Arabidopsis PLC1 is required for secondary responses to abscisic acid signals

The role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins[1,4,5]P3) in transducing the abscisic acid (ABA) signal during seed germination and in the stress responses of mature plants is poorly understood. We have considered the contributions of the phospholipase C1 (encoded by AtPLC1) and an Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase (encoded by AtIP5PII) to ABA signaling by using a modified version of the glucocorticoid-inducible system to regulate transgene expression. In the presence of the dexamethasone (Dex) inducer, transgenic lines expressing the AtPLC1 antisense and AtIP5PII sense transgenes showed no inhibition of germination and growth by ABA, whereas in the absence of the inducer they were sensitive. In the presence of Dex, these lines accumulated lower Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels upon ABA treatment compared with that of the control transgenic lines. RNA gel blot analysis revealed a decrease in the induction of the ABA-responsive genes RD29a, KIN2, and RD22 but not COR47 in the Dex-induced transgenic plants. In transgenic lines expressing the inducible AtPLC1 sense transgene, an increase in AtPLC1 expression was not sufficient to activate the expression of ABA-responsive genes in vegetative tissues. In vitro experiments demonstrated the induced PLC1 expression when extracts were assayed in the presence of calcium, but no increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels in vivo was detected, suggesting that the PLC1 enzyme was latent. Our results indicate that although an increase in PLC1 activity and increased Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels are necessary for maximal gene induction by ABA, overexpression of AtPLC1 itself is not sufficient to trigger the expression of ABA-responsive genes. We propose that AtPLC1 plays a role in secondary ABA responses.     

Role of PRIP-1, a novel Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding protein, in Ins(1,4,5)P3-mediated Ca2+ signaling

PRIP-1 was isolated as a novel inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] binding protein with a domain organization similar to phospholipase C-delta1 (PLC-delta1) but lacking the enzymatic activity. Further studies revealed that the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of PRIP-1 is the region responsible for binding Ins(1,4,5)P3. In this study we aimed to clarify the role of PRIP-1 at the physiological concentration in Ins(1,4,5)P3-mediated Ca2+ signaling, as we had previously used COS-1 cells overexpressing PRIP-1 (Takeuchi et al., 2000, Biochem J 349:357-368). For this purpose we employed PRIP-1 knock out (PRIP-1-/-) mice generated previously (Kanematsu et al., 2002, EMBO J 21:1004-1011). The increase in free Ca2+ concentration in response to purinergic receptor stimulation was lower in primary cultured cortical neurons prepared from PRIP-1-/- mice than in those from wild type mice. The relative amounts of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 measured in neurons labeled with [3H]inositol was also lower in cells from PRIP-1-/- mice. In contrast, PLC activities in brain cortex samples from PRIP-1-/- mice were not different from those in the wild type mice, indicating that the hydrolysis of Ins(1,4,5)P3 is enhanced in cells from PRIP-1-/- mice. In vitro analyses revealed that type1 inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase physically interacted with a PH domain of PRIP-1 (PRIP-1PH) and its enzyme activity was inhibited by PRIP-1PH. However, physical interaction with these two proteins did not appear to be the reason for the inhibition of enzyme activity, indicating that binding of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to the PH domain prevented its hydrolyzation. Together, these results indicate that PRIP-1 plays an important role in regulating the Ins(1,4,5)P3-mediated Ca2+ signaling by modulating type1 inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase activity through binding to Ins(1,4,5)P3.     

