Non-mitochondrial Pool Research Articles

Role of Cleaved PINK1 in Neuronal Development, Synaptogenesis, and Plasticity: Implications for Parkinson's Disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Consistent with this concept, loss of function mutations in the serine/threonine kinase- PINK1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase-1) causes autosomal recessive early onset PD. While the functional role of f-PINK1 (full-length PINK1) in clearing dysfunctional mitochondria via mitophagy is extensively documented, our understanding of specific physiological roles that the non-mitochondrial pool of PINK1 imparts in neurons is more limited. PINK1 is proteolytically processed in the intermembrane space and matrix of the mitochondria into functional cleaved products (c-PINK1) that are exported to the cytosol. While it is clear that posttranslational processing of PINK1 depends on the mitochondria’s oxidative state and structural integrity, the functional roles of c-PINK1 in modulating neuronal functions are poorly understood. Here, we review the diverse roles played by c-PINK1 in modulating various neuronal functions. Specifically, we describe the non-canonical functional roles of PINK1, including but not limited to: governing mitochondrial movement, neuronal development, neuronal survival, and neurogenesis. We have published that c-PINK1 stimulates neuronal plasticity and differentiation via the PINK1-PKA-BDNF signaling cascade. In addition, we provide insight into how mitochondrial membrane potential-dependent processing of PINK1 confers conditional retrograde signaling functions to PINK1. Further studies delineating the role of c-PINK1 in neurons would increase our understanding regarding the role played by PINK1 in PD pathogenesis.

P66ShcA functions as a contextual promoter of breast cancer metastasis

BackgroundThe p66ShcA redox protein is the longest isoform of the Shc1 gene and is variably expressed in breast cancers. In response to a variety of stress stimuli, p66ShcA becomes phosphorylated on serine 36, which allows it to translocate from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria where it stimulates the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conflicting studies suggest both pro- and anti-tumorigenic functions for p66ShcA, which prompted us to examine the contribution of tumor cell-intrinsic functions of p66ShcA during breast cancer metastasis.MethodsWe tested whether p66ShcA impacts the lung-metastatic ability of breast cancer cells. Breast cancer cells characteristic of the ErbB2+/luminal (NIC) or basal (4T1) subtypes were engineered to overexpress p66ShcA. In addition, lung-metastatic 4T1 variants (4T1-537) were engineered to lack endogenous p66ShcA via Crispr/Cas9 genomic editing. p66ShcA null cells were then reconstituted with wild-type p66ShcA or a mutant (S36A) that cannot translocate to the mitochondria, thereby lacking the ability to stimulate mitochondrial-dependent ROS production. These cells were tested for their ability to form spontaneous metastases from the primary site or seed and colonize the lung in experimental (tail vein) metastasis assays. These cells were further characterized with respect to their migration rates, focal adhesion dynamics, and resistance to anoikis in vitro. Finally, their ability to survive in circulation and seed the lungs of mice was assessed in vivo.ResultsWe show that p66ShcA increases the lung-metastatic potential of breast cancer cells by augmenting their ability to navigate each stage of the metastatic cascade. A non-phosphorylatable p66ShcA-S36A mutant, which cannot translocate to the mitochondria, still potentiated breast cancer cell migration, lung colonization, and growth of secondary lung metastases. However, breast cancer cell survival in the circulation uniquely required an intact p66ShcA S36 phosphorylation site.ConclusionThis study provides the first evidence that both mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial p66ShcA pools collaborate in breast cancer cells to promote their maximal metastatic fitness.

The Antioxidant Role of Non-mitochondrial CoQ10: Mystery Solved!

Although confirmed as the primary lipophilic antioxidant molecule endogenously produced by cells, the non-mitochondrial pool of CoQ10's functional role is still well debated. Recently, both Bersuker etal. (2019) and Doll etal. (2019) have identified FSP1 as a novel CoQ10 plasma membrane oxidoreductase, protecting cells from glutathione-independent ferroptosis.

