Epidermal growth factor stimulates the rapid accumulation of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate and a rise in cytosolic calcium mobilized from intracellular stores in A431 cells

Exposure of A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells to epidermal growth factor (EGF), bradykinin, and histamine resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent accumulation of the inositol phosphates (InsP) inositol monophosphate, inositol bisphosphate, and inositol trisphosphate (InsP3). Maximal concentrations of EGF (316 ng/ml; approximately 50 nM), bradykinin (1 microM), and histamine (1 mM) resulted in 3-, 6-, and 3-fold increases, respectively, in the amounts of inositol phosphates formed over a 10-min period. The K0.5 values for stimulation were approximately 10 nM, 3 nM, and 10 microM for EGF, bradykinin, and histamine, respectively. EGF and bradykinin stimulated the rapid accumulation of the two isomers of InsP3, Ins(1,3,4)P3, and Ins(1,4,5)P3 as determined by high performance liquid chromatography analysis; maximal accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 occurred within 15 s. EGF and bradykinin also stimulated a rapid (maximal levels attained within 30 s after addition of hormone) and a sustained 4- and 6-fold rise, respectively, in cytosolic free Ca2+ levels as measured by Fura-2 fluorescence. EGF and bradykinin also produced a rapid, although transient, 3- and 5-fold increase, respectively, in cytosolic free Ca2+ after chelation of extracellular Ca2+ with 3 mM EGTA. These data are consistent with the idea that EGF elevates intracellular Ca2+ levels in A431 cells, at least in part, as a result of the rapid formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and the consequential release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.     

The correlation between rises in intracellular calcium and PGI2 production in cultured vascular endothelial cells.

Elevation of intracellular calcium in response to trypsin, bradykinin, thrombin or histamine is associated with a proportional increase in PGI2 production in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (CPAE), and bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). The major agonists that induce increases in intracellular calcium and PGI2 production are thrombin and trypsin in HUVEC, bradykinin in CPAE, and bradykinin and trypsin in BAEC. These results suggest that endothelial cells derived from different species or sites require different agonists to induce increases in intracellular calcium and PGI2 production and that only agonists which increase intracellular calcium can stimulate PGI2 production.     

Changes in Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate and Inositol 1,3,4,5-Tetrakisphosphate Mass Accumulations in Cultured Adrenal Chromaffin Cells in Response to Bradykinin and Histamine

In previous studies it has been shown that both bradykinin and histamine increase the formation of 3H-labeled inositol phosphates in adrenal chromaffin cells prelabelled with [3H]inositol and that both these agonists stimulate release of catecholamines by a mechanism dependent on extracellular calcium. Here, we have used mass assays of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] to investigate changes in levels of these two candidates as second messengers in response to stimulation with bradykinin and histamine. Bradykinin increased the mass of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 despite the failure in earlier studies with [3H]inositol-labelled cells to observe a bradykinin-mediated increase in content of [3H]InsP4. Bradykinin elicited a very rapid increase in level of Ins(1,4,5)P3, which was maximal at 5-10 s and then rapidly decreased to a small but sustained elevation at 2 min. The bradykinin-elicited Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 response increased to a maximum at 30-60 s and at 2 min was still elevated severalfold above basal levels. Histamine, which produced a larger overall total inositol phosphate response in [3H]inositol-loaded cells, produced significantly smaller Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 responses compared with bradykinin. The bradykinin stimulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation was partially dependent on a high (1.8 mM) extracellular Ca2+ concentration, whereas the Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 response was almost completely lost when the extracellular Ca2+ concentration was reduced to 100 nM. Changes in the inositol polyphosphate second messengers are compared with the time course of bradykinin-stimulated increases in free intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and noradrenaline release.     

