Inositol phosphate metabolism: further problems and some solutions

Diabetes induces selective alterations in the expression of protein kinase C isoforms in hepatocytes

Membrane and cytosol fractions from hepatocytes of both normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals were probed with a panel of polyclonal anti-peptide antisera in order to identify protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. Immunoreactive species were noted with antisera specific for alpha (approximately 81 kDa), beta-II (approximately 82 kDA), epsilon (approximately 95 kDa) and epsilon (approximately 79 kDa). In addition, a species migrating with an apparent size of approximately 94 kDa was also detected in cytosol fractions using an antiserum specific for PKC-alpha. Each of these species was specifically displaced when the PKC-isoform specific peptide was included in the immunodetection system. No immunoreactive species consistent with the presence of the beta-I, gamma, delta and eta isoforms of protein kinase C was observed. Induction of diabetes using streptozotocin invoked selective alterations in the expression of PKC isoforms which were reversed upon insulin therapy. In the cytosol fraction, marked increases of approximately 3-fold occurred in levels of the beta-II isoform and the approximately 90 kDa (upper) form of PKC-alpha, with no apparent/little change in the levels of the approximately 81 kDa (lower) form of PKC-alpha and those of PKC-zeta. Diabetes induction also appeared to have elicited the translocation of PKC-beta-II and the approximately 81 kDa (lower) form of PKC-alpha to the membrane fraction where immunoreactivity for these species was now apparent. The level of PKC-epsilon, which was noted only in membrane fractions, was also increased upon induction of diabetes. It is suggested that the selective alterations in the expression of PKC isoforms occurring upon streptozotocin-induced diabetes may lead to altered cellular functioning and underly defects in inhibitory G-protein functioning and insulin action which characterise this animal model of diabetes.

Glucagon, vasopressin and angiotensin all elicit a rapid, transient increase in hepatocyte protein kinase C activity

Challenge of intact hepatocytes with one of the hormones vasopressin, angiotensin and glucagon or with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) led to a rapid increase in the activity of protein kinase C found in both cytosol and membrane fractions. Maximal activation by hormones occurred within 1-6 min of challenge of cells, after which activity declined. In membrane fractions protein kinase C activity return to basal levels some 15 min after exposure of cells to either angiotensin or glucagon. In cytosol fractions of cells challenged with hormones a second phase of activation ensued after about 10 min, with levels of protein kinase C activity remaining elevated above basal level 15 min afterwards. Activity changes elicited by PMA were rather different; it took about 15 min to achieve maximal activation of cytosolic protein kinase C activity. In membranes of cells challenged with PMA, an initial rapid and transient activation was followed by a sustained increase in activity occurring about 10 min after exposure of cells to this ligand. Only when hepatocytes were challenged with PMA was the translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to membrane fraction observed. The kinetics of PMA-induced translocation suggested that it accounted for the second phase of the increase in membrane protein kinase C activity which was unique to this ligand.

Rapid and selective isolation of radiolabelled inositol phosphates from cancer cells using solid-phase extraction

A method is described for rapid and selective determination of radiolabelled inositol phosphates in cancer cells using solid-phase extraction with Bond Elut strong anion-exchange minicolumns. The inositol phosphates IP1, IP2 and IP3 are selectively eluted with 0.05, 0.3 and 0.8 M ammonium formate-0.1 M formic acid, respectively. Cancer cells are extracted with 10% perchloric acid which is then neutralised prior to loading samples on to the minicolumns. Recovery is 54.1, 66.6 and 61.3% for IP1, IP2 and IP3 with between-day coefficients of variation of 7.6, 6.8 and 1.9%, respectively. When the method was applied to cancer cells high-performance liquid chromatographic analyses confirmed both the identity of the IP1, IP2 and IP3 fractions and showed that there was no detectable cross contamination of these inositol phosphates with each other.