A Comparative Quantitative Assessment of Axonal and Dendritic mRNA Transport in Maturing Hippocampal Neurons

Translation of mRNA in axons and dendrites enables a rapid supply of proteins to specific sites of localization within the neuron. Distinct mRNA-containing cargoes, including granules and mitochondrial mRNA, are transported within neuronal projections. The distributions of these cargoes appear to change during neuronal development, but details on the dynamics of mRNA transport during these transitions remain to be elucidated. For this study, we have developed imaging and image processing methods to quantify several transport parameters that can define the dynamics of RNA transport and localization. Using these methods, we characterized the transport of mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial mRNA in differentiated axons and dendrites of cultured hippocampal neurons varying in developmental maturity. Our results suggest differences in the transport profiles of mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial mRNA, and differences in transport parameters at different time points, and between axons and dendrites. Furthermore, within the non-mitochondrial mRNA pool, we observed two distinct populations that differed in their fluorescence intensity and velocity. The net axonal velocity of the brighter pool was highest at day 7 (0.002±0.001 µm/s, mean ± SEM), raising the possibility of a presynaptic requirement for mRNA during early stages of synapse formation. In contrast, the net dendritic velocity of the brighter pool increased steadily as neurons matured, with a significant difference between day 12 (0.0013±0.0006 µm/s ) and day 4 (−0.003±0.001 µm/s) suggesting a postsynaptic role for mRNAs in more mature neurons. The dim population showed similar trends, though velocities were two orders of magnitude higher than of the bright particles. This study provides a baseline for further studies on mRNA transport, and has important implications for the regulation of neuronal plasticity during neuronal development and in response to neuronal injury.

7-Deaza cyclic adenosine 5′-diphosphate ribose: first example of a Ca 2+-mobilizing partial agonist related to cyclic adenosine 5′-diphosphate ribose

Cyclic adenosine 5'-diphosphate ribose (cADPR), a naturally occurring metabolite of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), mobilizes Ca2+ from non-mitochondrial stores in a variety of mammalian and invertebrate tissues. It has been shown that cADPR activates ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+)-release channels, working independently of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) to mobilize intracellular Ca2+ stores. In some systems, cADPR has been shown to be more potent than IP3. The chemo-enzymatic synthesis of structurally modified analogues of cADPR can provide pharmacological tools for probing this new Ca(2+)-signaling pathway. In this work, we describe the synthesis and evaluation of a structural mimic of cADPR with different Ca(2+)-releasing properties. 7-Deaza cyclic adenosine 5'-diphosphate ribose (7-deaza cADPR), a novel cADPR analogue modified in the purine ring, was synthesized and its ability to release Ca2+ from non-mitochondrial pools in homogenates made from sea urchin eggs was investigated. 7-Deaza cADPR was more effective in releasing Ca2+ than cADPR, but it only released approximately 66% of the Ca2+ released by a maximal concentration of cADPR. It was also more resistant to hydrolysis than cADPR. If we administered increasing concentrations of 7-deaza cADPR at the same time as a maximal concentration of cADPR, the induction of Ca2+ release by cADPR was antagonized. 7-Deaza cADPR has a Ca(2+)-release profile consistent with that of a partial agonist, and it is the first reported example of such a compound to act at the cADPR receptor. The imidazole ring of cADPR is clearly important in stimulating the Ca(2+)-release machinery, and the present results demonstrate that structural modification of a site other than position 8 of the purine ring can affect the efficacy of Ca2+ release. 7-Deaza cADPR represents a significant step forwards in designing modulators of the cADPR signaling pathway.

Control of the Ca2+ release induced by myo-inositol trisphosphate and the implication in signal transduction.

Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) is a diffusible messenger formed within the cell in response to external stimuli. It mobilizes Ca2+ from those nonmitochondrial Ca2+ pools that express the InsP3 receptor (InsP3R), a specific Ca2+-release channel (Berridge and Irvine, 1989; Berridge, 1993). The nonmitochondrial pools were originally classified as InsP3-sensitive and InsP3insensitive. Recent evidence suggests that the InsP3-sensitive Ca2+ pool is much larger than hitherto expected (Bird et al., 1992) and that InsP3-insensitive Ca2+ pools can artifactually be formed during the permeabilization procedure (Hajnoczky et al., 1994). Under conditions of very mild permeabilization, 95% of the nonmitochondrial Ca2+ pools can be InsP3-sensitive, e.g., in A7r5 smooth muscle cells (Missiaen et al., 1992b).

