Biochemical and biophysical characterization of inositol-tetrakisphosphate 1-kinase inhibitors.

Over 30 inositol polyphosphates are known to exist in mammalian cells; however, the majority of them have uncharacterized functions. In this study we investigated the molecular basis of synthesis of highly phosphorylated inositol polyphosphates (such as inositol tetrakisphosphate, inositol pentakisphosphate (IP5), and inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6)) in rat cells. We report that heterologous expression of rat inositol polyphosphate kinases rIPK2, a dual specificity inositol trisphosphate/inositol tetrakisphosphate kinase, and rIPK1, an IP5 2-kinase, were sufficient to recapitulate IP6 synthesis from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in mutant yeast cells. Overexpression of rIPK2 in Rat-1 cells increased inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (I(1,3,4,5,6)P5) levels about 2-3-fold compared with control. Likewise in Rat-1 cells, overexpression of rIPK1 was capable of completely converting I(1,3,4,5,6)P5 to IP6. Simultaneous overexpression of both rIPK2 and rIPK1 in Rat-1 cells increased both IP5 and IP6 levels. To reduce IPK2 activity in Rat-1 cells, we introduced vector-based short interference RNA against rIPK2. Cells harboring the short interference RNA had a 90% reduction of mRNA levels and a 75% decrease of I(1,3,4,5,6)P5. These data confirm the involvement of IPK2 and IPK1 in the conversion of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate to IP6 in rat cells. Furthermore these data suggest that rIPK2 and rIPK1 act as key determining steps in production of IP5 and IP6, respectively. The ability to modulate the intracellular inositol polyphosphate levels by altering IPK2 and IPK1 expression in rat cells will provide powerful tools to study the roles of I(1,3,4,5,6)P5 and IP6 in cell signaling.

Eukaryotes possess numerous inositol phosphate (IP) and diphosphoinositol phosphate (PP-IPs or inositol pyrophosphates) species that act as chemical codes important for intracellular signaling pathways. Production of IP and PP-IP molecules occurs through several classes of evolutionarily conserved inositol phosphate kinases. Here we report the characterization of a human inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) and diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (PP-IP5 or IP7) kinase with similarity to the yeast enzyme Vip1, a recently identified IP6/IP7 kinase (Mulugu, S., Bai, W., Fridy, P. C., Bastidas, R. J., Otto, J. C., Dollins, D. E., Haystead, T. A., Ribeiro, A. A., and York, J. D. (2007) Science 316, 106-109). Recombinant human VIP1 exhibits in vitro IP6 and IP7 kinase activities and restores IP7 synthesis when expressed in mutant yeast. Expression of human VIP1 in HEK293T cells engineered to produce high levels of IP7 results in dramatic increases in bisdiphosphoinositol tetrakisphosphate (PP2-IP4 or IP8). Northern blot analysis indicates that human VIP1 is expressed in a variety of tissues and is enriched in skeletal muscle, heart, and brain. The subcellular distribution of tagged human VIP1 is indicative of a cytoplasmic non-membrane localization pattern. We also characterized human and mouse VIP2, an additional gene product with nearly 90% similarity to VIP1 in the kinase domain, and observed both IP6 and IP7 kinase activities. Our data demonstrate that human VIP1 and VIP2 function as IP6 and IP7 kinases that act along with the IP6K/Kcs1-class of kinases to convert IP6 to IP8 in mammalian cells, a process that has been found to occur in response to various stimuli and signaling events.

Inositol phosphate kinases (IPKs) sequentially phosphorylate inositol phosphates (IPs) to yield a group of small signaling molecules involved in diverse cellular processes. IPK1 (inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase) phosphorylates inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate to inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate; however, the mechanism of IP recognition employed by IPK1 is currently unresolved. We demonstrated previously that IPK1 possesses an unstable N-terminal lobe in the absence of IP, which led us to propose that the phosphate profile of the IP was linked to stabilization of IPK1. Here, we describe a systematic study to determine the roles of the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 6-phosphate groups of inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate in IP binding and IPK1 activation. The 5- and 6-phosphate groups were the most important for IP binding to IPK1, and the 1- and 3-phosphate groups were more important for IPK1 activation than the others. Moreover, we demonstrate that there are three critical residues (Arg-130, Lys-170, and Lys-411) necessary for IPK1 activity. Arg-130 is the only substrate-binding N-terminal lobe residue that can render IPK1 inactive; its 1-phosphate is critical for full IPK1 activity and for stabilization of the active conformation of IPK1. Taken together, our results support the model for recognition of the IP substrate by IPK1 in which (i) the 4-, 5-, and 6-phosphates are initially recognized by the C-terminal lobe, and subsequently, (ii) the interaction between the 1-phosphate and Arg-130 stabilizes the N-terminal lobe and activates IPK1. This model of IP recognition, believed to be unique among IPKs, could be exploited for selective inhibition of IPK1 in future studies that investigate the role of higher IPs.

Inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase (IPK1) converts inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate(IP5) to inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6). IPK1 shares structural similarity with protein kinases and is suspected to employ a similar mechanism of activation. Previous studies revealed roles for the 1- and 3-phosphates of IP5 in IPK1 activation and revealed that the N-lobe of IPK1 is unstable in the absence of inositol phosphate (IP). Here, we demonstrate the link between IPK1 substrate specificity and the stability of its N-lobe. Limited proteolysis of IPK1 revealed that N-lobe stability is dependent on the presence of the 1-phosphate of the substrate, whereas overall stability of IPK1 was increased in ternary complexes with nucleotide and IPs possessing 1- and 3-phosphates that engage the N-lobe of IPK1. Thus, the 1- and 3-phosphates possess dual roles in both IPK1 activation and IPK1 stability. To test whether kinase stability directly contributed to substrate selectivity of the kinase, we engineered IPK1 mutants with disulfide bonds that artificially stabilized the N-lobe in an IP-independent manner thereby mimicking its substrate-bound state in the absence of IP. IPK1 E82C/S142C exhibited a DTT-sensitive 5-fold increase in kcat for 3,4,5,6-inositol tetrakisphosphate (3,4,5,6-IP4) as compared with wild-type IPK1. The crystal structure of the IPK1 E82C/S142C mutant confirmed the presence of the disulfide bond and revealed a small shift in the N-lobe. Finally, we determined that IPK1 E82C/S142C is substantially more stable than wild-type IPK1 under nonreducing conditions, revealing that increased stability of IPK1 E82C/S142C correlates with changes in substrate specificity by allowing IPs lacking the stabilizing 1-phosphate to be used. Taken together, our results show that IPK1 substrate selection is linked to the ability of each potential substrate to stabilize IPK1.

A large proportion of the organic P in soils can occur as scyllo ‐inositol phosphates. These compounds are rarely detected elsewhere in nature and remain poorly understood, partly because conventional procedures for their determination are lengthy and erroneous. We report a straightforward procedure for the determination of scyllo ‐inositol phosphates in soil extracts using solution 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Solution 31 P NMR chemical shifts of a range of synthetic scyllo ‐inositol phosphate esters were determined in alkaline solution. Of these, only the signal corresponding to scyllo ‐inositol hexa kis phosphate at approximately 4.2 ppm was identified in soil NaOH–EDTA extracts, constituting between 6.5 and 9.8% of the NaOH–EDTA extracted P. This signal has been previously assigned to choline phosphate, but we confirmed it to be an inositol phosphate using hypobromite oxidation, a procedure that destroys all organic matter except inositol phosphates. Lower order scyllo ‐inositol phosphate esters were not identified in the extracts studied here, and literature reports suggest that they probably occur in insufficient concentrations to be detected by this procedure. The identification of scyllo ‐inositol hexa kis phosphate in soils and other environmental samples will allow its quantification in a range of environments, and facilitate research into the origins and function of this enigmatic compound.

1. A detailed structural survey has been made of the inositol phosphates of unstimulated and vasopressin-stimulated WRK-1 rat mammary tumour cells. Inositol phosphate peaks were separated by h.p.l.c., and structural assignments were made for more than 20 compounds by combinations of: (a) co-chromatography with labelled standards; (b) site-specific enzymic dephosphorylation; (c) complete and partial periodate oxidation, followed by h.p.l.c. of polyols and their stereospecific oxidation by dehydrogenases; and (d) ammoniacal hydrolysis. 2. The 'inositol monophosphates' fraction from unstimulated cells included an uncharacterized peak, probably containing some glycerophosphoinositol, and Ins(1:2-cyclic)P. Stimulation provoked accumulation of both Ins1P and Ins3P, of Ins2P, and of Ins5P and/or the enantiomers Ins4P and Ins6P. The proportions of Ins1P and Ins3P were determined by partial periodate oxidation and enantiomeric identification of the resulting glucitols. 3. Three inositol bisphosphate peaks were detected in unstimulated cells: Ins(1,4)P2 [this was distinguished chemically from its enantiomer Ins(3,6)P2], Ins(3,4)P2 and/or Ins(1,6)P2, and Ins(4,5)P2 and/or Ins(5,6)P2. On stimulation, Ins(1,4)P2 and Ins(3,4)P2 [and/or Ins(1,6)P2] levels increased, and Ins(1:2-cyclic,4)P2 and Ins(1,3)P2 were also formed. 4. Three inositol trisphosphate peaks were obtained from unstimulated cells: all increased during stimulation. These were Ins(1,3,4)P3 [with some Ins(1:2-cyclic,4,5)P3], Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(3,4,5)P3 [and/or Ins(1,5,6)P3]. During stimulation, another compound, probably Ins(1,4,6)P3, appeared in the 'Ins(1,4,5)P3 peak'. The 'Ins(3,4,5)P3 peak' contained a second trisphosphate, probably Ins(2,4,5)P3. 5. Three inositol tetrakisphosphates, namely Ins(1,3,4,6)P4, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, were present in unstimulated cells, and all accumulated during stimulation. 6. Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5, which is the most abundant inositol polyphosphate in these cells, a less abundant inositol pentakisphosphate and inositol hexakisphosphate were all unresponsive to stimulation.

