'Quantal' Ca2+ release and the control of Ca2+ entry by inositol phosphates--a possible mechanism

The release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores by sub-optimal doses of inositol trisphosphate has been shown to be dose-related ('quantal'), and a simple model is proposed here to account for this phenomenon. It is suggested that there is a regulatory Ca2(+)-binding site on, or associated with, the luminal domain of the InsP3 receptor, which allosterically controls Ca2+ efflux, and the affinity for Ca2+ of that site is modulated by InsP3 binding to the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor; a similar mechanism applied to the ryanodine receptor might also explain some aspects of Ca2(+)-induced Ca2+ release. The stimulated entry of Ca2+ into a cell which occurs upon activation of inositide-linked receptors has been variously and confusingly proposed to be regulated by InsP3, InsP4, and/or a 'capacitative' Ca2+ pool; the mechanism of InsP3 receptor action suggested here is shown to lead to a potential reconciliation of all these conflicting proposals.

Care and cleaning of the non-contemporary photographic image

Continuing the series on various aspects of archival permanence, this paper suggest approaches which can be safely made in the care and cleaning of non-contemporary photographic images. In particular the 19th century produced images such as daguerreotype, collodion positive and the ferrotype.

Ram spermatozoa produce inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate but not inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate during the Ca2+/ionophore-induced acrosome reaction

An investigation was made of the production of inositol tris- and tetrakisphosphates concomitant with ionophore-stimulated breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 in ram spermatozoa. As spermatozoa displayed very low rates of incorporation of [3H]inositol into their phosphoinositides, the studies were carried out using 32P-labelled cells. Using a specially developed procedure, inositol tris- and tetrakisphosphates were isolated, free of labelled ATP and P(i); they were then separated from each other (and from other minor labelled compounds) and analysed, using ionophoresis and HPLC. Levels of 32P-labelled material with the chromatographic characteristics of Ins(1,4,5)P3 were very low in untreated cells, but rose sharply with ionophore treatment, in parallel with rapid PtdInsP2 breakdown. No 32P-labelled material with the characteristics of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 or Ins(1,3,4)P3 was found, and there was no evidence for phosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in sperm homogenates. The implications of our findings are discussed with respect to the physiological modulation of Ca2+ influx that is required to initiate the acrosome reaction at fertilization.

Nuclear inositol lipids. Relationship between growth factor induced metabolic changes and protein kinase C activity

We have sought to establish the effect of mitogen treatment on nuclear inositol lipids and the relationship between inositol cycle products and hyperphosphorylation of nuclear proteins via PKC during the lag phase leading to the onset of DNA synthesis. Swiss 3T3 cells were labelled for 36 hr with high levels of [3H]-myo-inositol and the radioactivity in nuclear inositol phospholipids was measured. Treatment of cells for 2 min, but not for 4 hr, with mitogenic concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I and bombesin caused a marked decrease in PtdInsP and PtdInsP2. Moreover, in vivo phosphorylation of some nuclear proteins occurs later on. Among these proteins, histone H1 and 0.75 M PCA soluble polypeptide, with an apparent Mr of 21,000 as revealed by electrophoretic analysis, are phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C in isolated nuclei purified from 3T3 cells treated for 90 min with IGF-I and bombesin. Since these phosphorylative events follow the earlier changes in nuclear polyphoinositide metabolism induced by the same mitogen combination, it seems possible that these two phenomena are related to each other and trigger the synthetic machinery responsible for replicating DNA.

Ensuring permanence of contemporary photographs

As part of a series of articles on various aspects of image conservation, practical advice is given on how best to ensure image permanence of contemporary photographs.

Inositol phosphates and cell signalling

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is a second messenger which regulates intracellular calcium both by mobilizing calcium from internal stores and, perhaps indirectly, by stimulating calcium entry. In these actions it may function with its phosphorylated metabolite, inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. The subtlety of calcium regulation by inositol phosphates is emphasized by recent studies that have revealed oscillations in calcium concentration which are perhaps part of a frequency-encoded second-messenger system.