Enhanced calcium signalling events in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells after treatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP

The effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) treatment on Ca2+ channel activities, Ca2+ accumulation by intracellular Ca2+ pools, and sizes of IP3- and GTP-releasable pools in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells were studied. High extracellular K+ induced a greater rise in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in dbcAMP-treated cells than in control cells. In dbcAMP-treated cells, the initial phase of the high K+-induced [Ca2+]i rise displayed a much higher sensitivity to ω-conotoxin than it did in control cells, whereas the plateau phase of the [Ca2+]i rise was sensitive only to nifedipine. These results indicate that predominantly L-type Ca2+ channels exist in control cells, and that N-type channels develop only after dbcAMP treatment. In dbcAMP-treated cells, mitochondria showed an increased Ca2+ uptake capacity (5.3 nmol Ca2+/mg protein) compared with that in control cells (4.2 nmol Ca2+/mg protein). However, dbcAMP treatment did not cause significant change in the affinity for Ca2+. Dibutyryl cAMP treatment enhanced the Ca2+ accumulation activity by nonmitochondrial pools (from 0.84 to 0.97 nmol Ca2+/mg protein) and increased the affinity for Ca2+ (EC50 for Ca2+ decreased from 0.146 μM to 0.063 μM). Our data also indicate that the pool that is sensitive to both IP3 and GTP was enlarged. The affinities for IP3 and GTP in causing Ca2+ release remained the same before or after dbcAMP treatment.

Mitochondrial Ca 2+ Uptake at Submicromolar [Ca 2+] i in Permeabilized Pancreatic Acinar Cells

We studied the uptake of Ca 2+ in different intracellular Ca 2+ pools by use of steady-state measurement of 45Ca 2+ in a preparation of digitonin-permeabilized pancreatic acinar cells. The Ca 2+ content of all intracellular pools was assessed at different free Ca 2+ concentrations between 0.1 and 1 μM. At low Ca 2+ concentrations, almost 50% of Ca 2+ was taken up, ATP-dependent, in a non-mitochondrial pool. Even at 0.1 μM free Ca 2+ the mitochondrial Ca 2+ pool contained 26% (3.4 ± 0.8 nmol Ca 2+/mg prot) of the total Ca 2+ and this percentage was increased to 49% at 1 μM Ca 2+ (16.7 ± 1.1 nmol Ca 2+/mg prot). Our data also show that the uptake into the non-mitochondrial pool can be further differentiated on the basis of ATP-dependence, and that the ATP-independent uptake has a biphasic dependency on the free Ca 2+ concentration.

Calcium accumulation by organelles within Myxicola axoplasm.

1. 45Ca2+ accumulation into inulin-inaccessible compartments within cytoplasm from the giant axon of Myxicola infundibulum was measured as a function of free calcium, pH, and time. Accumulation reached a maximum after 1 h and remained stable for at least 3 h. 2. At 0.5, 5, and 50 microM [Ca2+], in the presence of 1 mM ATP or 5 mM succinate, steady-state calcium uptake had a bell-shaped dependence on pH with a maximum near pH 7. Uptake was abolished by the proton uncoupling reagent carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone (FCCP, 4 micrograms ml-1). 3. Uptake of the membrane permeant cation, [14C]-tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+), also had a bell-shaped dependence on pH with a maximum pH approximately 7, suggesting a pH dependence of the electrical potential of a membrane enclosed cytoplasmic compartment. Cyanide (2 mM) inhibited TPP+ uptake. 4. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3, 10 microM), reduced steady-state calcium accumulation by 20-22% at 0.5 microM free calcium, pH 7 (P < 0.01, n = 16) and at 5 microM free calcium, pH 8 (P < 0.0005, n = 35). No effects of IP3 were found at other pH or calcium concentrations. 5. Neither guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) nor inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4) had an effect on calcium uptake (5 microM [Ca2+], pH 8). 6. At 0.5 microM free calcium; vanadate (10 microM) inhibited 20-30%, of the 45Ca2+ accumulation, thapsigargin (33 nM) inhibited 20-30%, and cyanide (2 mM) plus oligomycin B (2 micrograms ml-1), or valinomycin (1 microM), inhibited 70-80%. The fraction of uptake sensitive to thapsigargin fell as the free calcium increased; however, the sensitivity of uptake to cyanide plus oligomycin B was approximately 80% for 0.5, 5.0, and 50 microM [Ca2+]. 7. Thapsigargin had no additional inhibiting effect in the presence of cyanide plus oligomycin B. IP3 had no effect in the presence of cyanide plus oligomycin B or other mitochondrial inhibitors. 8. Results suggest the presence of both mitochondrial (70-80%) and non-mitochondrial (20-30%) calcium pools in this system (at 0.5-5.0 microM Ca2+). The apparent non-mitochondrial uptake (sensitive to thapsigargin, or IP3) is not detectable in the presence of mitochondrial inhibitors. We interpret these results as evidence of functional communication between mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial calcium stores.

