physiological concentration in cells isolated from rat kidney. A total of 12,167 phosphopeptides were identified from 2,783 proteins, with 273 changing significantly in abundance with vasopressin. Two-dimensional clustering of phosphopeptide time courses and Gene Ontology terms revealed that ligand binding to the V2 receptor affects more than simply the canonical cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A and arrestin pathways under physiological conditions. The regulated proteins included key components of actin cytoskeleton remodeling, cell-cell adhesion, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and apoptosis pathways. These data suggest that vasopressin can regulate an array of cellular functions well beyond its classical role in regulating water and solute transport. These results greatly expand the current view of GPCR signaling in a physiological context and shed new light on potential roles for this signaling network in disorders such as polycystic kidney disease. Finally, we provide an online resource of physiologically regulated phosphorylation sites with dynamic quantitative data (http://helixweb.nih.gov/ESBL/Database/TiPD/index.html).     

Biphasic regulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake by cytosolic Ca2+ concentration

A rise in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration is used as a key activation signal in virtually all animal cells, where it triggers a range of responses including neurotransmitter release, muscle contraction, and cell growth and proliferation [1]. During intracellular Ca(2+) signaling, mitochondria rapidly take up significant amounts of Ca(2+) from the cytosol, and this stimulates energy production, alters the spatial and temporal profile of the intracellular Ca(2+) signal, and triggers cell death [2-10]. Mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake occurs via a ruthenium-red-sensitive uniporter channel found in the inner membrane [11]. In spite of its critical importance, little is known about how the uniporter is regulated. Here, we report that the mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter is gated by cytosolic Ca(2+). Ca(2+) uptake into mitochondria is a Ca(2+)-activated process with a requirement for functional calmodulin. However, cytosolic Ca(2+) subsequently inactivates the uniporter, preventing further Ca(2+) uptake. The uptake pathway and the inactivation process have relatively low Ca(2+) affinities of approximately 10-20 microM. However, numerous mitochondria are within 20-100 nm of the endoplasmic reticulum, thereby enabling rapid and efficient transmission of Ca(2+) release into adjacent mitochondria by InsP(3) receptors on the endoplasmic reticulum. Hence, biphasic control of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake by Ca(2+) provides a novel basis for complex physiological patterns of intracellular Ca(2+) signaling.     

Histamine evoked sustained elevations of cytosolic Ca2+ in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells independently of Ca2+ entry

Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments and optical measurements with the Ca2+ fluorescent dye fura-2 were performed to examine histamine induced cytosolic Ca2+ changes in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The purpose of this study was to find out whether the sustained plateau phase, which followed the rapid transient increase, was due to Ca2+ influx. The extracellular Ca2+ dependence appeared to be minor, because substitution of Ca2+ with EGTA or BAPTA did not cause obvious changes in the biphasic Ca2+ response. Application of histamine in a Mn2+ containing external solution did not quench the fura-2 signal. It was neither possible to detect a histamine induced depolarisation, nor a Ca2+ permeable current. Changing the driving force for Ca2+ during the plateau phase did not result in a correlating fura-2 signal. Metal ions like Cd2+, La3+ and Co2+ which are known to block Ca2+ influx were unable to abolish the typical histamine induced Ca2+ response. These results suggest that primarily intracellular Ca2+ was responsible for generating the characteristic biphasic Ca2+ response due to histamine in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.     

Synergistic stimulation of the Ca2+ influx in rat hepatocytes by glucagon and the Ca2+-linked hormones vasopressin and angiotensin II

Glucagon was added to isolated rat hepatocytes, either alone or together with vasopressin or angiotensin II, and the effects on the initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate were investigated. Addition of glucagon alone which increased cyclic AMP content of the cells slightly increased the initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate. When glucagon was added together with vasopressin or angiotensin II--both of which when added separately increase the initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate but did not affect the cellular content of cyclic AMP--the measured initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate was larger than the sum of that seen with each hormone alone. This indicates that glucagon and Ca2+-linked hormones synergistically enhanced the Ca2+ influx in rat hepatocytes. These effects of glucagon can be mimicked by dibutyryl cyclic AMP or forskolin, suggesting that cyclic AMP augments both the resting Ca2+ and the vasopressin- or angiotensin II-stimulated influx. Measurement of the initial 45Ca2+ uptake rate as a function of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration indicated that the increase in the Ca2+ influx resulting from single or combined glucagon and vasopressin administration occurred through a homogeneous population of Ca2+ gates. These hormones were found to raise both the apparent Km for external Ca2+ and the apparent Vmax of the Ca2+ influx. The maximal increase in these two parameters was observed when the two hormones were added together. This suggests that glucagon and vasopressin synergistically stimulate the same Ca2+ gating mechanism. The dose-response curves for the action of glucagon or vasopressin applied in the presence of increasing concentrations of vasopressin or glucagon, respectively, showed that each hormone increases the maximal response to the other without affecting its ED50. It is proposed that glucagon and the Ca2+-linked hormones control the cellular concentration of two intermediates which are both necessary to allow Ca2+ entry into the cells.     

Endotoxin transduces Ca2+ signaling via platelet-activating factor receptor.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a pathogenic substance causing severe multiple organ failures and high mortality. Although several LPS binding proteins have been identified, the molecular mechanism underlying the LPS signaling pathway still remains obscure. We have found that the LPS-induced Ca2+ increase in platelets and platelet aggregation is blocked by selective platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonists, thus suggesting a cross-talk between LPS and the PAF receptor. Next, we confirmed this hypothesis using the cloned PAF receptors [(1991) Nature 349, 342-346; (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 20400-20405] expressed in Xenopus oocytes and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. In both systems, cells responded to LPS only when PAF receptors were expressed, and specific PAF binding was successfully displaced and reversibly dissociated by LPS. PAF receptor activation by LPS may represent a novel important pathway in the pathogenesis of circulatory collapse and systemic thrombosis caused by endotoxin.     

An inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase functions in PHOTOTROPIN1 signaling in Arabidopis by altering cytosolic Ca2+

Inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (5PTase) is a key enzyme in the phosphatidylinositol metabolic pathway, which plays critical roles in a number of cellular processes in plants. Our previous work implicated the role of 5PTase13, which encodes a WD40-containing type II 5PTase, in hormone-mediated cotyledon vein development. Here, we show that 5PTase13 is also involved in blue light responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Compared with that in darkness, the expression of 5PTase13 was suppressed by blue light irradiation, and disruption of the gene resulted in shortened hypocotyls and expanded cotyledons. Genetic analysis showed that 5PTase13 acted independently from CRYPTOCHROME1 and CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 but interacted functionally with PHOTOTROPIN1 (PHOT1). The expression level of 5PTase13 was significantly enhanced in phot1 single or phot1 phot2 double mutants under blue light, and suppression of 5PTase13 expression rescued the elongated hypocotyls in the phot1 or phot1 phot2 mutants. Further analysis showed that the blue light-induced elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ was inhibited in the phot1 mutant but enhanced in the 5pt13 mutant, suggesting that 5PTase13 antagonizes PHOT1-mediated effects on calcium signaling under blue light.     

Mechanisms of electrically mediated cytosolic Ca2+ transients in aequorin-transformed tobacco cells

Cytosolic Ca(2+) changes induced by electric field pulses of 50-micros duration and 200-800 V/cm strength were monitored by measuring chemiluminescence in aequorin-transformed BY-2 tobacco cells. In Ca(2+)-substituted media, electropulsing led to a very fast initial increase of the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration reaching a peak value within <100-200 ms. Peaking of [Ca(2+)](cyt) was followed by a biphasic decay due to removal of Ca(2+) (e.g., by binding and/or sequestration in the cytosol). The decay had fast and slow components, characterized by time constants of approximately 0.5 and 3-5 s, respectively. Experiments with various external Ca(2+) concentrations and conductivities showed that the fast decay arises from Ca(2+) fluxes through the plasmalemma, whereas the slow decay must be assigned to Ca(2+) fluxes through the tonoplast. The amplitude of the [Ca(2+)](cyt) transients increased with increasing field strength, whereas the time constants of the decay kinetics remained invariant. Breakdown of the plasmalemma was achieved at a critical field strength of approximately 450 V/cm, whereas breakdown of the tonoplast required approximately 580 V/cm. The above findings could be explained by the transient potential profiles generated across the two membranes in response to an exponentially decaying field pulse. The dielectric data required for calculation of the tonoplast and plasmalemma potentials were derived from electrorotation experiments on isolated vacuolated and evacuolated BY-2 protoplasts. The electrorotation response of vacuolated protoplasts could be described in terms of a three-shell model (i.e., by assuming that the capacitances of tonoplast and plasmalemma are arranged in series). Among other things, the theoretical analysis together with the experimental data show that genetic manipulations of plant cells by electrotransfection or electrofusion must be performed in low-conductivity media to minimize release of vacuolar Ca(2+) and presumably other vacuolar ingredients.     

The Ca2+ antagonists binding cytosolic protein has properties of the Ca2+ channel.

In our previous work (Krizanová et al. 1989) we have described a protein from rabbit skeletal muscle cytosolic fraction, which is able to bind dihydropyridines and phenothiazines. In the present work conclusive evidence is provided for the ability of the phospholipid-reconstituted cytosolic protein to transport calcium. The calcium transport was stimulated by BAY K 8644 and inhibited in the presence of PN 200-110. Our observations were confirmed also by electrophysiological measurements on planar lipid bilayers. The possibility that the cytosolic fraction was contaminated with membranes could be definitely ruled out. Nevertheless, the nature of the protein under study is still in the frame of guess.     

Mechanisms of cell-surface rerouting of an endoplasmic reticulum-retained mutant of the vasopressin V1b/V3 receptor by a pharmacological chaperone

Cell-surface expression and biological functions of several intracellular-retained G protein-coupled receptors are restored by membrane-permeable ligands called pharmacological chaperones. We have previously demonstrated that a mutation of the hydrophobic motif 341FNX2LLX3L350 in the C terminus of the human pituitary vasopressin V3 receptor (MUT V3R) led to it being retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here, we establish the precise role of this motif and investigate whether SSR149415, a non-peptide V3R antagonist, behaves as a pharmacological chaperone for the ER-retained MUT V3R. The absence of the mutated receptor in the plasma membrane is linked to its prolonged association with the molecular chaperone calnexin in the ER and to its intensive degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasomal machinery. However, this is not because of a lack of oligomerization, as demonstrated by the presence of MUT V3R homodimers in the ER. Treatment with SSR149415 restores expression of the mutated receptor on the cell surface and its correct maturation, resulting into the functional recovery of its signaling properties. SSR149415 acts by stabilizing a native-like conformation of the V3R, reducing its association with calnexin and, thus, favoring a secretory pathway rather than the proteasomal degradation pathway. In conclusion, the FN(X)2LL(X)3L sequence is an important motif for the V3R conformation, and the misfolding resulting from its mutation alters the receptor export but can be reverted by SSR149415.