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate are minor components of total mass of inositol trisphosphate in thrombin-stimulated platelets. Rapid formation of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate

Stimulation of human platelets by thrombin leads to rises of both inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4)P3) within 10 s. The mass of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was measured in platelet extracts after conversion to [3-32P]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 with Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP. Basal levels were equivalent to 0.2 microM and rose to 1 microM within 10 s of stimulation by thrombin. The mass of Ins(1,3,4)P3 was more than 10-fold greater than that of Ins(1,4,5)P3 between 10 and 60 s of thrombin stimulation. These results indicate that the majority of InsP3 liberated by phospholipase C in stimulated platelets must be the non-cyclic Ins(1,4,5)P3 in order to allow rapid phosphorylation by Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase to Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and then dephosphorylation to Ins(1,3,4)P3 by 5-phosphomonoesterase. A significant proportion of the InsP3 extracted from thrombin-stimulated platelets under neutral conditions is resistant to Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase but susceptible after acid treatment, implying the presence of inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,2cyc4,5)P3. The relative proportion of Ins(1,2cyc4,5)P3 increases with time. We suggest that such gradual accumulation is attributable to the relative insensitivity of this compound to hydrolytic and phosphorylating enzymes. Therefore, early Ca2+ mobilization in platelets is more likely to be effected by Ins(1,4,5)P3 than by Ins(1,2cyc4,5)P3.     

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate concentrations increase after adherence in the macrophage-like cell line J774.1.

Several properties of macrophages change when suspended cells become adherent. To determine the intracellular signals involved in these changes, concentrations of the second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] were monitored during adherence of J774.1 cells, a macrophage-like cell line. When cells grown in suspension were allowed to adhere to a glass surface, there was a transient increase in InsP3 that reached a peak between 100 and 120 s after plating. Inositol mono- and bis-phosphate concentrations were also elevated 100 and 120 s after plating. Analysis of isomer distribution showed significant 3-fold increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] at 100 s after plating. These values were maintained at 120 s, with the additional appearance of a 4-fold increase in inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. The adherence-induced generation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was decreased, and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 formation was blocked, in Ca2+-free medium. However, doubling intracellular [Ca2+] by addition of the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin (1 microM) did not increase Ins(1,4,5)P3 in suspended cells. Adherence of J774.1 cells to fibronectin-coated glass also induced an increase in InsP3.     

Inositol phosphates: proliferation, metabolism and function

After the initial discovery of receptor-linked generation of inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) it was generally assumed that Ins(1,4,5)P3 and its proposed breakdown products inositol(1,4)bisphosphate (Ins(1,4)P2) and Ins1P, along with cyclic inositol monophosphate, were the only inositol phosphates found in significant amounts in animal cells. Since then, three levels of complexity have been introduced. Firstly, Ins(1,4,5)P3 can be phosphorylated to Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, and the subsequent metabolism of these two compounds has been found to be intricate and probably different between various tissues. The functions of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 are almost certainly to regulate cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations, but the reasons for the labyrinth of the metabolic pathways after their deactivation by a specific 5-phosphatase remain obscure. Secondly, inositol pentakis- and hexakisphosphates have been found in many animal cells other than avian erythrocytes. It has been shown that their synthesis pathway is entirely separate from the inositol phosphates discussed above, both in terms of many of the isomers involved and probably in the subcellular localization; some possible functions of InsP5 and InsP6 are discussed here. Thirdly, cyclic inositol polyphosphates have been reported in stimulated tissues; the evidence for their occurrence in vivo and their possible physiological significance are also discussed.     

