Increase in inositol tris-, pentakis- and hexakisphosphates by high K+ stimulation in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells

Inositol hexakisphosphate suppresses excitatory neurotransmission via synaptotagmin-1 C2B domain in the hippocampal neuron

Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)) levels rise and fall with neuronal excitation and silence, respectively, in the hippocampus, suggesting potential signaling functions of this inositol polyphosphate in hippocampal neurons. We now demonstrate that intracellular application of InsP(6) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of autaptic excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in cultured hippocampal neurons. The treatment did not alter the size and replenishment rate of the readily releasable pool in autaptic neurons. Intracellular exposure to InsP(6) did not affect spontaneous EPSCs or excitatory amino acid-activated currents in neurons lacking autapses. The InsP(6)-induced inhibition of autaptic EPSCs was effectively abolished by coapplication of an antibody to synaptotagmin-1 C2B domain. Importantly, preabsorption of the antibody with a GST-WT synaptotagmin-1 C2B domain fragment but not with a GST-mutant synaptotagmin-1 C2B domain fragment that poorly reacted with the antibody impaired the activity of the antibody on the InsP(6)-induced inhibition of autaptic EPSCs. Furthermore, K(+) depolarization significantly elevated endogenous levels of InsP(6) and occluded the inhibition of autaptic EPSCs by exogenous InsP(6). These data reveal that InsP(6) suppresses excitatory neurotransmission via inhibition of the presynaptic synaptotagmin-1 C2B domain-mediated fusion via an interaction with the synaptotagmin Ca(2+)-binding sites rather than via interference with presynaptic Ca(2+) levels, synaptic vesicle trafficking, or inactivation of postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors. Therefore, elevated InsP(6) in activated neurons serves as a unique negative feedback signal to control hippocampal excitatory neurotransmission.

Dissociation of inositol polyphosphates from the C2B domain of synaptotagmin facilitates spontaneous release of catecholamines in adrenal chromaffin cells. A suggestive evidence of a fusion clamp by synaptotagmin

Synaptotagmins (Syts) serve as a Ca²+ sensor in the release of neurotransmitters and hormones. Inositol polyphosphates (InsPPs) such as Inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP₅) and inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP₆) bind to Ca²+-binding C2B domain of Syt I and II, and inhibit transmitter release. We have shown that the inhibition by InsPPs is reversed by Ca²+ in adrenal chromaffin cells, while a rapid accumulation of endogenous InsP₅ and InsP₆ upon depolarizing stimuli have been reported in these and some other cells. Such a rapid accumulation of InsPPs, if not all, might reflect their dissociation from C2B domain of Syt. To elucidate the functional relevance, we studied the effects of antibodies against C2A and C2B domains (anti-C2A Ab, anti-C2B Ab) on the accumulation of InsPPs induced by Ca²+ in digitonin-permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells. Anti-C2B Ab by itself caused an accumulation of InsPPs in the permeabilizing medium, and increased spontaneous release of catecholamines (CA). Anti-C2A Ab abolished Ca²+-induced increase of InsPPs in cytosolic component, and inhibited Ca²+-evoked release of CA with little effect on the spontaneous release. Microinjection of InsP₆ but not inositol hexakissulfate into intact chromaffin cells inhibited both spontaneous and nicotine-evoked exocytotic events. These results suggest that endogenous InsPPs bound to the C2B domain clamp spontaneous fusion of the docked or primed vesicles at resting level of intracellular Ca²+, and binding of Ca²+ to the C2A or/and C2B domain facilitate fusion dissociating InsPPs from Syt in adrenal chromaffin cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Trends in neuropharmacology: in memory of Erminio Costa'.

The role of voltage-gated calcium channels in pancreatic beta-cell physiology and pathophysiology