Inositol phosphates formed in rat aorta after alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation are inhibited by forskolin

Rat aortic smooth muscle rings without endothelial cells were subjected to alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation. We measured the contractile state of the smooth muscle cells and the formation of inositol phosphates (InsPs) on receptor stimulation. Using different extracellular calcium-containing solutions (2.5 mM, 0.1 mM and Ca(2+)-free) enabled us to discriminate three contractile phases after noradrenaline (10(-5) M) stimulation: an initial fast contraction (15 s) and a fast and slow component of the sustained contraction, which was established 10 min after stimulation. Under normal calcium conditions in the presence of 10 mM LiCl the formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 was increased predominantly after stimulation, while the formation of Ins(1,3,4)P3, Ins(1,3,4,6)P4, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 and InsP5/InsP6 was also stimulated. The cAMP-inducing agent forskolin (0.5 microM) induced a relaxation of the basal tone and increased the level of the InsP4 isomers. The noradrenaline-induced contractile responses as well as the formation of InsP fractions mentioned were inhibited by forskolin. Further an increase in the formation of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate was observed. It is concluded that in rat aorta InsPs and in particular Ins(1,4,5)P3 is involved in the different contractile phases caused by alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation. The relaxation induced by forskolin under these circumstances could be explained by an interaction of forskolin, most likely via the formation of cAMP, with InsPs formation at the level of phospholipase C activation.

Regulation of endothelin-mediated calcium mobilization in vascular smooth muscle cells by isoproterenol

We have investigated the effect of isoproterenol on endothelin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in A10 vascular smooth muscle cells. Endothelin (ET) stimulates a rapid and sustained elevation of intracellular Ca2+ mediated by production of inositol phosphates, release of intracellular Ca2+, and activation of a plasmalemmal Ca2+ influx pathway. This influx pathway appears to be a L-type channel because it is inhibited by nicardipine and activated by BAY K 8644. Depolarization of the cells, by elevating extracellular K+, activated a pharmacologically similar channel and produced a similar change in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Preincubation of cells with isoproterenol reduced the peak Ca2+ response to endothelin and blocked the sustained elevation. However, isoproterenol did not alter K(+)-induced Ca2+ entry. Thus it appears that ET-induced entry is mediated by intracellular signals and not by depolarization. With the use of cells incubated in Ca2(+)-free medium containing 1 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, isoproterenol was shown to inhibit Ca2+ release from intracellular pools by 36 +/- 3%. Furthermore, isoproterenol pretreatment or addition of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) to saponin-permeabilized cells inhibited inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular sites. Similar effects were seen with forskolin. Propranolol reversed the inhibitory effects of isoproterenol. Isoproterenol pretreatment also inhibited the rapid formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and [2-3H]inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate stimulated by endothelin and reduced the sustained formation of these compounds. Finally, isoproterenol and forskolin led to a greater than 10-fold increase in intracellular cAMP levels. This stimulation of adenylate cyclase by isoproterenol was completely blocked by propranolol. It appears then that the beta-agonist isoproterenol interacts with a beta-adrenergic receptor, elevates cAMP, and thereby alters endothelin-induced Ca2+ mobilization. Inhibition of Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation, reduction in the responsiveness of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 intracellular receptor, and perhaps inhibition of ET-induced Ca2+ entry appear to be involved.

Sensory transduction in eukaryotes. A comparison between Dictyostelium and vertebrate cells

The organization of multicellular organisms depends on cell-cell communication. The signal molecules are often soluble components in the extracellular fluid, but also include odors and light. A large array of surface receptors is involved in the detection of these signals. Signals are then transduced across the plasma membrane so that enzymes at the inner face of the membrane are activated, producing second messengers, which by a complex network of interactions activate target proteins or genes. Vertebrate cells have been used to study hormone and neurotransmitter action, vision, the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Sensory transduction in lower eukaryotes is predominantly used for other functions, notably cell attraction for mating and food seeking. By comparing sensory transduction in lower and higher eukaryotes general principles may be recognized that are found in all organisms and deviations that are present in specialised systems. This may also help to understand the differences between cell types within one organism and the importance of a particular pathway that may or may not be general. In a practical sense, microorganisms have the advantage of their easy genetic manipulation, which is especially advantageous for the identification of the function of large families of signal transducing components.

Inositol 1,3,4,6-tetrakisphosphate mobilizes calcium in Xenopus oocytes with high potency

Injection of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 into Xenopus oocytes evoked Ca2(+)-dependent membrane currents with a potency 5-10 times less than Ins(1,4,5)P3, whereas Ins(1,3,4)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 were almost ineffective. Responses to Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 arose through liberation of intracellular Ca2+ and through entry of extracellular Ca2+. These results, together with the observation that Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 facilitated responses to Ins(1,4,5)P3, suggests that both of these compounds may act on the same intracellular receptors.