Effect of inositol trisphosphate and calcium on oscillating elevations of intracellular calcium in Xenopus oocytes

Stimulation of many nonexcitable cells by Ca2(+)-mobilizing receptor agonists causes oscillating elevations of the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ((Ca2+]i), rather than a continuous increase. It has been proposed that the frequency at which [Ca2+]i oscillates determines the biological response. Because the occurrence of [Ca2+] oscillations is observed together with endogenous inositol polyphosphate (InsPs) production or following InsPs application, we injected Xenopus laevis oocytes with InsPs and monitored Ca2(+)-activated Cl- currents as an assay of [Ca2+]i. Microinjection of the poorly metabolizable inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) derivatives inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(2,4,5)P3) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphorothioate (Ins(1,4,5) P3S3) induced [Ca2+]i oscillations. The frequency at which [Ca2+]i oscillated increased with the injected dose, indicating that the frequency-generating mechanism lies distal to InsP3 production and that generation of oscillations does not require either oscillation of InsP3 levels or InsP3 metabolism. Injections of high doses of Ins(1,4,5)P3 or Ins(2,4,5)P3 inhibited ongoing oscillations, whereas Ca2+ injections decreased the amplitude of Ins(2,4,5)P3-induced oscillations without altering their frequency. Injections of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 metabolite inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate also caused oscillations whose frequency was related to the injected dose, although inositol tetrakisphosphate injection induced an increase in the cellular level of Ins(1,4,5)P3. The results suggest a multicomponent oscillatory system that includes the InsP3 target as well as a Ca2(+)-sensitive step that modulates amplitude.     

Histamine-H1-receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, Ca2+ signalling and membrane-potential oscillations in human HeLa carcinoma cells.

In human HeLa carcinoma cells, histamine causes a dose-dependent formation of inositol phosphates, production of diacylglycerol and a transient rise in intracellular [Ca2+]. These responses are completely blocked by the H1-receptor antagonist pyrilamine. In streptolysin-O-permeabilized cells, formation of inositol phosphates by histamine is strongly potentiated by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate and inhibited by guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate, suggesting the involvement of a GTP-binding protein. Histamine stimulates the rapid but transient formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3, Ins(1,3,4)P3 and InsP4. InsP accumulates in a much more persistent manner, lasting for at least 30 min. Studies with streptolysin-O-permeabilized cells indicate that InsP accumulation results from dephosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3, rather than direct hydrolysis of PtdIns. The rise in intracellular [Ca2+] is biphasic, with a very fast release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, that parallels the Ins(1,4,5)P3 time course, followed by a more prolonged phase of Ca2+ influx. In individual cells, histamine causes a rapid initial hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane, which can be mimicked by microinjected Ins(1,4,5)P3. Histamine-induced hyperpolarization is followed by long-lasting oscillations in membrane potential, apparently owing to periodic activation of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels. These membrane-potential oscillations can be mimicked by microinjection of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, but are not observed after microinjection of Ins(1,4,5)P3. We conclude that H1-receptors in HeLa cells activate a PtdInsP2-specific phospholipase C through participation of a specific G-protein, resulting in long-lasting oscillations of cytoplasmic free Ca2+.     

Inositol polyphosphates are not increased by overexpression of Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase but show cell-cycle dependent changes in growth factor-stimulated fibroblasts.

NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were stably transfected with rat brain inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) 3-kinase to explore the relationship between increased production of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and the formation of InsP5 and InsP6. Mass measurements of InsP5 and InsP6 revealed no significant difference between kinase- and vector-transfected fibroblasts. However, such 3-kinase-transfected cells, when labeled with [3H]inositol for 48-72 h, showed lower levels of [3H]InsP5 and [3H]InsP6, as well as [3H]Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 and D/L[3H]Ins(1,4,5,6)P4, than their vector-transfected counterparts. Because Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase-transfected cells grew less rapidly than vector-transfected controls, we determined whether the synthesis of InsP5 and InsP6 was related to a specific phase of the cell cycle. When NIH 3T3 cells prelabeled with [3H]inositol were synchronized by serum deprivation followed by stimulation with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), the amounts of labeled InsP5 and InsP6 began to increase only after 12 h of stimulation, when cells entered the S-phase as indicated by increased [3H]thymidine incorporation. The enhanced synthesis of these inositol polyphosphates was preceded by an early increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and its metabolites that was no longer evident by the fifth hour of PDGF action. There was also a prominent and biphasic increase in the level of D/L-Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 with an early peak at approximately 3 h and a second rise that paralleled the increases in InsP5 and InsP6. These results indicate that the formation of highly phosphorylated inositols is not tightly coupled to the receptor-mediated formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and its metabolites but is mainly determined by other factors that operate at specific points of the cell cycle.     

