Inositol polyphosphate multikinase regulates inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate

The human inositol phosphate multikinase (IPMK, 5-kinase) has a preferred 5-kinase activity over 3-kinase and 6-kinase activities and a substrate preference for inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,6)P4) over inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,3,4,5)P4). We now report that the recombinant human protein can catalyze the conversion of inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5,6)P4) to Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 in vitro; the reaction product was identified by HPLC to be Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5. The apparent Vmax was 42 nmol of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 formed/min/mg protein, and the apparent Km was 222 nM using Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 as a substrate; the catalytic efficiency was similar to that for Ins(1,4,5)P3. Stable over-expression of the human protein in HEK-293 cells abrogates the in vivo elevation of Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 from the Salmonella dublin SopB protein. Hence, the human 5-kinase may also regulate the level of Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 and have an effect on chloride channel regulation.     

The pathway for the production of inositol hexakisphosphate in human cells

The yeast and Drosophila pathways leading to the production of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)) have been elucidated recently. The in vivo pathway in humans has been assumed to be similar. Here we show that overexpression of Ins(1,3,4)P(3) 5/6-kinase in human cell lines results in an increase of inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP(4)) isomers, inositol pentakisphosphate (InsP(5)) and InsP(6), whereas its depletion by RNA interference decreases the amounts of these inositol phosphates. Expression of Ins(1,3,4,6)P(4) 5-kinase does not increase the amount of InsP(5) and InsP(6), although its depletion does block InsP(5) and InsP(6) production, showing that it is necessary for production of InsP(5) and InsP(6). Expression of Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P(5) 2-kinase increases the amount of InsP(6) by depleting the InsP(5) in the cell, and depletion of 2-kinase decreases the amount of InsP(6) and causes an increase in InsP(5). These results are consistent with a pathway that produces InsP(6) through the sequential action of Ins(1,3,4)P(3) 5/6-kinase, Ins(1,3,4,6)P(4) 5-kinase, and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 2-kinase to convert Ins(1,3,4)P(3) to InsP(6). Furthermore, the evidence implicates 5/6-kinase as the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway.     

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%.     

T-cell receptor-mediated metabolism of inositol polyphosphates in Jurkat T-lymphocytes. Identification of a D-myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,6-pentakisphosphate-2-phosphomonoesterase activity, a D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate-1/3-phosphatase activity and a D/L-myo-inositol 1,2,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate-1/3-kinase activity.

Stimulation of the human T-lymphocyte cell line Jurkat via the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex by an anti-CD3 antibody (OKT3) induced time-dependent changes in the intracellular concentrations of multiple inositol polyphosphate (InsPn) isomers. Quantitative mass analysis by anion-exchange HPLC and a recently developed postcolumn dye system (Mayr, G. W. (1988) Biochem. J. 254, 585-591) revealed basal intracellular concentrations between less than 5 pmol/10(9) cells for Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and 6380 +/- 355 pmol/10(9) cells for InsP6. Time course analysis of samples from stimulated Jurkat T-cells showed an increase of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 to 1125 +/- 125 pmol/10(9) cells within 10 min and remained elevated over more than 30 min. Moreover, increases of the intracellular concentrations of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4, Ins(1,4,5,6)P4, and/or Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 (determined as the enantiomeric mixture), Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5, Ins(1,2,3,4,6)P5 and InsP6 were observed. In contrast, the concentration of Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5 and/or Ins(2,3,4,5,6)P5 (determined as the enantiomeric mixture) decreased after stimulation. Using cytosolic extracts from Jurkat T-lymphocytes incubated with purified Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5, Ins(1,2,3,4,6)P5, or Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5/Ins(2,3,4,5,6)P5 three enzyme activities were observed. Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 was dephosphorylated by a phosphatase removing a phosphate group at the 1 and/or 3 position resulting in the formation of Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 and/or Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 (determined as the enantiomeric mixture). Ins(1,2,3,4,6)P5 was metabolized by a specific phosphatase that cleaved the phosphate group at the 2 position, thereby generating the product Ins(1,3,4,6)P4. On the other hand, Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5/Ins(2,3,4,5,6)P5 was phosphorylated by a 1/3-kinase activity to InsP6. Together novel receptor-mediated metabolic pathways of inositol polyphosphates were demonstrated in human T-lymphocytes, and corresponding enzyme activities for the inositol pentakisphosphate metabolism were found in cell lysates.     