Properties of a soluble inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate 3-phosphatase from porcine brain

We have previously shown that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 is degraded to Ins(1,4,5)P3 by a soluble Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 3-phosphatase from pig brain [Höer, Kwiatkowski, Seib, Rosenthal, Schultz & Oberdisse (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 154, 668-675]. Here we present some properties of this enzyme using [5-32P]Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 as substrate. The molecular mass, estimated by gel filtration chromatography on a Superose 6 column, was determined to be 36 kDa. The 3-phosphatase showed a high affinity towards the substrate Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (Km approximately 400 nM); the Vmax. of the freshly prepared enzyme was 2 nmol/min per mg of protein. The influence of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4)P3, the reaction products of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 hydrolysis by either 3- or 5-phosphatase respectively, on the 3-phosphatase was tested. Both isomers inhibited the enzyme, with Ki values of about 2 microM and 1.75 microM for Ins(1,3,4)P3 and Ins(1,4,5)P3 respectively. Enzyme activity was not influenced by Mg2+ up to 30 mM or Ca2+ up to 1 mM. Commercially available Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 from turkey erythrocytes produced a marked inhibition of the 3-phosphatase (Ki approximately 500 nM). Significant inhibitory effects on enzyme activity were also found with GTP and the pyrimidine nucleotides UTP and CTP. The kinetic data presented here suggest that the Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 3-phosphatase may be regulated by the intracellular concentrations of inositol tris- and tetrakis-phosphates.

Short- and long-term desensitization of serotonergic response in Xenopus oocytes injected with brain RNA: roles for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and protein kinase C

In Xenopus oocytes injected with rat brain RNA, serotonin (5HT) and acetylcholine (ACh) evoke membrane responses through a common biochemical cascade that includes activation of phospholipase C, production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins1,4,5-P3), release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, and opening of Ca-dependent Cl- channels. The response is a Cl- current composed of a transient component (5HT1 or ACh1) and a slow, long-lasting component (5HT2 or ACh2). Here we show that only the fast, but not the slow, component of the response is subject to desensitization that follows a previous application of the transmitter. The recovery of 5HT1 from desensitization is biphasic, suggesting the existence of two types of desensitization: short-term desensitization (STD), which lasts for less than 0.5 h; and long-term desensitization (LTD) lasting for up to 4 h. The desensitization between 5HT and ACh is heterologous and long-lasting. We searched for (a) the molecular target and (b) the cause of desensitization. (a) Pre-exposure to 5HT does not reduce the response evoked by intracellular injection of Ca2+ and by Ca2+ influx. Cl- current evoked by intracellular injection of Ins1,4,5-P3 was reduced shortly after application of 5HT, but fully recovered 30 min later. Thus, the Cl- channel is not a target for desensitization. Neither Ins1,4,5-P3 receptor nor the Ca2+ store is a target of LTD but they may be the targets of STD. (b) Ca2+ injection did not inhibit the 5HT response, suggesting that Ca2+ is not a sole cause of STD or LTD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Purification of bovine brain inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase. Identification of the enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) 3-kinase catalyses the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of InsP3 to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4). A method is presented for the rapid purification of InsP3 3-kinase from bovine brain by calmodulin (CaM)-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Maximal activation of the purified InsP3 3-kinase by Ca2+/CaM was 6-7-fold as compared with the activity measured in the presence of EGTA (1 mM) and 10 microM-InsP3. At 10 microM-InsP3 and 0.1 mM free Ca2+, half-maximal activation required about 2 nM-CaM. The mechanism of activation by CaM appeared to be an increase in the maximal velocity of the enzyme without a substantial change in the Km for InsP3. Further purification was achieved by phosphocellulose chromatography eluted with ATP. Specific activity of the purified enzyme at 37 degrees C and 10 microM-InsP3 was 10-20 mumol/min per mg. The apparent Mr of the enzyme, determined by f.p.l.c.-gel filtration, was estimated as about 44,000. The purified InsP3 3-kinase was subjected to SDS/10%-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. InsP3 3-kinase activity was associated with three silver-stained bands, which migrated with apparent Mr values of approx. 52,000, 38,000 and 35,000.

Identification of the bovine brain Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase catalyzes the dephosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in the 5-position. In a high speed soluble fraction of bovine brain, there are two soluble 5-phosphatases: type I and type II. The purified Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase type I exhibits a major silver-stained band of 43 kDa on denaturing (SDS) gels. It is possible to extract the 5-phosphatase activity form a duplicate lane after gel electrophoresis. The 43 kDa region contains the extractable Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphatase activity.