Glycation of the human erythrocyte glucose transporter in vitro and its functional consequences.

Stimulation of NIH-3T3 cells with prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) caused a dose- and time-dependent generation of inositol phosphates. The first detectable changes were in the levels of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. Increases in Ins(1,3,4)P3, InsP2 and InsP were detected later, and only minor changes were observed in putative InsP5 or InsP6. The accumulation of inositol phosphates was synergistically increased by the addition of calf serum, whereas PGF2 alpha had no effects on cell proliferation in either the presence or the absence of calf serum. Stimulation of a different clone of NIH-3T3 cells (AmNIH-3T3) or Swiss 3T3 cells with PGF2 alpha resulted in both inositol phospholipid breakdown and cell proliferation. No differences were found in the characteristics of PGF2 alpha-stimulated inositol phosphate generation between the two clones of NIH-3T3 cells, nor was there any difference in receptor number of Kd. These results question the role of inositol phospholipid breakdown in mitogenesis and demonstrate significant differences in the biochemical properties of apparently the 'same' cells.     

Transient inositol (1,4,5) trisphosphate accumulation under vasopressin stimulation in WRK1 cells: correlation with intracellular calcium mobilization

In the rat mammary tumoral cell line (WRK1 cells), vasopressin was previously described to stimulate a phospholipase C. In this study, we have analysed the effect of vasopressin both on intracellular calcium mobilization and on the accumulation of inositol phosphates. Maximal concentration of vasopressin simultaneously induces an accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and a rise of intracellular calcium concentration. Both these two phenomena are transient and exhibit similar kinetics. A sustained accumulation of InsP2, Ins(1,3,4)P3 and InsP are observed later. Yet no stimulation of InsP4 can be objectified. These results indicate that Ins(1,4,5)P3 is the major inositol phosphate involved in intracellular calcium mobilization.     

Partial purification and some properties of rat brain inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase.

An enzyme which catalyses the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] was purified approx. 180-fold from rat brain cytosol by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, chromatography through hydroxyapatite, anion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography and gel-filtration chromatography. Gel filtration on Sepharose 4B CL gives an Mr of 200 x 10(3) for the native enzyme. The inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) produced by the enzyme has the chromatographic, chemical and metabolic properties of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase displays simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics for both its substrates, having Km values of 460 microM and 0.44 microM for ATP and Ins(1,4,5)P3 respectively. When many of the inositol phosphates known to occur in cells were tested, only Ins(1,4,5)P3 was a substrate for the enzyme; the 2,4,5-trisphosphate was not phosphorylated. Inositol 4,5-bisphosphate and glycerophosphoinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were phosphorylated much more slowly than Ins(1,4,5)P3. CTP, GTP and adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate were unable to substitute for ATP. When assayed under conditions of first-order kinetics, Ins(1,4,5)P3 kinase activity decreased by about 40% as the [Ca2+] was increased over the physiologically relevant range. This effect was insensitive to the presence of calmodulin and appeared to be the result of an increase in the Km of the enzyme for Ins(1,4,5)P3. Preincubation with ATP and the purified catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase did not affect the rate of phosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 when the enzyme was assayed at saturating concentrations of Ins(1,4,5)P3 or at concentrations close to its Km for this substrate.     