Agonist-stimulated inositol phosphate metabolism in avian erythrocytes.

1. A screen for agonists capable of stimulating the formation of inositol phosphates in erythrocytes from 5-day-old chickens revealed the presence of a population of phosphoinositidase C-linked purinergic receptors. 2. If chicken erythrocytes prelabelled with [3H]Ins were exposed to a maximal effective dose of adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate for 30 s, the agonist-stimulated increment in total [3H]inositol phosphates was confined to [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and InsP2. After 40 min stimulation, the radiolabelling of nearly all of the [3H]inositol phosphates that have been detected in these extracts [Stephens, Hawkins & Downes (1989) Biochem. J. 262, 727-737] had risen. However, some of these increases [especially those in Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5] were accountable for almost entirely by increases in specific radioactivity rather than in mass. 3. The effect of purinergic stimulation on the rate of incorporation of [32P]Pi in the medium into the gamma-phosphate group of ATP and InsP4 and InsP5 was also measured. After 40 min stimulation, the incorporation of 32P into Ins(1,3,4,6)P4, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 was significantly elevated, whereas the mass of the last two and the specific radioactivity of the gamma-phosphate of ATP were unchanged compared with control erythrocyte suspensions. 4. In control suspensions of avian erythrocytes, the specific radioactivity of the individual phosphate moieties of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 increased through the series 1, 6, 4 and 3 [Stephens & Downes (1990) Biochem. J. 265, 435-452]. This pattern of 32P incorporation is not the anticipated outcome of 6-hydroxy phosphorylation of Ins(1,3,4)P3 [the assumed route of synthesis of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4]. Although adenosine [beta-thio]diphosphate significantly stimulated the accumulation of [3H]Ins(1,3,4)P3, and despite the fact that avian erythrocyte lysates were shown to possess a chromatographically distinct, soluble, ATP-dependent, Ins(1,3,4)P3 6-hydroxykinase activity, purinergic stimulation of intact cells did not significantly alter the pattern of incorporation of [32P]Pi into the individual phosphate moieties of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4. These results suggest that the route of synthesis of this inositol phosphate species is not changed during the presence of an agonist.     

The synthesis of inositol hexakisphosphate. Characterization of human inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase

The enzyme(s) responsible for the production of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)) in vertebrate cells are unknown. In fungal cells, a 2-kinase designated Ipk1 is responsible for synthesis of InsP(6) by phosphorylation of inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP(5)). Based on limited conserved sequence motifs among five Ipk1 proteins from different fungal species, we have identified a human genomic DNA sequence on chromosome 9 that encodes human inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase (InsP(5) 2-kinase). Recombinant human enzyme was produced in Sf21 cells, purified, and shown to catalyze the synthesis of InsP(6) or phytic acid in vitro. The recombinant protein converted 31 nmol of InsP(5) to InsP(6)/min/mg of protein (V(max)). The Michaelis-Menten constant for InsP(5) was 0.4 microM and for ATP was 21 microM. Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking IPK1 do not produce InsP(6) and show lethality in combination with a gle1 mutant allele. Here we show that expression of the human InsP(5) 2-kinase in a yeast ipk1 null strain restored the synthesis of InsP(6) and rescued the gle1-2 ipk1-4 lethal phenotype. Northern analysis on human tissues showed expression of the human InsP(5) 2-kinase mRNA predominantly in brain, heart, placenta, and testis. The isolation of the gene responsible for InsP(6) synthesis in mammalian cells will allow for further studies of the InsP(6) signaling functions.     