To better understand the physiological importance of acid phosphatase activity we examined the effects of inorganic and organic phosphorus growth sources on enzyme activity and 32P uptake in several ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mycelium of eight isolates from four basidiomycete species demonstrated optimal p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity at pH 4.5 or 5.0. Acid phosphatase activities varied between strains of Scleroderma citrinum and between the species examined. Interspecific differences in isozyme patterns of whole cell extracts were apparent in native polyacrylamide gels. The isoelectric points of the predominant phosphatases in whole cell extracts were in the pH 5.0 to 5.5 range. Growth of fungi on inositol hexaphosphate versus inorganic P did not affect the isozyme patterns detected by either electrophoretic method. Growth on inositol hexaphosphate affected surface and soluble activities towards p-nitrophenyl phosphate and inositol phosphate to different degrees in species examined. Phytase activity was sufficient to produce a net release of P in all isolates. Growth on inositol hexaphosphate was associated with increased uptake of 32P from inositol polyphosphate in four of five species examined. Acid phosphatase, measured with p-nitrophenyl phosphate, was positively correlated with 32P uptake. Decreased phytase activities measured for inositol hexaphosphate grown mycelium were associated with increased P influx in such mycelium. Both phosphatase activity and 32P uptake were subject to inorganic P inhibition with 32P uptake demonstrating a greater sensitivity. These results provide further evidence for the role of surface acid phosphatases in organic P utilization by ectomycorrhizal fungi. Key words: acid phosphatase, ectomycorrhizal fungi, phytase.

The solubility of iron oxides in soils is governed by crystal size, crystal order, isomorphous substitutions, and associations with other minerals. Their dissolution occurs by protonation, reduction, or complexation with ligands such as phosphate and inositol phosphates. In this work, the interaction of inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) and phosphate (Pi) with ferrihydrite (Fh) or ferrihydrite-kaolinite systems (Fh-KGa2) was studied to assess the effects on iron oxide dissolution. Adsorption of IHP and Pi on a two-line Fh and Fh-KGa2 was performed in the range 0 to 0.004 mol P L -1 , and the release of P and Fe from samples of Fh or Fh-KGa2 saturated with IHP or Pi was evaluated at different pHs. The amount of P adsorbed on Fh increased, reaching a plateau at 2.12 μmol m -2 for IHP and 4.57 μmol m -2 for Pi. Sorption on KGa2 was lower. It increased to 2.24 μmol m -2 for IHP and to 2.96 μmol m -2 for Pi on Fh-KGa2. On the basis of the IHP/Pi ratios, it was hypothesised that IHP interacted with Fh through two of its six phosphate groups, whereas it interacted with Fh-KGa2 through one P group. Phosphate desorption from these complexes occurred only at pH ≥ 4.5 and was higher for Pi than for IHP and from the Fh-KGa2 system than from Fh. The desorption of IHP was followed by a consistent Fe release, higher at basic pHs. By contrast, Pi adsorption inhibited dissolution of both minerals, although the anion was desorbed in higher amounts compared with the P organic form.

The polymer inorganic polyP (polyphosphate) and inositol phosphates, such as IP6 (inositol hexakisphosphate; also known as phytic acid), share many biophysical features. These similarities must be attributed to the phosphate groups present in these molecules. Given the ability of polyP to modify the excitation-emission spectra of DAPI we decided to investigate whether inositol phosphates possess the same property. We discovered that DAPI-IP6 complexes emit at approximately 550 nm when excited with light of wavelength 410-420 nm. IP5 (inositol pentakisphosphate) is also able to induce a similar shift in DAPI fluorescence. Conversely, IP3 (inositol trisphosphate) and IP4 (inositol tetrakisphosphate) are unable to shift DAPI fluorescence. We have employed this newly discovered feature of DAPI to study the enzymatic activity of the inositol polyphosphate multikinase and to monitor phytase phosphatase reactions. Finally, we used DAPI-IP6 fluorescence to determine the amount of IP6 in plant seeds. Using an IP6 standard curve this straight-forward analysis revealed that among the samples tested, borlotti beans possess the highest level of IP6 (9.4 mg/g of dry mass), whereas the Indian urad bean the lowest (3.2 mg/g of dry mass). The newly identified fluorescence properties of the DAPI-IP5 and DAPI-IP6 complexes allow the levels and enzymatic conversion of these two important messengers to be rapidly and reliably monitored.