Acyl-CoA esters modulate intracellular Ca2+ handling by permeabilized clonal pancreatic beta-cells.

Cytosolic free Ca2+ rises in pancreatic beta-cells in response to glucose stimulation and is part of the coupling to insulin secretion. This study evaluates a possible role for cytosolic long chain acyl-CoA esters in modulating Ca2+ handling by clonal beta-cells (HIT). Intact cells incubated with 20 microM free palmitic acid exhibited a 40% decrease in basal cytosolic free Ca2+. In contrast, acyl-CoA esters, up to a chain length of 16, but not the corresponding fatty acids, significantly lowered the Ca2+ set point maintained by cells permeabilized with saponin. The maximum response to the various acyl-CoA esters increased with increasing chain length, with no differences in the half-maximally effective concentration of 0.5 microM. Long chain acyl-CoA esters caused a 40-50% increase in 45Ca2+ influx into a non-mitochondrial pool in the permeabilized HIT cells, consistent with a stimulatory effect on the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, but did not affect inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca(2+)-efflux. Thapsigargin, an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, blocked the decrease in the Ca2+ set point caused by acyl-CoA esters. The ability of acyl-CoA esters to lower the Ca2+ set point depended on the ATP/ADP ratio (or free ADP); the Ca2+ set point was lowered by 36 +/- 3.6% at an ATP/ADP ratio of 90 and by 14 +/- 1.9% at an ATP/ADP ratio of 7. Depletion of cellular protein kinase C did not prevent the acyl-CoA-induced lowering of the Ca2+ set point. These findings suggest that the increases in long chain acyl-CoA esters may play a role in restoring cytosolic free Ca2+ through activation of Ca(2+)-ATPases.

Functional homogeneity of the non-mitochondrial Ca2+ pool in intact mouse lacrimal acinar cells.

In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, treatment of mouse lacrimal acinar cells with maximal concentrations of methacholine released Ca2+ from intracellular stores. No additional Ca2+ was mobilized by subsequent application of the intracellular Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, the stable inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ((1,4,5)IP3) analog, inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate ((2,4,5)IP3) (by microinjection), or the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin. However, following prolonged activation of cells by methacholine in the presence of extracellular Ca2+, Ca2+ accumulated into a pool which was released by ionomycin but not by thapsigargin. This latter accumulation was blocked by prior microinjection of ruthenium red, indicating that it represents mitochondrial uptake. In saponin-permeabilized lacrimal cells, two Ca(2+)-sequestering pools were detected: (i) a ruthenium red-sensitive, thapsigargin-insensitive pool, presumed to be the mitochondria; and (ii) a ruthenium red-insensitive, thapsigargin-sensitive pool. Only the thapsigargin-sensitive pool accumulated Ca2+ at concentrations similar to those in unstimulated cells. The thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ pool was sensitive to (1,4,5)IP3; however, in contrast to findings in intact cells, only 44% of this pool was releasable by (1,4,5)IP3 or (2,4,5)IP3. These data indicate that, in intact lacrimal acinar cells, all exchangeable (ionomycin-sensitive) Ca2+ residues in a pool which responds homogeneously to agonists, (1,4,5)IP3, and thapsigargin. Prolonged elevation of [Ca2+]i results in Ca2+ accumulation into a second, ruthenium red-sensitive pool, presumably mitochondria. Finally, permeabilization of the cells fragments the non-mitochondrial pool, resulting in two pools, one sensitive and one insensitive to (1,4,5)IP3.

Ca2+ uptake by endoplasmic reticulum of renal cortex. II. Effects of uninephrectomy and parathyroidectomy.