Ca2(+)-stimulatable and protein kinase C-inhibitable accumulation of inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate in human platelets.

Thrombin-stimulated (10 s) human platelets produce Ins(1,4,5)P3 and an additional inositol trisphosphate (InsP3), in approximately a 1:20 ratio. The major InsP3 co-migrates with Ins(1,3,4)P3 on strong-anion-exchange h.p.l.c. To identify this species unequivocally, we treated putative Ins(1,3,4)P3 obtained from thrombin-stimulated myo-[3H]inositol-labelled platelets with NaIO4/NaBH4 or 4-phosphomonoesterase. The products indicate that the major InsP3 is at least 90% D-Ins(1,3,4)P3. D-[3H]Ins(1,3,4)P3 added to saponin-permeabilized platelets is hydrolysed to an InsP2 (7.8%) and phosphorylated by a kinase to yield an inositol polyphosphate (0.9%) in 5 min. The phosphorylation product co-migrates with Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 on Partisphere WAX h.p.l.c. Under similar conditions, L-[3H]Ins(1,3,4)P3 is dephosphorylated but not phosphorylated. Relative phosphatase:kinase ratios are 8.7:1 (Vmax. values) and 0.86:1 (Km values) with respect to D-Ins(1,3,4)P3. The kinase activity is predominantly cytosolic (96.8% of total activity) in freeze-thaw-disrupted platelets, and the accumulation of its product is Ca2(+)-dependent. The activity is identified as a 6-kinase on the basis of its product's insensitivity to 5-phosphomonoesterase, resistance to periodate oxidation and co-migration with standard Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 on h.p.l.c. Incubation of platelets with beta-phorbol dibutyrate (beta-PDBu, 76 nM), causing activation of protein kinase C, results in a 57.5% inhibition (reversible by the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine) of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 accumulation. alpha-PDBu, which does not stimulate protein kinase C, has no effect. Stimulation of intact platelets with thrombin results in the production of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 (1.4-fold rise in 30 s) and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, with the latter being the major InsP4 species. Accumulation of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 is slightly delayed in comparison with Ins(1,3,4)P3 and is relatively small. We propose that the major route of Ins(1,3,4)P3 metabolism in stimulated human platelets is via phosphatase action.     

Structures and metabolism of inositol tetrakisphosphates and inositol pentakisphosphate in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells

In adrenal glomerulosa cells, angiotensin II stimulates rapid increases in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins-1,4,5-P3) and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins-1,3,4,5-P4), followed by slower increases in two additional inositol tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) isomers. One of these InsP4 isomers was previously identified as Ins-1,3,4,6-P4 and shown to be a precursor of inositol pentakisphosphate (InsP5). Analysis of the third InsP4 isomer, purified from cultured bovine adrenal cells labeled with [3H]inositol and stimulated by angiotensin II, revealed that the polyol produced by periodate oxidation, borohydrate reduction, and dephosphorylation was [3H]iditol. This finding is consistent with precursor structures of either Ins-1,4,5,6-P4 or Ins-3,4,5,6-P4 (= L-Ins-1,4,5,6-P4) for the third InsP4 isomer. The [3H]iditol was readily converted to [3H]sorbose by the stereospecific enzyme, L-iditol dehydrogenase, indicating that it originated from Ins-3,4,5,6-P4. Chicken erythrocytes labeled with [3H]inositol also contained high levels of Ins-1,3,4,6-P4 and Ins-3,4,5,6-P4, as well as InsP5, but only small amounts of Ins-1,3,4,5-P4. Both [3H]Ins-1,3,4,6-P4 and [3H]Ins-3,4,5,6-P4, but not [3H]Ins-1,3,4,5-P4, were phosphorylated to form InsP5 in permeabilized bovine glomerulosa cells. In addition, InsP5 itself was slowly dephosphorylated to Ins-1,4,5,6-P4, indicating that its structure is Ins-1,3,4,5,6-P5. These results demonstrate that the higher inositol phosphates are metabolically interrelated and are linked to the receptor-regulated InsP3 response by the conversion of Ins-1,3,4-P3 through Ins-1,3,4,6-P4 to Ins-1,3,4,5,6-P5. The source of Ins-3,4,5,6-P4, the other precursor of InsP5, is not yet known but its elevation in angiotensin II-stimulated glomerulosa cells suggests that its formation is also influenced by agonist-regulated processes.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Identification of a novel inositol phosphate recognition site: specific [3H]inositol hexakisphosphate binding to brain regions and cerebellar membranes