Thrombin and phorbol ester stimulate inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate 3-phosphomonoesterase in human platelets

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3), which mobilizes intracellular Ca2+, is metabolized either by dephosphorylation to inositol 1,4-bisphosphate(Ins-(1,4)P2) or by phosphorylation to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4). It has been shown in vitro that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 is also dephosphorylated by a 5-phosphomonoesterase to inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. However, we have found that exogenous Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 is dephosphorylated to predominantly Ins(1,4,5)P3 in saponin-permeabilized platelets in the presence of KCl (40-160 mM). This inositol polyphosphate 3-phosphomonoesterase activity is independent of Ca2+ (0.1-100 microM), and it was also observed when the ionic strength of the incubation medium was increased with Na+. The action of KCl appears to be due to activation of a 3-phosphomonoesterase as well as an inhibition of the 5-phosphomonoesterase, because the dephosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to Ins(1,4)P2 was completely inhibited by KCl. The 3-phosphomonoesterase may be regulated by a protein kinase C, since both thrombin and phorbol dibutyrate increase 3-phosphomonoesterase activity and this is inhibited by staurosporine. The formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 from Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 reported here provides an additional pathway for the formation of the Ca2+-mobilizing second messenger in stimulated cells.     

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.     

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.     

Properties of inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase

We recently described inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase, an enzyme which cleaves the 1-phosphate from inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (Ins(1,4)P2) and inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4)P3) (Inhorn, R. C., and Majerus, P. W. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 15946-15952). We have now purified the enzyme to homogeneity from calf brain. The enzyme hydrolyzes 50.3 mumol of Ins(1,4)P2/min/mg protein. The enzyme has an apparent mass of 44,000 daltons as determined both by gel filtration chromatography and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting that it is monomeric. Lithium ions inhibit Ins(1,3,4)P3 hydrolysis uncompetitively with an apparent Ki of approximately 0.3 mM LiCl. Calcium inhibits hydrolysis of Ins(1,4)P2 and Ins(1,3,4)P3 equally, with approximately 40% inhibition occurring at 1 microM free Ca2+. Rabbit polyclonal antiserum against purified inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase was prepared which immunoprecipitates approximately 0.3 milliunits of activity/microliter serum (1 unit = 1 mumol of Ins(1,4)P2 hydrolyzed per min). This antiserum was used to determine the enzyme content in several bovine tissues, all of which had a similar intrinsic specific activity (i.e. approximately 0.3 milliunits/microliter antiserum). Tissues studied included brain, heart, kidney, liver, lung, parotid, spleen, testis, and thymus. Approximately 10-15% of the total inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase activity in calf brain homogenates remains in a particulate fraction; antiserum also binds 0.3 milliunits of membrane-associated activity/microliter antiserum. Thus, a single enzyme can account for Ins(1,4)P2 hydrolytic activity in the bovine tissues. Ins(1,3,4)P3 metabolism was also investigated in bovine tissue homogenates. Inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase accounts for greater than 80% of the hydrolytic activity in all tissues studied except brain, where inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase is the major enzyme that hydrolyzes Ins(1,3,4)P3. The apparent Km of inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase for Ins(1,3,4)P3 varies approximately 3-4-fold among the bovine tissues.     

CMP activates reversal of phosphatidylinositol synthase and base exchange by distinct mechanisms in rat pituitary GH3 cells.

CMP is known to activate phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns)/inositol (Ins) base exchange and has been reported to activate reversal of PtdIns synthase also. Because it is possible that PtdIns synthase acting in the reverse direction, followed by re-incorporation of ambient Ins, could be responsible for base-exchange activity, we characterized these processes in rat pituitary GH3 cells. In permeabilized GH3 cells prelabelled with [3H]Ins and incubated in buffer with LiCl but without added Ins, CMP stimulated rapid accumulation of [3H]Ins and decreases in [3H]PtdIns; the Km for CMP was 1.7 mM. CDP and CTP were less effective, whereas 2'-CMP, 3'-CMP, other nucleoside monophosphates and cytidine did not influence this process. In permeabilized cells prelabelled to isotopic equilibrium with [3H]Ins and [32P]Pi, CMP stimulated decreases in both the 32P and 3H labelling of PtdIns, but did not increase that of [32P]phosphatidic acid. These findings demonstrate that in the absence of added Ins the effect of CMP is not via activation of base exchange nor via a phospholipase D, but by reversal of PtdIns synthase. In permeabilized cells prelabelled with [3H]Ins and [32P]Pi, unlabelled Ins inhibited loss of 32P labelling of PtdIns caused by CMP while markedly stimulating loss of 3H labelling of PtdIns and release of [3H]Ins. These data demonstrate that Ins inhibits reversal of PtdIns synthase, but stimulates base exchange. We conclude that in GH3 cells reversal of PtdIns synthase and PtdIns/Ins base exchange are both stimulated by CMP, but are distinct processes.     