Calcium uptake by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is important for cellular calcium homeostasis, yet its regulation in nonmuscle cells is poorly understood. We reported that Ca2+ uptake by a light fraction of canine renal cortical ER (LER) is stimulated by protein kinase C in vitro. Here we describe conditions in vivo that stimulate renal cortical LER Ca2+ uptake. Thirty minutes after contralateral nephrectomy in the dog, 45Ca2+ uptake into renal cortical LER was increased 42% above control LER. There was no difference in LER Ca2+ uptake 24 hours after uninephrectomy. Acute denervation did not reproduce the increase in LER 45Ca2+ uptake seen at 30 minutes after uninephrectomy, nor did prior thyroparathyroidectomy abolish it. Forty-eight hours after thyroparathyroidectomy, 45Ca2+ uptake activity into renal cortical LER was decreased approximately sevenfold. In a proximal tubular cell line (LLC-PK1), 30-minute incubation with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate doubled 45Ca2+ uptake into a nonmitochondrial pool. Pretreatment with epidermal growth factor halved ER Ca2+ uptake, whereas insulin-like growth factor and growth hormone, alone or in combination, had no effect. Our data suggest that Ca2+ uptake into renal cortical ER is stimulated acutely during compensatory renal growth, perhaps through protein kinase C, and is stimulated chronically by parathyroid hormone.

Involvement of calcium in the mevalonate-accelerated degradation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of cholesterol and isoprenoids, is subject to rapid degradation which is regulated by mevalonate (MVA)-derived metabolic products. HMG-CoA reductase is an integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum, the largest nonmitochondrial pool of cellular Ca2+. To assess the possible role of Ca2+ in the regulated degradation of HMG-CoA reductase, we perturbed cellular Ca2+ concentration and followed the fate of HMG-CoA reductase and of HMGal, a fusion protein consisting of the membrane domain of HMG-CoA reductase and the soluble bacterial enzyme beta-galactosidase. The degradation of HMGal mirrors that of HMG-CoA reductase, demonstrating that the membrane domain of HMG-CoA reductase is sufficient to confer regulated degradation (Skalnik, D.G., Narita, H., Kent, C., and Simoni, R.D. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 6836-6841; Chun, K.T., Bar-Nun, S., and Simoni, R.D. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 22004-22010). In this study we show that the MVA-dependent accelerated rates of degradation of HMG-CoA reductase and HMGal in cells maintained in Ca(2+)-free medium are 2-3-fold slower than the rate of degradation in cells grown in high (1.8-2 mM) Ca2+ concentration. This effect is reversed upon addition of Ca2+ to the medium. Furthermore, when cells maintained in high Ca2+ are treated with 1 microM ionomycin, the MVA-dependent accelerated degradation of HMG-CoA reductase and HMGal is also reduced about 2-3-fold. This inhibition is not due to a Ca(2+)-dependent uptake or incorporation of MVA into sterols, since these processes are not affected in the absence of external Ca2+. In addition, cobalt, a known antagonist of Ca(2+)-dependent cellular functions, totally abolishes (IC50 = 520 microM in the presence of 1.8 mM extracellular Ca2+) the MVA-accelerated degradation of HMGal. These results suggest that Ca2+ plays a major role in the regulated degradation of HMG-CoA reductase.

Role of a nonmitochondrial Ca 2+ pool in the synergistic stimulation by cyclic AMP and vasopressin of Ca 2+ uptake in isolated rat hepatocytes

The subcellular distribution of 45Ca 2+ accumulated by isolated rat hepatocytes exposed to dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) followed by vasopressin (Vp) was studied by means of a nondisruptive technique. When treated with dbcAMP followed by vasopressin, hepatocytes obtained from fed rats accumulated an amount of Ca 2+ approximately fivefold higher than that attained under control conditions. Ca 2+ released from the mitochondrial compartment by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) accounted for only a minor portion of the accumulated Ca 2+. The largest portion was released by the Ca 2+ ionophore A23187 and was attributable to a nonmitochondrial compartment. DbcAMP + Vp-treatment also caused a maximal stimulation of glucose production and a twofold increase in cellular glucose 6-phosphate levels. In hepatocytes obtained from fasted rats, dbcAMP + Vp-stimulated Ca 2+ accumulation was lower, although with the same subcellular distribution, and was associated with a minimal glucose production. In the presence of gluconeogenetic substrates (lactate plus pyruvate) hepatocytes from fasted rats were comparable to cells isolated from fed animals. However, Ca 2+ accumulation and glucose 6-phosphate production could be dissociated in the absence of dbcAMP, in the presence of lactate/pyruvate alone. Under this condition in fact Vp induced only a minimal accumulation of Ca 2+ in hepatocytes isolated from fasted rats, although glucose production was markedly increased. Moreover, treatment of fed rat hepatocytes with 1 m m ATP caused a maximal activation of glycogenolysis, but only a moderate stimulation of cellular Ca 2+ accumulation. In this case, sequestration of Ca 2+ occurred mainly in the mitochondrial compartment. By contrast, the addition of ATP to dbcAMP-pretreated hepatocytes induced a large accumulation of Ca 2+ in a nonmitochondrial pool. Additional experiments using the fluorescent Ca 2+ indicator Fura-2 showed that dbcAMP pretreatment can enlarge and prolong the elevation of cytosolic free Ca 2+ caused by Vp. A nonmitochondrial Ca 2+ pool thus appears mainly responsible for the Ca 2+ accumulation stimulated by dbcAMP and Vp in isolated hepatocytes, and cyclic AMP seems able to activate Ca 2+ uptake in such a nonmitochondrial pool.