[3H]Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) binds with a heterogeneous distribution to frozen sections of unfixed rat brain and is displaced by unlabelled InsP6. The pattern of binding correlates with binding to neuronal cell bodies. [3H]InsP6 binding to cerebellar membranes has been further characterised, is reversible, and saturable, and exhibits high specificity for inositol polyphosphates. The IC50 for competition by unlabelled InsP6 is approximately 100nM, whereas inositol 1,3,4,5,6 pentakisphosphate (Ins(13456)P5), inositol 1,3,4,5 tetrakisphosphate (Ins(1345)P4), and inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (Ins(145)P3) bind with an affinity at least one order of magnitude lower. [3H]InsP6 binding is clearly distinct from previously characterised Ins(145)P3 (ref. 1, 2) and Ins(1345)P4 (ref. 3) binding, both in terms of pharmacology and brain distribution.     

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.     

A salt-activated inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate 3-phosphatase at the inner surface of the human erythrocyte membrane.

The localization of the human erythrocyte membrane Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 3-phosphatase was investigated by saponin permeabilization of resealed 'isoionic' erythrocyte ghosts. This enzyme is active at the inner face of the plasma membrane, at the same site as a specific 5-phosphatase that degrades both Ins (1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. In the presence of EDTA, Ins(1,4,5)P3 was the only product of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 metabolism. However, when Mg2+ was present both the 5-phosphatase and the 3-phosphatase attacked Ins (1,3,4,5)P4, directly forming Ins(1,3,4)P3 and Ins(1,4,5)P3;some Ins(1,4)P2 was also formed as a product of 5-phosphatase attack on the liberated Ins(1,4,5)P3. The Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 3-phosphatase was potently activated by KCl, thus making the route of metabolism of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 by erythrocyte ghosts strikingly sensitive to variations in ionic strength: at 'cytosolic' K+ and Mg2+ levels, 3-phosphatase activity slightly predominated over 5-phosphatase. Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 3-phosphatase was potently inhibited by Ins-(1,3,4,5,6)P5 and InsP6 at levels lower than those often observed within cells. This leaves open the question as to whether the cellular function of inositol polyphosphate 3-phosphatase is to participate in a physiological cycle that interconverts Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and Ins(1,4,5)P3 or to metabolize other inositol polyphosphates in the cytosol compartment of cells.     

Metabolic and signaling properties of an Itpk gene family in Glycine max

We have cloned and characterized four Itpk genes from soybean. All four recombinant Itpk proteins showed canonical Ins(1,3,4)P3 5/6-kinase activity, but a kinetic analysis raised questions about its biological significance. Instead, we provide evidence that one alternative biological role for soybean Itpks is to interconvert the Cl(-) channel inhibitor, Ins(3,4,5,6)P4, and its metabolic precursor, Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5, within a substrate cycle. The soybean Itpks also phosphorylated Ins(3,4,6)P3 to Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 which was further phosphorylated to Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 by soybean Ipk2. Thus, soybean Itpks may participate in an inositol lipid-independent pathway of InsP6 synthesis.     