Neutrophils play critical roles in innate immunity and host defense. However, excessive neutrophil accumulation or hyper-responsiveness of neutrophils can be detrimental to the host system. Thus, the response of neutrophils to inflammatory stimuli needs to be tightly controlled. Many cellular processes in neutrophils are mediated by localized formation of an inositol phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3), at the plasma membrane. The PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 signaling pathway is negatively regulated by lipid phosphatases and inositol phosphates, which consequently play a critical role in controlling neutrophil function and would be expected to act as ideal therapeutic targets for enhancing or suppressing innate immune responses. Here, we comprehensively review current understanding about the action of lipid phosphatases and inositol phosphates in the control of neutrophil function in infection and inflammation.

Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous protein kinase that can phosphorylate various proteins involved in central cellular processes, such as signal transduction, cell division, and proliferation. We have shown that the human nucleolar phosphoprotein p140 (hNopp140) is able to regulate the catalytic activity of CK2. Unphosphorylated hNopp140 and phospho-hNopp140 bind to the regulatory and catalytic subunits of CK2, respectively, and the interaction between hNopp140 and CK2 was prevented by inositol hexakisphosphate (InsP(6)). Phosphorylation of alpha-casein, genimin, or human phosphatidylcholine transfer protein-like protein by CK2 was inhibited by hNopp140, and InsP(6) recovered the suppressed activity of CK2 by hNopp140. These observations indicated that hNopp140 serves as a negative regulator of CK2 and that InsP(6) stimulates the activity of CK2 by blocking the interaction between hNopp140 and CK2.

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.

Diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (PP-IP5) and bis(diphospho)inositol tetrakisphosphate (bis-PP-IP4) were recently identified as inositol phosphates which possess pyrophosphate bonds. The molecular mechanisms that regulate the cellular levels of these compounds are not yet characterized. To pursue this question, we have previously purified an inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) kinase from rat brain supernatants [Voglmaier, S. M., et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93, 4305-4310]. We now report the identification and purification of another novel kinase, diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (PP-IP5) kinase, which uses PP-IP5 as a substrate to form bis(diphospho)inositol tetrakisphosphate (bis-PP-IP4) in soluble fractions of rat forebrain. The purified protein, a monomer of 56 kDa, displays high affinity (Km = 0.7 microM) and selectivity for PP-IP5 as a substrate. The purified enzyme also can transfer a phosphate from bis-PP-IP4 to ADP to form ATP. This ATP synthase activity is an indication of the high phosphoryl group transfer potential of bis-PP-IP4 and may represent a physiological role for PP-IP5 and bis-PP-IP4.

There are recent reports that inositol phosphate metabolism is involved in the development of malignant hyperthermia (MH). Consequently, we investigated the basal concentration of inositol phosphate products in skeletal and heart muscles of malignant hyperthermia-susceptible (MHS) and healthy control (MHN) swine. Different inositol phosphates were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography, including inositol trisphosphate, tetrakisphosphate, pentakisphosphate and hexakisphosphate. All inositol phosphate products measured had a higher concentration in MHS than MHN in skeletal (304-1330%) as well as heart muscles (134-440%). An activation of the inositol phosphate metabolism has been shown to mobilise intracellular calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. It is therefore concluded that, firstly, besides involvement of the skeletal muscles a primary myocardial abnormality in MHS is possible; and secondly, the idea that the inositol phosphate metabolism could be involved in the development of MH is additionally supported.

The phosphate esters of myo-inositol (Ins) occur ubiquitously in biology. These molecules exist as soluble or membrane-resident derivatives and regulate a plethora of cellular functions including phosphate homeostasis, DNA repair, vesicle trafficking, metabolism, cell polarity, tip-directed growth, and membrane morphogenesis. Phosphorylation of all inositol hydroxyl groups generates phytic acid (InsP6), the most abundant inositol phosphate present in eukaryotic cells. However, phytic acid is not the most highly phosphorylated naturally occurring inositol phosphate. Specialized small molecule kinases catalyze the formation of the so-called myo-inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs), such as InsP7 and InsP8. These molecules are characterized by one or several "high-energy" diphosphate moieties and are ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells. In plants, PP-InsPs play critical roles in immune responses and nutrient sensing. The detection of inositol derivatives in plants is challenging. This is particularly the case for inositol pyrophosphates because diphospho bonds are labile in plant cell extracts due to high amounts of acid phosphatase activity. We present two steady-state inositol labeling-based techniques coupled with strong anion exchange (SAX)-HPLC analyses that allow robust detection and quantification of soluble and membrane-resident inositol polyphosphates in plant extracts. These techniques will be instrumental to uncover the cellular and physiological processes controlled by these intriguing regulatory molecules in plants.