Effects of bombesin and insulin on inositol (1,4,5)trisphosphate and inositol (1,3,4)trisphosphate formation in Swiss 3T3 cells

The effects of bombesin and insulin, separately and in combination, have been studied in Swiss mouse 3T3 cells. Bombesin caused a rapid transfer of 3H from the lipid inositol pool of prelabeled cells into inositol phosphates. Label in inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) and in Ins1,4,5P3 and Ins1,3,4P3 rose within 10 sec of stimulation and that in Ins1,4P2, another InsP2 and InsP1, more slowly. Insulin, which had little effect on its own, increased the turnover of inositol lipids due to acute bombesin stimulation and also enhanced the DNA synthesis evoked by prolonged bombesin treatment. The results suggest that bombesin acting as a growth factor, uses inositol lipids as part of its transduction mechanism and that insulin acts synergistically to enhance both inositol phosphate formation and DNA synthesis.     

Inositol tetrakisphosphate isomers and elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ in vasopressin-stimulated insulin-secreting RINm5F cells.

Signal generation during the stimulation of insulin secretion by arginine vasopressin (AVP) was investigated in RINm5F cells. AVP (0.1 microM) caused a biphasic cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) rise, namely a rapid transient marked elevation after stimulation followed by a series of oscillations. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, the sustained oscillations were abolished, while the initial [Ca2+]i transient was only partly decreased, indicating that the former are due to Ca2+ influx and the latter due mainly to mobilization from internal Ca2+ stores. AVP also evoked a transient depolarization of the average membrane potential. AVP-induced Ca2+ influx during the sustained phase, which was strictly dependent on receptor occupancy, was attenuated by membrane hyperpolarization with diazoxide. However, blockade of Ca2+ channels of the L- or T-type was ineffective. AVP stimulated production of diacylglycerol and inositol phosphates; for the latter both [3H] inositol labeling and mass determinations were performed. A transient increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 was followed by a marked enhancement of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (8-fold) peaking at 15 s and gradually returning to basal values. Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 and Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 exhibited the most long-lasting augmentation (4- and 1.7-fold, respectively), and therefore correlated best with the period of sustained [Ca2+]i oscillations. InsP5 and InsP6 were not elevated. The effects of AVP, including the stimulation of insulin secretion from perifused cells, were obliterated by a V1 receptor antagonist. In conclusion, AVP induces protracted [Ca2+]i elevation in RINm5F cells which is associated with long-lasting increases in InsP4 isomers. The accumulation of InsP4 isomers reflects receptor occupancy and accelerated metabolism of the inositol phosphates. Activation of second messenger-operated Ca2+ channels is not necessarily implicated because of the attenuating effect of membrane hyperpolarization.     

Inhibition of protein kinase C by staurosporine promotes elevated accumulations of inositol trisphosphates and tetrakisphosphate in human platelets exposed to thrombin

We have examined regulation by protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme) of thrombin-induced inositol polyphosphate accumulation in human platelets. When platelets are exposed to thrombin for 10 s, the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine causes inositol phosphate elevations over control values of 2.7-fold (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3], 1.9-fold (inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4], and 1.2-fold (inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate). In the same period, phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol are unaffected. The myosin light chain kinase inhibitor ML-7 has no effect on inositol phosphate accumulations. Staurosporine does not inhibit Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase and 5-phosphomonoesterase activities in saponin-permeabilized platelets incubated with exogenous Ins(1,4,5)P3 unless the platelets have been exposed to thrombin and protein kinase C is consequently activated. The protein kinase C agonist beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate increases the Vmax of the 3-kinase 1.8-fold, with little effect on Km. Our results provide strong evidence for a role for protein kinase C in regulating inositol phosphate levels in thrombin-activated platelets. We propose that endogenously activated protein kinase C removes Ins(1,4,5)P3 by stimulating both 5-phosphomonoesterase and Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase. Initial activation of phospholipase C does not appear to be affected by such protein kinase C. Inhibition of protein kinase C by staurosporine decreases 5-phosphomonoesterase activity. The resulting elevated Ins(1,4,5)P3, as substrate for Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase, promotes production of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, which also may accumulate through decreased 5-phosphomonoesterase activity and elevated Ca2+ levels. These factors apparently counteract the inhibitory effect on 3-kinase, yielding a net increase in Ins(1,3,4,5)P4.     