Voltage-gated calcium (CaV) channels are ubiquitously expressed in various cell types throughout the body. In principle, the molecular identity, biophysical profile, and pharmacological property of CaV channels are independent of the cell type where they reside, whereas these channels execute unique functions in different cell types, such as muscle contraction, neurotransmitter release, and hormone secretion. At least six CaValpha1 subunits, including CaV1.2, CaV1.3, CaV2.1, CaV2.2, CaV2.3, and CaV3.1, have been identified in pancreatic beta-cells. These pore-forming subunits complex with certain auxiliary subunits to conduct L-, P/Q-, N-, R-, and T-type CaV currents, respectively. beta-Cell CaV channels take center stage in insulin secretion and play an important role in beta-cell physiology and pathophysiology. CaV3 channels become expressed in diabetes-prone mouse beta-cells. Point mutation in the human CaV1.2 gene results in excessive insulin secretion. Trinucleotide expansion in the human CaV1.3 and CaV2.1 gene is revealed in a subgroup of patients with type 2 diabetes. beta-Cell CaV channels are regulated by a wide range of mechanisms, either shared by other cell types or specific to beta-cells, to always guarantee a satisfactory concentration of Ca2+. Inappropriate regulation of beta-cell CaV channels causes beta-cell dysfunction and even death manifested in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This review summarizes current knowledge of CaV channels in beta-cell physiology and pathophysiology.

Beta-cell CaV channel regulation in physiology and pathophysiology

The beta-cell is equipped with at least six voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channel alpha1-subunits designated CaV1.2, CaV1.3, CaV2.1, CaV2.2, CaV2.3, and CaV3.1. These principal subunits, together with certain auxiliary subunits, assemble into different types of CaV channels conducting L-, P/Q-, N-, R-, and T-type Ca2+ currents, respectively. The beta-cell shares customary mechanisms of CaV channel regulation with other excitable cells, such as protein phosphorylation, Ca2+-dependent inactivation, and G protein modulation. However, the beta-cell displays some characteristic features to bring these mechanisms into play. In islet beta-cells, CaV channels can be highly phosphorylated under basal conditions and thus marginally respond to further phosphorylation. In beta-cell lines, CaV channels can be surrounded by tonically activated protein phosphatases dominating over protein kinases; thus their activity is dramatically enhanced by inhibition of protein phosphatases. During the last 10 years, we have revealed some novel mechanisms of beta-cell CaV channel regulation under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, including the involvement of exocytotic proteins, inositol hexakisphosphate, and type 1 diabetic serum. This minireview highlights characteristic features of customary mechanisms of CaV channel regulation in beta-cells and also reviews our studies on newly identified mechanisms of beta-cell CaV channel regulation.

Stimulation of L-type Ca2+ channels by inositol pentakis- and hexakisphosphates in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

The electrophysiological effects of D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP5) and D-myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6), which represent the main cellular inositol polyphosphates, were studied on L-type Ca2+ channels in single myocytes of rat portal vein. Intracellular infusion of InsP5 (up to 50 micro M) or 10 micro M InsP6 had no action on Ba2+ current, whereas 50 micro M InsP6 or 10 micro M InsP5 plus 10 micro M InsP6 (InsP5,6) stimulated the inward current. The stimulatory effect of InsP5,6 was also obtained in external Ca2+-containing solution. The stimulated Ba2+ current retained the properties of L-type Ba2+ current and was oxodipine sensitive. PKC inhibitors Ro 32-0432 (up to 500 nM), GF109203X (5 micro M) or calphostin C (100 nM) abolished the InsP5,6-induced stimulation. Neither the PKA inhibitor H89 (1 micro M) nor the protein phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid (500 nM) or cypermethrin (1 micro M) prevented or mimicked the InsP5,6-induced stimulation of Ba2+ current. However, InsP5 or InsP6 could mimic some effects of protein phosphatase inhibitor so as to extend after washing-out forskolin the stimulatory effects of the adenylyl cyclase activator on Ba2+ current. These results indicate that InsP5 and InsP6 may act as intracellular messengers in modulating L-type Ca2+ channel activity and so could be implicated in mediator-induced contractions of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Inositol hexakisphosphate-mediated regulation of glutamate receptors in rat brain sections