Calcium pools in sea urchin eggs: Roles of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in relation to fertilization

A preparation of sea urchin eggs permeabilized with digitonin (40 μM for 2.5 min) was used to study the kinetic characteristics of the two cellular compartments suspected to play a key role in cellular calcium transfer during fertilization: an ATP-dependent Ca 2+ pool (Km = 0.47 μM; Vm = 0.48 nmol/min.mg protein) probably located in the endoplasmic reticulum and a mitochondrial Ca 2+ pool (Km = 1.50 μM; Vm = 0.12 nmol/min.mg protein). Fertilization triggered a decrease in the rate of ATP dependent uptake by the non-mitochondrial pool (Km = 0.59 μM; Vm = 0.15 nmol/min.mg protein) while it transiently increased the Ca 2+ uptake into mitochondria (2 min post-fertilization: Km = 2.20 μM; Vm = 0.40 nmol/min.mg protein). Microanalysis studies performed on quickly frozen, freeze substituted and embedded eggs showed a transient Ca 2+ enrichment of mitochondria soon after fertilization thus suggesting that mitochondria behave as a Ca 2+ sink at fertilization. Results are discussed in relation to the role of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in handling free calcium during the early period following sea urchin egg fertilization.

Ca2+ release and InsP3 production in avian uterine cells: effects of PGF2 alpha and AVT

Primary cultures of smooth muscle cells isolated from the shell gland ("uterus") of the domestic hen were permeabilized with digitonin and loaded with 45Ca2+ in the presence of ATP. When these cells were stimulated with prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), arginine vasotocin (AVT), or D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], there was a rapid, biphasic, and dose-related release of 45Ca2+ from nonmitochondrial pools. 2-Nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-N,N-diphenylcarbamate, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, had no effect on PGF2 alpha - and Ins(1,4,5)P3-promoted 45Ca2+ efflux, whereas it significantly inhibited AVT-stimulated and a stable analogue of GTP-stimulated 45Ca2+ release. In fura-2-loaded intact cells, both PGF2 alpha and AVT increased intracellular Ca2+ levels [( Ca2+]i) in a dose-related manner in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. However, omission of extracellular Ca2+ prevented a PGF2 alpha, but not AVT-induced, rise in [Ca2+]i In D-myo-[3H]inositol-labeled cells, 10 nM AVT caused a rapid, two- to threefold increase in [3H]-Insp3, whereas PGF2 alpha up to 1 microM was infective. Raising PGF2 alpha to 10 microM increased total inositol phosphates by 22% over controls (P less than 0.05). These results point to marked differences in the mechanisms by which AVT and PGF2 alpha regulate [Ca2+]i in uterine smooth muscle cells. It is suggested that the two agonists act in concert to initiate oviposition.

Intracellular Calcium Pools in Neuroblastoma × Glioma Hybrid NG108–15 Cells

The intracellular nonmitochondrial calcium pools of saponin-permeabilized NG108-15 cells were characterized using inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and GTP. IP3 or GTP alone induced release of 47 and 68%, respectively, of the calcium that was releasable by A23187. GTP induced release of a further 24% of the calcium after IP3 treatment, whereas IP3 induced release of a further 11% of the calcium after GTP treatment. Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate had little effect on IP3-induced calcium release but completely inhibited GTP-induced calcium release. In contrast, heparin inhibited the action of IP3 but not that of GTP. The results imply the existence of at least three nonmitochondrial pools: (a) 31% is releasable by IP3 and GTP, (b) 11% is releasable by IP3 alone, and (c) 24% is releasable by GTP alone. GTP enhanced calcium uptake in the presence of oxalate with an EC50 of 0.6 microM and stimulated calcium release in the absence of oxalate with an EC50 of 0.32 microM. The similar EC50 values for these dual effects of GTP on calcium movement suggest that GTP exerts its dual action by the same mechanism.