A novel, specific binding protein assay for quantitation of intracellular inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) using a high-affinity InsP4 receptor from cerebellum

A membrane preparation from porcine cerebellum displays high-affinity binding sites for [3H]inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate ([3H]InsP4) with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.0 nM and a density of 220 fmol/mg protein. Specific binding was maximal in the presence of 25 mM phosphate and at pH 5.0. The receptor site was specific for InsP4, since Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 and Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 displaced binding of InsP4 with EC50 values of 0.2 and 0.3 microM, respectively. Ins(1,4,5)P3 and other inositol phosphates were less effective. Using this InsP4 receptor, an assay for measuring tissue content of InsP4 was developed. The detection limit of the assay was 0.1 pmol. In the same tissue samples the amount of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was determined in parallel with a similar assay using a binding protein preparation from beef liver.     

Solubilization and separation of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate- and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-binding proteins and metabolizing enzymes in rat brain.

The two inositol phosphate-binding proteins, the Ins(1,4,5)P3 (InsP3) and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (InsP4) receptors, and the two particulate InsP3-metabolizing enzymes, InsP3 5-phosphatase and InsP3 3-kinase, were solubilized with detergent from rat cerebellar membranes. These four activities are shown to be distinct molecular species by separation using a variety of protein chromatographic steps. The pharmacology of the partially purified InsP4-binding site indicates that the binding has a high affinity and selectivity for InsP4 over InsP3. These results suggest the existence of a distinct specific InsP4-binding protein which may represent the receptor for this putative second messenger.     

Kinetics of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate generation in dog-thyroid primary cultured cells stimulated by carbachol

The action of carbachol on the generation of inositol trisphosphate and tetrakisphosphate isomers was investigated in dog-thyroid primary cultured cells radiolabelled with [3H]inositol. The separation of the inositol phosphate isomers was performed by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The structure of inositol phosphates co-eluting with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] standards was determined by enzymatic degradation using a purified Ins(1,4,5)P3/Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 5-phosphatase. The data indicate that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was the only [3H]inositol phosphate which co-eluted with a [32P]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 standard, whereas 80% of the [3H]InsP3 co-eluting with an Ins(1,4,5)P3 standard was actually this isomer. In the presence of Li+, carbachol led to rapid increases in [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P4. The level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 reached a peak at 200% of the control after 5-10 s of stimulation and fell to a plateau that remained slightly elevated for 2 min. The level of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 reached its maximum at 20s. The level of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4)P3] increased continuously for 2 min after the addition of carbachol. Inositol-phosphate generation was also investigated under different pharmacological conditions. Li+ largely increased the level of Ins(1,3,4)P3 but had no effect on Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. Forskolin, which stimulates dog-thyroid adenylate cyclase and cyclic-AMP accumulation, had no effect on the generation of inositol phosphates. The absence of extracellular Ca2+ largely decreased the level of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 as expected considering the Ca2(+)-calmodulin sensitivity of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, increased the levels of Ins(1,4,5)P3, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and Ins(1,3,4)P3. This supports a negative feedback control of diacyglycerol on Ins(1,4,5)P3 generation.     

Structural insights into the regulation of PDK1 by phosphoinositides and inositol phosphates

3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) phosphorylates and activates many kinases belonging to the AGC subfamily. PDK1 possesses a C-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain that interacts with PtdIns(3,4,5)P3/PtdIns(3,4)P2 and with lower affinity to PtdIns(4,5)P2. We describe the crystal structure of the PDK1 PH domain, in the absence and presence of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. The structures reveal a 'budded' PH domain fold, possessing an N-terminal extension forming an integral part of the overall fold, and display an unusually spacious ligand-binding site. Mutagenesis and lipid-binding studies were used to define the contribution of residues involved in phosphoinositide binding. Using a novel quantitative binding assay, we found that Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 and InsP6, which are present at micromolar levels in the cytosol, interact with full-length PDK1 with nanomolar affinities. Utilising the isolated PDK1 PH domain, which has reduced affinity for Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5/InsP6, we perform localisation studies that suggest that these inositol phosphates serve to anchor a portion of cellular PDK1 in the cytosol, where it could activate its substrates such as p70 S6-kinase and p90 ribosomal S6 kinase that do not interact with phosphoinositides.