D-myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate (InsP6), one of the most abundant inositol phosphates within cells, has been proposed to play a key role in vesicle trafficking and receptor compartmentalization. In the present study, we used in vitro receptor autoradiography, subcellular fractionation, and immunoblotting to investigate its effects on alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 3H-AMPA binding indicated that incubation of frozen-thawed brain sections with InsP6 at 35 degrees C enhanced AMPA receptor binding in several brain regions, with maximal increases in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Moreover, saturation kinetics demonstrated that InsP6-induced augmentation of AMPA binding was due to an increment in the maximal number of AMPA binding sites. At the immunological level, Western blots performed on crude mitochondrial/synaptic (P2) fractions revealed that InsP6 (but not InsP5 and InsP3) treatment increased glutamate receptor (GluR)1 and GluR2 subunits of AMPA receptors, an effect that was associated with concomitant reductions in microsomal (P3) fractions. Interestingly, the InsP6-induced modulation of AMPA receptor binding was blocked at room temperature, and pretreatment with heparin also dampered its action on both AMPA receptor binding and GluR subunits. These effects of InsP6 appear to be specific to AMPA receptors, as neither 3H-glutamate binding to NMDA receptors nor levels of NR1 and NR2A subunits in P2 and P3 fractions were affected. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that InsP6 specifically regulates AMPA receptor distribution, possibly through a clathrin-dependent process.

Inositol hexakisphosphate increases L-type Ca2+ channel activity by stimulation of adenylyl cyclase

Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) is a most abundant inositol polyphosphate that changes simultaneously with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in depolarized neurons. However, the role of InsP6 in neuronal signaling is unknown. Mass assay reveals that the basal levels of InsP6 in several brain regions tested are similar. InsP6 mass is significantly elevated in activated brain neurons and lowered by inhibition of neuronal activity. Furthermore, the hippocampus is most sensitive to electrical challenge with regard to percentage accumulation of InsP6. In hippocampal neurons, InsP6 stimulates adenylyl cyclase (AC) without influencing cAMP phosphodiesterases, resulting in activation of protein kinase A (PKA) and thereby selective enhancement of voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channel activity. This enhancement was abolished by preincubation with PKA and AC inhibitors. These data suggest that InsP6 increases L-type Ca2+ channel activity by facilitating phosphorylation of PKA phosphorylation sites. Thus, in hippocampal neurons, InsP6 serves as an important signal in modulation of voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channel activity.

Assessing the omnipotence of inositol hexakisphosphate

This review assesses the authenticity of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)) being a wide-ranging regulator of many important cellular functions. Against a background in which the possible importance of localized InsP(6) metabolism is discussed, there is the facile explanation that InsP(6) is merely an "inactive" precursor for the diphosphorylated inositol phosphates. Indeed, many of the proposed cellular functions of InsP(6) cannot sustain a challenge from the implementation of a rigorous set of criteria, which are designed to avoid experimental artefacts.

The versatility of inositol phosphates as cellular signals

Cells from across the phylogenetic spectrum contain a variety of inositol phosphates. Many different functions have been ascribed to this group of compounds. However, it is remarkable how frequently several of these different inositol phosphates have been linked to various aspects of signal transduction. Therefore, this review assesses the evidence that inositol phosphates have evolved into a versatile family of second messengers.

Inositol hexakisphosphate stimulates non-Ca2+-mediated and primes Ca2+-mediated exocytosis of insulin by activation of protein kinase C

D-myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate (InsP6), formed via complex pathways of inositol phosphate metabolism, composes the main bulk of inositol polyphosphates in the cell. Relatively little is known regarding possible biological functions for InsP6. We now show that InsP6 can modulate insulin exocytosis in permeabilized insulin-secreting cells. Concentrations of InsP6 above 20 microM stimulated insulin secretion at basal Ca2+-concentration (30 nM) and primed Ca2+-induced exocytosis (10 microM), both effects being due to activation of protein kinase C. Our results suggest that InsP6 can play an important modulatory role in the regulation of processes such as exocytosis in insulin-secreting cells. The specific role for InsP6 can then be to recruit secretory granules to the site of exocytosis.

Distinct roles of C2A and C2B domains of synaptotagmin in the regulation of exocytosis in adrenal chromaffin cells

Synaptotagmin that contains two repeats of C2 regulatory domains is considered to be involved in neurotransmitter release. To reveal the roles of synaptotagmin in the regulation of exocytosis, we examined the effects of antibodies against C2A and C2B domains on Ca2+-evoked catecholamine (CA) release from digitonin-permeabilized adrenal chromaffin cells, resolving the Ca2+-evoked release into ATP-dependent priming and ATP-independent Ca2+-triggered steps. Anti-C2A antibody clearly reduced the ATP-independent release, suggesting that the C2A domain directly facilitate or promote Ca2+-triggered step, vesicular fusion. In contrast, anti-C2B antibody did not affect Ca2+-evoked release by itself, but significantly increased the spontaneous Ca2+-independent release. In addition, inositol high-polyphosphate series (IHPS) that bind the C2B domain inhibited both the ATP-independent Ca2+-evoked release and the spontaneous release in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition by IHPS was totally reversed by anti-C2B antibody and significantly reversed by high concentration of Ca2+. These results suggest that IHPS binding to C2B domain arrests membrane fusion by presumably preventing interaction of synaptotagmin with phospholipids or with proteins of plasma membrane. Thus, IHPS binding to the C2B domain might keep the docked or primed vesicles away from spontaneous fusion at resting level of intracellular Ca2+. Binding of the increased intracellular Ca2+ to the C2A domain may facilitate or trigger the vesicular fusion by releasing this suppression by IHPS.