Epidermal growth factor and angiotensin II stimulate formation of inositol 1,4,5- and inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in hepatocytes. Differential inhibition by pertussis toxin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

The ability of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and angiotensin II to stimulate production of inositol trisphosphate and mobilize intracellular Ca2+ in hepatocytes was compared using quin2 fluorescence to monitor changes in Ca2+ levels and high performance liquid chromatography to resolve the inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) isomers. Both EGF and angiotensin II stimulated an increase in free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) as well as a rapid increase in the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3). Concentrations of angiotensin II which gave a rise in [Ca2+]i equivalent to that seen with maximal doses of EGF produced an equivalent increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation. Both EGF and angiotensin II stimulated the formation of the Ins(1,3,4)P3 and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate isomers. The formation of the Ins(1,3,4)P3 isomer lagged behind production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 but eventually reached higher levels in the cell. The initial rise in [Ca2+]i and InsP3 levels stimulated by EGF and angiotensin II was not affected by reducing the external Ca2+ concentration below 30 nM with an excess of [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)] tetraacetic acid. Treatment of hepatocytes for 30-180 s with 1 micrograms/ml phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate prior to the addition of EGF blocked the EGF-stimulated production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and the increase in [Ca2+]i. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate attenuated the production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 generated by angiotensin II over the concentration range of 10(-10) to 10(-8) M; however, the Ca2+ signal was only inhibited at the 10(-10) M dose of angiotensin II. Treatment of rats with pertussis toxin for 72 h prior to isolating hepatocytes blocked the ability of EGF to increase Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4)P3 but did not inhibit the ability of any concentration of angiotensin II to stimulate formation of InsP3 or inositol tetrakisphosphate. The observation that pertussis toxin selectively abolishes EGF-stimulated inositol lipid breakdown suggests that EGF and angiotensin II use different mechanisms to activate phospholipase C in hepatocytes.     

Simulations of inositol phosphate metabolism and its interaction with InsP(3)-mediated calcium release

Inositol phosphates function as second messengers for a variety of extracellular signals. Ins(1,4,5)P(3) generated by phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, triggers numerous cellular processes by regulating calcium release from internal stores. The Ins(1,4,5)P(3) signal is coupled to a complex metabolic cascade involving a series of phosphatases and kinases. These enzymes generate a range of inositol phosphate derivatives, many of which have signaling roles of their own. We have integrated published biochemical data to build a mass action model for InsP(3) metabolism. The model includes most inositol phosphates that are currently known to interact with each other. We have used this model to study the effects of a G-protein coupled receptor stimulus that activates phospholipase C on the inositol phosphates. We have also monitored how the metabolic cascade interacts with Ins(1,4,5)P(3)-mediated calcium release. We find temporal dynamics of most inositol phosphates to be strongly influenced by the elaborate networking. We also show that Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4) plays a key role in InsP(3) dynamics and allows for paired pulse facilitation of calcium release. Calcium oscillations produce oscillatory responses in parts of the metabolic network and are in turn temporally modulated by the metabolism of InsP(3).     

Stimulus-Induced Accumulation of Inositol Tetrakis-, Pentakis-, and Hexakisphosphates in N1E-115 Neuroblastoma Cells