Automated isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography of inositol phosphate isomers

Isomers of inositol phosphates from biological samples can be analysed by anion-exchange h.p.l.c., by using isocratic elution with phosphate buffers. The method involves the preliminary processing of the extracted samples with conventional soft-gel anion-exchange resins, including the commonly used Dowex resins, followed by direct analysis with h.p.l.c. of a portion of relevant fractions. Run times (up to 20 min) and collected fraction numbers (up to 24) are minimal, so that if the method is used in conjunction with automated h.p.l.c. injection a high throughput of samples is achieved.

Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate act by different mechanisms when controlling Ca2+ in mouse lacrimal acinar cells

In internally perfused single lacrimal acinar cells the competitive inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins 1,4,5-P3)-antagonist heparin inhibits the ACh-evoked K+ current response mediated by internal Ca2+ and also blocks both the Ins 1,4,5-P3-evoked transient as well as the sustained K+ current increase evoked by combined stimulation with internal Ins 1,4,5-P3 and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins 1,3,4,5-P4). When, during sustained stimulation with both Ins 1,4,5-P3 and Ins 1,3,4,5-P4, one of the inositol polyphosphates is removed, the K+ current declines; whereas removal of Ins 1,4,5-P3 results in an immediate termination of the response, removal of Ins 1,3,4,5-P4 only causes a very gradual and slow reduction in the current. Ins 1,3,4,5-P4 is therefore not an acute controller of Ca2+ release from stores into the cytosol, but modulates the release of Ca2+ induced by Ins 1,4,5,P3 by an unknown mechanism, perhaps by linking Ins 1,4,5 P3-sensitive and insensitive Ca2+ stores.

Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate is essential for sustained activation of the Ca2+-dependent K+ current in single internally perfused mouse lacrimal acinar cells

We have examined the effects of various inositol polyphosphates, alone and in combination, on the Ca2+-activated K+ current in internally perfused, single mouse lacrimal acinar cells. We used the patch-clamp technique for whole-cell current recording with a set-up allowing exchange of the pipette solution during individual experiments so that control and test periods could be directly compared in individual cells. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins 1,4,5 P3) (10-100 microM) evoked a transient increase in the Ca2+-sensitive K+ current that was independent of the presence of Ca2+ in the external solution. The transient nature of the Ins 1,4,5 P3 effect was not due to rapid metabolic breakdown, as similar responses were obtained in the presence of 5 mM 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid, that blocks the hydrolysis of Ins 1,4,5 P3, as well as with the stable analogue DL-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphorothioate (Ins 1,4,5 P(S)3) (100 microM). Ins 1,3,4 P3 (50 microM) had no effect, whereas 50 microM Ins 2,4,5 P3 evoked responses similar to those obtained by 10 microM Ins 1,4,5 P3. A sustained increase in Ca2+-dependent K+ current was only observed when inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins 1,3,4,5 P4) (10 microM) was added to the Ins 1,4,5 P3 (10 microM)-containing solution and this effect could be terminated by removal of external Ca2+. The effect of Ins 1,3,4,5 P4 was specifically dependent on the presence of Ins 1,4,5 P3 as it was not found when 10 microM concentrations of Ins 1,3,4 P3 or Ins 2,4,5 P3 were used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate causes release of Ca2+ from permeabilized mouse lymphoma L1210 cells by its conversion into inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

Addition of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 at micromolar concentrations causes release of Ca2+ from electroporated L1210 cells, but not from digitonin-permeabilized cells. This was shown to be due to its conversion into Ins(1,4,5)P3, because only the electroporated cells convert Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 into Ins(1,4,5)P3. Thus electroporation appears to activate or expose an Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 3-phosphatase.

Changes in nuclear inositol phospholipids induced in intact cells by insulin-like growth factor I

Swiss 3T3 cells were labelled for 36 hours with high levels of 3H-myo-inositol and the radioactivity in nuclear inositol phospholipids was measured. Treatment of cells for 2 minutes, but not for 4 hours, with mitogenic concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I and bombesin caused a slight decrease in PtdIns and more marked decreases in PtdInsP and PtdInsP2. These effects were not seen if isolated nuclei were incubated with IGF-I and bombesin. We interpret these results to mean that rapid mass changes occur in nuclear inositol phospholipids in the early stages of the mitotic response.

Phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate and Phosphatidylinositol(4)phosphate in Plant Tissues

Pea (Pisum sativum) leaf discs or swimming suspensions of Chlamydomonas eugametos were radiolabeled with [(3)H]myo-inositol or [(32)P]Pi and the lipids were extracted, deacylated, and their glycerol moieties removed. The resulting inositol trisphosphate and bisphosphate fractions were examined by periodate degradation, reduction and dephosphorylation, or by incubation with human red cell membranes. Their likely structures were identified as d-myo-inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate and d-myo-inositol(1,4,)-bisphosphate. It is concluded that plants contain phosphatidylinositol(4)phosphate and phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate; no other polyphosphoinositides were detected.

Inositol 1:2-cyclic,4,5-trisphosphate is only a weak agonist at inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors

The activity of inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1:2-cyclic,4,5-trisphosphate relative to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was examined by two assays; firstly, in a binding assay using rat cerebellar membranes, and secondly, in a Ca2+-mobilization assay using permeabilized Swiss 3T3 cells. In both assays the first two phosphates have a potency at least an order of magnitude less than inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. The possible reasons for differences between these results and previous data are discussed, as are the implications for any putative physiological role for the cyclic trisphosphate.

Inositol phosphate production and Ca2+ mobilization in human umbilical-vein endothelial cells stimulated by thrombin and histamine

Human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured, and their inositol phosphate formation and Ca2+ mobilization in response to thrombin and histamine were studied. Evidence from measurement of intracellular Ca2+ in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ established that the two agonists were both acting on a single cell population, and suggested that a Ca2+-influx component was stimulated which was dependent on receptor-occupancy. After 30 s of stimulation in the presence of 10 mM-LiCl, the effects of 20 microM-histamine and 1 unit of thrombin/ml on formation of inositol phosphates were additive, but at 5 min they were not. HUVECs labelled with myo-[3H]inositol for 72 h synthesized radiolabelled inositol pentakis- and hexakis-phosphate. The predominant isomers of inositol mono-, bis- and tris-phosphates whose formation was stimulated were the 4-phosphate, the 1,4-bisphosphate and the 1,3,4-trisphosphate.

Initiation of the cortical reaction in hamster and sheep oocytes in response to inositol trisphosphate

Microinjection of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate into sheep and hamster oocytes induces secretion of cortical granules in a dose-dependent manner. In the sheep, this effect is strongly pH-dependent with minimal exocytosis taking place at pH 6.8 but a full cortical reaction occurring at pH8.0. Exocytosis in the hamster is also affected by the pH of the external medium but to a lesser extent. Injection of GTP gamma S also induces exocytosis in both species but is more effective in the hamster. It is suggested that inositol metabolism stimulated by sperm-egg interaction with a GTP-binding protein may be part of the mechanism leading to cortical granule exocytosis and that this may be modulated by the external pH.

Rapid changes in phospholipid metabolism in the nuclei of Swiss 3T3 cells induced by treatment of the cells with insulin-like growth factor I

When highly-purified nuclei of Swiss-mouse 3T3 cells are incubated with [32P]-gamma ATP, radioactivity is incorporated into phosphatidic acid and the two polyphosphoinositol lipids, phosphatidylinositol(4)P and phosphatidylinositol(4,5)P2. If the cells are pre-treated with insulin-like growth factor I, this incorporation into the phospholipids is decreased. The effect is maximal by 2 minutes, is transient in that it has disappeared by one hour, and is increased markedly by the co-addition of bombesin, even though bombesin alone has no effect. We suggest that some aspect of polyphosphoinositide metabolism is altered in the nucleus (leading to a decreased radiolabelling) when the cells are treated with mitogenic growth factors, and that this change in inositide metabolism is a very early event in the sequence leading to cell division.