Neuronal cytotoxicity of inositol hexakisphosphate (phytate) in the rat hippocampus

D-myo-Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6, phytate), a normal cellular constituent, was found to be toxic to neuronal perikarya when injected into the rat hippocampus. However, the extrinsic cholinergic innervation of the hippocampus (as estimated by staining for acetylcholinesterase) was unaffected. Its potency as a toxin was approximately equal to that of the excitotoxin quinolinate. Other highly charged derivatives of inositol (inositol hexakissulphate, inositol monophosphate) were not toxic. The cytotoxicity of InsP6 was not due to a high osmolality, or to seizure-induced lesions, but was reduced by calcium. Nevertheless, the toxicity was not due to chelation of brain calcium by InsP6, as another calcium chelator with a higher affinity for calcium, 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA), produced only a very mild lesion. Thus, abnormal metabolism of InsP6 might possibly contribute to neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases.

Characterization of inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6)-mediated priming in human neutrophils: lack of extracellular [3H]-InsP6 receptors

1. Inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP6) is a ubiquitous and abundant cytosolic inositol phosphate that has been reported to prime human neutrophils for enhanced agonist-stimulated superoxide anion generation. This led to the proposal that the release of InsP6 from necrotic cells may augment the functional responsiveness of neutrophils at an inflammatory focus. The aim of this study was to examine whether the functional effects of InsP6 in neutrophils are receptor-mediated and establish the magnitude of this priming effect relative to other better characterized priming agents. 2. Analysis of [3H]-InsP6 binding to human neutrophil membranes in 20 mM Tris, 20 mM NaCl, 100 mM KCl, 5 mM EDTA (pH 7.7) buffer using 0.1 mg ml-1 membrane protein and 2.5 nM [3H]-InsP6 (90 min, 4 degrees C), demonstrated specific low affinity [3H]-InsP6 binding that was non-saturable up to a radioligand concentration of 10 nM. 3. [3H]-InsP6 displacement by InsP6 gave a Hill coefficient of 0.55 and best fitted a two-site logistic model (53% KD 150 nM, 47% KD 5 microM). [3H]-InsP6 binding also displayed low (3 fold) selectivity for InsP6 over Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5. 4. The specific [3H]-InsP6 binding displayed a pH optimum of 8, was abolished by pre-boiling the membranes, and was enhanced by Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+. 5. In incubations with intact neutrophils, where high levels of specific [3H]-LTB4 binding was observed, no [3H]-InsP6 binding could be identified. 6. Preincubation of neutrophils with 100 microM InsP6 had no effect on resting cell morphology, but caused a minor and transient (maximal at 30 s) enhancement of (0.1 nM) fMLP-induced shape change (% cells shape changed: fMLP 53 +/- 3%, fMLP+InsP6 66 +/- 4%). Similarly, InsP6 (100 microM, 30 s) had no effect on basal superoxide anion generation and, compared to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng ml-1, 60 min), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha, 200 u ml-1, 30 min) or platelet-activating factor (PAF, 100 nM, 5 min) caused only a small enhancement of 100 nM fMLP-stimulated superoxide anion generation (fold-increase in superoxide anion generation over fMLP alone: InsP6 1.8 +/- 0.3, LPS 6.8 +/- 0.6, TNF alpha 5.2 +/- 0.7, PAF 5.8 +/- 0.6). 7. While these data support the presence of a specific, albeit low affinity, [3H]-InsP6 binding site in human neutrophil membrane preparations, the lack of binding to intact cells implies that the functional effects of InsP6 (ie. enhanced fMLP-stimulated superoxide anion generation and shape change) are not receptor-mediated.