When [3H]inositol-prelabelled N1E-115 cells were stimulated with carbamylcholine (CCh) (100 microM), high K+ (60 mM), and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) (10 microM), a transient increase in [3H]inositol pentakisphosphate (InsP5) accumulation was observed. The accumulation reached its maximum level at 15 s and had declined to the basal level at 2 min. CCh, high K+, and PGE1 also caused accumulations of [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], [3H]inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,6)P4], and [3H]inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6). Muscarine and CCh induced accumulations of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3, [3H]-Ins(1,3,4,6)P4, [3H]InsP5, and [3H]InsP6 with a similar potency and exerted these maximal effects at 100 microM, whereas nicotine failed to do so at 1 mM. With a slower time course, CCh, high K+, and PGE1 caused accumulations of [3H]-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4)P3] and [3H]inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4]. In an N1E-115 cell homogenate, [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3, [3H]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, and [3H]Ins(1,3,4)P3 were converted to [3H]InsP5 through [3H]-Ins(1,3,4,6)P4. The above results indicate that Ins(1,3,4,6)P4, InsP5, and InsP6 are rapidly formed by several kinds of stimulants in N1E-115 cells.     

The metabolism of tris- and tetraphosphates of inositol by 5-phosphomonoesterase and 3-kinase enzymes

Phospholipase C cleaves phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to form both inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and inositol 1,2-cyclic 4,5-trisphosphate (cInsP3). The further metabolism of these inositol trisphosphates is determined by two enzymes: a 3-kinase and a 5-phosphomonoesterase. The first enzyme converts Ins(1,4,5)P3 to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4), while the latter forms inositol 1,4-bisphosphate and inositol 1,2-cyclic 4-bisphosphate from Ins(1,4,5)P3 and cInsP3, respectively. The current studies show that the 3-kinase is unable to phosphorylate cInsP3. Also, the 5-phosphomonoesterase hydrolyzes InsP4 with an apparent Km of 0.5-1.0 microM to form inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate at a maximal velocity approximately 1/30 that for Ins(1,4,5)P3. The apparent affinity of the enzyme for the three substrates is InsP4 greater than Ins(1,4,5)P3 greater than cInsP3; however, the rate at which the phosphatase hydrolyzes these substrates is Ins(1,4,5)P3 greater than cInsP3 greater than InsP4. The 5-phosphomonoesterase and 3-kinase enzymes may control the levels of inositol trisphosphates in stimulated cells. The 3-kinase has a low apparent Km for Ins(1,4,5)P3 as does the 5-phosphomonoesterase for InsP4, implying that the formation and breakdown of InsP4 may proceed when both it and its precursor are present at low levels. Ins(1,4,5)P3 is utilized by both the 3-kinase and 5-phosphomonoesterase, while cInsP3 is utilized relatively poorly only by the 5-phosphomonoesterase. These findings imply that inositol cyclic trisphosphate may be metabolized slowly after its formation in stimulated cells.     

Neural function: metabolism and actions of inositol metabolites in mammalian brain

In the nervous system, a variety of cell types respond to external stimuli through the inositol lipid signalling pathways. The stimulus-coupled sequence of intracellular events has been investigated in a homogeneous model system, the cloned mammalian neural cell line NG115-401L. The neural peptide bradykinin stimulates a rapid production of identified inositol phosphate isomers and an intracellular Ca2+ discharge followed by a persistent plasma membrane influx. The temporal sequence suggests that Ins(1,4,5)P3 or Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 or both may coordinate these events in a neuronal cell, as has been suggested in other cell types. Thapsigargin, an irritant and tumour-promoting plant product, produces calcium transients in the absence of inositol phosphate production, and may provide a new tool for investigating the interactions between inositol phosphates and changes in cellular calcium homeostasis. In the 401L line, high levels of radiolabelled InsP5 and InsP6 have been detected, which has led to the evaluation of their possible occurrence and actions in normal brain. Both InsP5 and InsP6 are produced from a radiolabelled myo-inositol precursor in intact mature brain in a region-specific manner. This suggests that both inositol polyphosphates may be end products of regionally regulated biosynthetic pathways. When microinjected into a nucleus of the brainstem, or iontophoretically applied to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, both InsP5 and InsP6, but not Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 isomers, appear to be potent neural stimulants. These results suggest that the inositol lipid signalling pathways may generate both intracellular and extracellular signals in brain.