The metabolism of inositol 4-monophosphate in rat mammalian tissues

Rat brain soluble fraction contains an enzymatic activity that dephosphorylates inositol 1,4-bisphosphate (Ins(1,4)P2). We have used anion exchange h.p.l.c. in order to identify the inositol monophosphate product of Ins(1,4)P2 hydrolysis (i.e. Ins(1)P1, Ins(4)P1 or both). When [3H]Ins(1,4)P2 was used as substrate, we obtained an inositol monophosphate isomer that was separated from the co-injected standard [3H]Ins(1)P1. This suggested an Ins(1,4)P21-phosphatase pathway leading to the production of the inositol 4-monophosphate isomer. The dephosphorylation of [32P]Ins(4)P1 was measured in rat brain, liver and heart soluble fraction and was Li+-sensitive. Chromatography of the soluble fraction of a rat brain homogenate on DEAE-cellulose resolved a monophosphate phosphatase activity that hydrolyzed both [3H]Ins(1)P1 and [4-32P]Ins(4)P1 isomers.     

Hydrolysis of inositol phosphates by plant cell extracts.

A gel-filtered soluble fraction prepared from suspension-cultured Nicotiana tabacum cells hydrolysed inositol mono-, bis- and tris-phosphates. At a concentration of 7.5 microM the rates of hydrolysis followed the sequence Ins(1,4,5)P3 greater than Ins(1,4)P2 greater than Ins(4)P congruent to Ins(1)P. The major products of Ins(1,4,5)P3 hydrolysis identified by h.p.l.c. were Ins(1,4)P2 and Ins(4,5)P2. Ins(1,4)P2 was hydrolysed exclusively to Ins(4)P. The inclusion of Ca2+ in the incubation buffer markedly stimulated the hydrolysis of all the inositol phosphate substrates. Under identical conditions, Ca2+ inhibited the hydrolysis of inositol phosphates by soluble extracts prepared from rat brain. Half-maximal stimulation of Ins(1,4)P2 hydrolysis was obtained at free [Ca2+] of 0.6 and 1.2 microM when the Mg2+ concentration in the incubations was 0.3 and 1.0 mM respectively. This effect of Ca2+ was exerted solely by increasing the Vmax. of hydrolysis without affecting the Km for Ins(1,4)P2. Again, in contrast with brain, the hydrolysis of inositol bis- or mono-phosphates was insensitive to high concentrations of Li+. We conclude that plants contain specific Li+-insensitive inositol phosphate phosphatases that are regulated by low concentrations of Ca2+ in a manner which is different from that observed in mammalian tissues.     

Characterization of a multifunctional inositol phosphate kinase from rice and barley belonging to the ATP-grasp superfamily

OsIpk and HvIpk, inositol phosphate kinases, were cloned from rice (Oryza sativa L. var. indica, IR64) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) respectively. Sequence alignment showed that they belong to the ATP-grasp family, which includes inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5/6-kinase from humans and Arabidopsis. Residues that are binding sites for ATP and coordinate magnesium in absence or presence of inositol phosphate are conserved and in total 23 residues are invariant among the twelve aligned inositol phosphate kinases. The genes were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and kinase activity assays with 17 different isomers of inositol mono-/di-/tri-/tetra-/pentaphosphate as well as phytate were performed. The strongest activity for both kinases was observed with Ins(3,4,5,6)P(4), which candidates as the primary substrate for these kinases in plants. Several species-specific differences between the two recombinant Ipks were observed. Rice OsIpk showed detectable kinase activity towards eight different substrates, whereas barley HvIpk showed kinase activity with all the substrates including inositol mono- and bisphosphates. HvIpk showed 3-kinase activity towards the Ins(1,4,5)P(3) substrate and it also interconverted the two substrates Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4) and Ins(1,3,4,6)P(4) by isomerase activity, which was not observed for the rice homologue. Both OsIpk and HvIpk had no detectable 2-kinase activity. Furthermore, the two Ipks showed phosphatase activity towards several inositol phosphates. Expression analysis by RT-PCR demonstrated that the Ipk gene was equally expressed in different tissues and developmental stages. Taken together, these results show that the Ipk kinase plays a significant role in the inositol phosphate interacting network in plants.     