Formation of methylphosphoryl inositol phosphates by extractions that employ methanol

Fixatives that contain methanol extract an unknown compound from several tissues including the retinas of squid (Loligo). We have determined that the compound probably contains (1) a myo-inositol ring that is phosphorylated in more than one position (including at the 5-hydroxyl), (2) a charged moiety that is not susceptible to alkaline phosphatase, and (3) a methyl group. We have found that the compound can be made by treating either phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate or human red cell ghosts with acidic methanol. We have confirmed the observation of Lips, Bross & Majerus [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 88-92] that the compound also can be made by methanolysis of inositol (cyclic 1:2,4,5)trisphosphate; however, we have not found inositol (cyclic 1:2,4,5)trisphosphate in either stimulated or unstimulated squid retinas. We tentatively identify the compound as (1-methylphosphoryl)inositol 4,5-bisphosphate formed by methanolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. By using this methanolysis to incorporate label from [14C]methanol, we have estimated the mass of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in squid retinas to be approx. 30 mumol/l of retinal volume.

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.

Inositol-containing lipids in suspension-cultured plant cells: an isotopic study

Polar lipids were extracted from suspension-cultured tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cells and analyzed by thin layer chromatography. Four major inositol-containing compounds were found, and incorporation of [(32)P]orthosphosphate, [2-(3)H]glycerol, and myo-[2-(3)H]inositol was studied. Results showed that phosphatidylinositol-monophosphate is the phospholipid in these cells displaying the most rapid incorporation of [(32)P]orthophosphate. We suggest that the tracer is incorporated primarily into the phosphomonoester group. Two inositol-containing lipids showed chromatographic behavior similar to phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate when using standard thin layer chromatography techniques. The labeling pattern of these compounds, however, reveals that it is unlikely that either of these is identical to phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. Should phosphatidylinositol-bisphosphate be present in suspension cultured plant cells, our data indicate chemical abundancies substantially lower than previously reported.

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase in higher plants

A phospholipase C which hydrolyses phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to release inositol trisphosphate was detected in a sedimentable fraction from celery and from some other higher plants. The particulate enzyme also hydrolyses phosphatidylinositol, whereas the soluble phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase described previously [Irvine, Letcher & Dawson (1980) Biochem. J. 192, 279-283] acts only on phosphatidylinositol, and we were unable to detect activity of this soluble activity on phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Activity of the particulate enzyme is markedly enhanced in the presence of deoxycholate, but not of other detergents; the particulate enzyme can also be solubilized by extraction with deoxycholate.

Synergism of inositol trisphosphate and tetrakisphosphate in activating Ca2+-dependent K+ channels

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins P3) is a second messenger releasing intracellular Ca2+ into the cytosol. It has recently been proposed that inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (Ins P4), which is formed from Ins P3 by Ins P3-3-kinase, acts with Ins P3 as a second messenger by promoting extracellular Ca2+ entry. It has been suggested that Ins P3 itself can act to stimulate Ca2+ uptake from the extracellular fluid, although a physiological function for Ins P4 was not excluded. Transmembrane currents can now be measured in single cells by voltage clamping under conditions where the intracellular perfusion fluid can be changed several times during individual experiments. We have used this method to test the effects of Ins P3 and Ins P4 on the Ca2+-activated K+ current, and now show that neither Ins P3 alone nor Ins P4 alone can activate a sustained current, whereas Ins P3 and Ins P4 in combination evoke a sustained increase in Ca2+-activated K+ current which is dependent on external Ca2+.

Specific binding sites for [3H]inositol(1,3,4,5)tetrakisphosphate on membranes of HL-60 cells

Membranes of HL-60 cells were shown to possess saturable binding sites for [3H]inositol(1,3,4,5)tetrakisphosphate, with nanomolar affinity (KD = 90 nM) and a density of 250 fmol/mg protein. The specificity of the binding sites for Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was assessed by competition studies utilising a variety of inositol polyphosphates; results indicated that both the presence and the correct grouping of the phosphates were important for high affinity recognition. The apparent affinity of the binding sites for Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was over 200-fold greater than for Ins(1,4,5)P3. The possibility is discussed that this binding site represents the receptor which mediates the action of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 as a putative intracellular second messenger.