Effects of Prostaglandin F2 on the Mobilization of Cytosolic Free Calcium in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and on the Tension of Aortic Strips from Rats

The possible mechanism of action of prostaglandin F2 alpha on vascular smooth muscle was investigated. Prostaglandin F2 alpha induced sustained tonic vasoconstriction of rat aortic strips, accompanied by rapid increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) in the vascular smooth muscle cells. Prostaglandin F2 alpha also evoked rapid increase in production of inositol 1,4,5,-trisphosphate (Ins-P3). Moreover, it increased release of Ca2+ from nonmitochondrial pools in digitonin-permeabilized vascular smooth muscle cells, although this effect was much weaker than that of Ins-P3. These results suggest that the sustained action of prostaglandin F2 alpha may involve not only a rise in [Ca2+]i mediated by Ins-P3, but also a direct stimulation of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone- Induced Rise in Cytosolic Free Ca2+Levels: Mobilization of Cellular and Extracellular Ca2+Pools and Relationship to Gonadotropin Secretion

Addition of GnRH to pituitary gonadotrophs preloaded with Quin 2 resulted in a rapid (approximately 8 s) mobilization of an ionomycin-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ pool. A second component of Ca2+ entry via voltage dependent channels contributed about 45% of the peak cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Thereafter, influx of Ca2+ via voltage-sensitive and -insensitive channels is responsible for maintenance of elevated [Ca2+]i during the second phase of GnRH action. Addition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) to permeabilized pituitary cells resulted in a Ca2+ transient, released from a nonmitochondrial pool, which maintained ambient free Ca2+ concentration around 170 nM in an ATP-dependent mechanism. Successive stimulations of the cells with IP3 produced an attenuated response. Elevation of the gonadotroph [Ca2+]i by ionomycin, to levels equivalent to that induced by GnRH, resulted in LH release amounting to only 45% of the response to the neurohormone. Activation of the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels by the dihydropyridine Ca2+-agonist [methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-pyridine- 5-carboxylate (BAYK8644)] stimulated LH release, 36% of the GnRH (100 nM) response being reached by 10(-8) M of the drug, both [Ca2+]i elevation and GnRH-induced LH release were inhibited similarly (40-50%) by the dihydropyridine Ca2+-antagonist nifedipine. The results indicate that peak [Ca2+]i induced by GnRH in pituitary gonadotrophs is derived mainly from ionomycin-sensitive cellular stores most likely via IP3 formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of steady-state free Ca2+ levels by the ATP/ADP ratio and orthophosphate in permeabilized RINm5F insulinoma cells.

Stimulation of insulin secretion in the pancreatic beta-cell by a fuel such as glucose requires the metabolism of the fuel and is accompanied by increases in oxygen consumption and intracellular free Ca2+. A very early signal for these events could be a decrease in the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio due to fuel phosphorylation. To test this hypothesis the regulation of free Ca2+ was evaluated in permeabilized RINm5F insulinoma cells that sequester Ca2+ and maintain a low medium free Ca2+ concentration (set point), between 100 and 200 nM, in the presence of Mg2+ and ATP. ATP, creatine, creatine phosphate, and creatine phosphokinase were added to the media to achieve various constant ratios of ATP/ADP. Free Ca2 was monitored using fura-2. The results demonstrated that the steady-state free Ca2+ concentration varied inversely with the ATP/ADP ratio and orthophosphate (Pi) levels. In contrast, no correlation between free Ca2+ and the phosphorylation potential (ATP/ADP.Pi) was found. Regulation of the Ca2+ set point by the ATP/ADP ratio was observed at ratios between 5 and 50 and at Pi concentrations between 1 and 7 mM, irrespective of whether mitochondria were participating in Ca2+ sequestration or were inhibited. Increasing the ATP/ADP ratio stimulated Ca2+ uptake by the nonmitochondrial pool but did not modify Ca2+ efflux. Glucose 6-phosphate (1 mM) had no effect on the Ca2+ set point. The data suggest that variations in the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio induced by fuel stimuli may regulate Ca2+ cycling across nonmitochondrial compartments and the plasma membrane by modulating the activity of Ca2+ -ATPases. A mechanism linking fuel metabolism and cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio to activation of the Ca2+ messenger system in pancreatic beta-cells is proposed.