Putative inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding proteins in rat brain cytosol.

In previous works, we synthesized a series of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) analogs, with a substituent on the second carbon of the inositol ring. Using these analogs, the Ins(1,4,5)P3 affinity media were also synthesized (Hirata, M., Watanabe, Y., Ishimatsu, T., Yanaga, F., Koga, T., and Ozaki, S. (1990) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 168, 379-386). When the cytosol fraction from the rat brain was applied to an Ins(1,4,5)P3 affinity column, an eluate with a 2 M NaCl solution was found to have remarkable Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding activity. The active fraction was further fractionated with gel filtration chromatography, and two proteins with an apparent molecular mass of 130 or 85 kDa were found to be Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding proteins but with no Ins(1,4,5)P3 metabolizing activities. Partial amino acid sequences determined after proteolysis and reversed-phase chromatography revealed that the protein with an apparent molecular mass of 85 kDa is the delta-isozyme of phospholipase C and that of 130 kDa has no sequence the same as the Ins(1,4,5)P3-recognizing proteins hitherto examined. Ins(1,4,5)P3 at concentrations greater than 1 microM strongly inhibited 85-kDa phospholipase C delta activity, without changing its dependence on the concentrations of free Ca2+ and H+. Among inositol phosphates examined, Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 inhibited the binding of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 to the 130-kDa protein at much the same concentrations as seen with Ins(1,4,5)P3. This report seems to be the first evidence for the presence of soluble Ins(1,4,5)P3-binding proteins in the rat brain, one of which is the delta isozyme of phospholipase C.     

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.     

Influence of the phosphorylation state of neurofilament proteins on the interactions between purified filaments in vitro.

Dephosphorylation of 1D-myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate [Ins(1,4)P2] in rat liver is catalysed by a cytosolic phosphatase that removes the 1-phosphate group. The Km for Ins(1,4)P2 is approx. 17 microM. Li+ (100 mM) causes 50% inhibition of Ins(1,4)P2 phosphatase activity when activity is measured at the very low substrate concentration of 10 nM, but on raising the substrate concentration to 100 microM there is a greater than 10-fold increase in sensitivity to Li+, suggesting that Li+ acts mainly, but not entirely, as an uncompetitive inhibitor of Ins(1,4)P2 phosphatase. In addition, rat liver cytosol shows Li+-sensitive phosphatase activity against 1D-myo-inositol 1-,3- and 4-monophosphates. The Ins(1,4)P2 1-phosphatase and inositol monophosphatase activities all share an apparent Mr of 47 x 10(3), as determined by gel-filtration chromatography. However, the Ins(1,4)P2 1-phosphatase is more sensitive to inactivation by heat, and can be separated from inositol monophosphatase activity by anion-exchange chromatography. We conclude that rat liver cytosol contains an Ins(1,4)P2 1-phosphatase that is distinct from, but in many ways similar to, inositol monophosphatase.     

Metabolism of inositol phosphates in the protozoan Paramecium. Characterization of a novel inositol-hexakisphosphate-dephosphorylating enzyme.

Basal and stimulated levels of inositol phosphates were determined in the protozoan Paramecium labelled with myo-[3H]inositol. Under resting conditions, intracellular InsP6 (phytic acid), InsP5 and InsP4 concentrations were 140, 10 and 2 microM, respectively. InsP5 was comprised of 56% Ins(1,2,3,4,5)P5 and/or Ins(1,2,3,5,6)P5, 40% Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5 and/or Ins(2,3,4,5,6)P5 and small amounts of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 and Ins(1,2,3,4,6)P5. InsP4 was mainly Ins(1, 4, 5, 6)P4 and/or Ins(3, 4, 5, 6)P4. Other inositol phosphates were not detected at a detection limit of 50-85 nM. Using various depolarizing and hyperpolarizing stimuli, no significant changes in level of inositol phosphates were observed in vivo, indicating that in the ciliate a contribution of inositol phosphates to signal-transduction mechanisms is unlikely. In homogenates prepared from myo-[3H]inositol-labelled cells, a marked relative increase in InsP3 and InsP4 over the concentrations in vivo was observed. These inositol phosphates were identified as degradation products of endogenous InsP6. A novel separation methodology for inositol phosphates was established to allow unequivocal assignment of phosphate locations of all dephosphorylated InsP6-derived products. The dephosphorylation was catalyzed by a phytase-like enzyme with a molecular mass of 240 kDa, most likely of a hexameric structure. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 7.0 and did not require divalent cations for activity. Substrate concentrations above 300 microM were inhibitory. Dephosphorylation of InsP6 by the Paramecium enzyme differs from that of phytases from plants in that it proceeds via a sequential release of phosphate groups from positions 6, 5, 4 and 3 of the myo-inositol ring or/and positions 4, 5, 6 and 1.     

Increasing plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate biosynthesis increases phosphoinositide metabolism in Nicotiana tabacum

A genetic approach was used to increase phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] biosynthesis and test the hypothesis that PtdInsP kinase (PIPK) is flux limiting in the plant phosphoinositide (PI) pathway. Expressing human PIPKIalpha in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells increased plasma membrane PtdIns(4,5)P2 100-fold. In vivo studies revealed that the rate of 32Pi incorporation into whole-cell PtdIns(4,5)P2 increased >12-fold, and the ratio of [3H]PtdInsP2 to [3H]PtdInsP increased 6-fold, but PtdInsP levels did not decrease, indicating that PtdInsP biosynthesis was not limiting. Both [3H]inositol trisphosphate and [3H]inositol hexakisphosphate increased 3-and 1.5-fold, respectively, in the transgenic lines after 18 h of labeling. The inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] binding assay showed that total cellular Ins(1,4,5)P3/g fresh weight was >40-fold higher in transgenic tobacco lines; however, even with this high steady state level of Ins(1,4,5)P3, the pathway was not saturated. Stimulating transgenic cells with hyperosmotic stress led to another 2-fold increase, suggesting that the transgenic cells were in a constant state of PI stimulation. Furthermore, expressing Hs PIPKIalpha increased sugar use and oxygen uptake. Our results demonstrate that PIPK is flux limiting and that this high rate of PI metabolism increased the energy demands in these cells.     

Stimulation of hepatic inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate kinase activity by Ca2+-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

A cytosolic fraction derived from rat hepatocytes was used to investigate the regulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] kinase, the enzyme which converts Ins(1,4,5)P3 to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4]. The activity was doubled by raising the free Ca2+ concentration of the assay medium from 0.1 microM to 1.0 microM. A 5 min preincubation of the hepatocytes with 100 microM-dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db.cAMP) plus 100 nM-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) resulted in a 40% increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 kinase activity when subsequently assayed at 0.1 microM-Ca2+. This effect was smaller at [Ca2+] greater than 0.5 microM, and absent at 1.0 microM-Ca2+. Similar results were obtained after preincubation with 100 microM-db.cAMP plus 300 nM-vasopressin (20% increase at 0.1 microM-Ca2+; no effect at 1.0 microM-Ca2+). Preincubation with vasopressin, db.cAMP or TPA alone did not alter Ins(1,4,5)P3 kinase activity. It is proposed that these results, together with recent evidence implicating Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 in the control of Ca2+ influx, could be relevant to earlier findings that hepatic Ca2+ uptake is synergistically stimulated by cyclic AMP analogues and vasopressin.     

Subsecond and second changes in inositol polyphosphates in GH4C1 cells induced by thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

It has been demonstrated previously that thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) induces changes in inositol polyphosphates in the GH3 and GH4C1 strains of rat pituitary cells within 2.5-5.0 s. TRH also causes a rapid rise in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in these cells which is due largely to redistribution of cellular calcium stores. Therefore, it has been concluded that TRH acts to release sequestered calcium in these cells via enhanced generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. If this conclusion were correct, TRH-enhanced accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 should occur at least as rapidly as the increase in [Ca2+]i. We have shown previously that the rise in [Ca2+]i induced by TRH occurs within about 400 ms; thus, it was important to investigate the subsecond time-course of changes in inositol phosphates caused by TRH. Using a rapid mixing device, we have measured changes in inositol polyphosphates on a subsecond time scale in GH4C1 cells prelabelled with myo-[2-3H]inositol. Although TRH did alter inositol polyphosphate metabolism within 500 ms, the changes observed did not reveal a statistically significant increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 within time intervals of less than 1000 ms. Thus, we have been unable to demonstrate that a TRH-induced rise in Ins(1,4,5)P3 precedes or occurs concomitantly with the rise in [Ca2+]i in GH4C1 cells. Although these results do not disprove the current view that Ins(1,4,5)P3 mediates the action of TRH on intracellular calcium redistribution, we conclude that caution should be exercised in this, and possibly other cell systems, in accepting the dogma that all of the rapid, agonist-induced redistributions of intracellular calcium are mediated by Ins(1,4,5)P3.     

The pathway of myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate phosphorylation in liver. Identification of myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 6-kinase, myo-inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate 5-kinase, and myo-inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate 5-kinase

Inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4)P3) metabolism has been studied in liver homogenates and in 100,000 x g supernatant and particulate fractions. When liver homogenates were incubated in an "intracellular" medium containing 5 mM MgATP, equal proportions of Ins(1,3,4)P3 were dephosphorylated and phosphorylated. Two inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) products and an inositol pentakisphosphate (InsP5) were detected. The InsP4 isomers were unequivocally identified as inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4) and inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,6)P4) by high performance liquid chromatography separation of inositol phosphates, periodate oxidation, alkaline hydrolysis, and stereo-specific polyol dehydrogenase. Ins(1,3,4)P3 5-kinase is a novel enzyme activity and accounted for 16% of the total Ins(1,3,4)P3 phosphorylation. Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 was also shown to be further phosphorylated to inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5) by a kinase not previously known to occur in liver. About 75% of Ins(1,3,4)P3 kinase activities were soluble and were partly purified by anion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography. The two Ins(1,3,4)P3 kinase activities eluted as a single peak that was well resolved from Ins(1,3,4)P3 phosphatase, Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 5-kinase, and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 5-phosphatase activities. A further novel observation was that 10 microM Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 inhibited Ins(1,3,4)P3 kinase activities by 60%.     

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.     

Inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate production in plant cells: an early response to salinity and hyperosmotic stress

Salinity and hyperosmotic stress are environmental factors that severely affect the growth and development of plants. Adaptation to these stresses is known to be a complex multistep process, but a rise in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) and increased polyphosphoinositide turnover have now been identified as being amongst the early events leading to the development of tolerance. To determine whether a causal link exists between these two events we have investigated the effects of several salts and osmotic agents on levels of inositol(1, 4,5)trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P(3)) in plant cells. Our data show that salts as well as osmotic agents induce a rapid and up to 15-fold increase in cellular Ins(1,4,5)P(3) levels. The increase in Ins(1,4,5)P(3) occurs in a dose-dependent manner and levels remain elevated for at least 10 min. These data indicate that increased Ins(1,4,5)P(3) production is a common response to salt and hyperosmotic stresses in plants and that it may play an important role in the processes leading to stress tolerance.