Precursor Of Inositol Research Articles

Phosphoinositides in Ca(2+) signaling and excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle: an old player and newcomers.

Since the postulate, 30 years ago, that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P 2) as the precursor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P 3) would be critical for skeletal muscle excitation-contraction (EC) coupling, the issue of whether phosphoinositides (PtdInsPs) may have something to do with Ca(2+) signaling in muscle raised limited interest, if any. In recent years however, the PtdInsP world has expanded considerably with new functions for PtdIns(4,5)P 2 but also with functions for the other members of the PtdInsP family. In this context, the discovery that genetic deficiency in a PtdInsP phosphatase has dramatic consequences on Ca(2+) homeostasis in skeletal muscle came unanticipated and opened up new perspectives in regards to how PtdInsPs modulate muscle Ca(2+) signaling under normal and disease conditions. This review intends to make an update of the established, the questioned, and the unknown regarding the role of PtdInsPs in skeletal muscle Ca(2+) homeostasis and EC coupling, with very specific emphasis given to Ca(2+) signals in differentiated skeletal muscle fibers.

The Biphasic Increase of PIP2 in the Fertilized Eggs of Starfish: New Roles in Actin Polymerization and Ca2+ Signaling

BackgroundFertilization of echinoderm eggs is accompanied by dynamic changes of the actin cytoskeleton and by a drastic increase of cytosolic Ca2+. Since the plasma membrane-enriched phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) serves as the precursor of inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (InsP3) and also regulates actin-binding proteins, PIP2 might be involved in these two processes.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn this report, we have studied the roles of PIP2 at fertilization of starfish eggs by using fluorescently tagged pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of PLC-δ1, which has specific binding affinity to PIP2, in combination with Ca2+ and F-actin imaging techniques and transmission electron microscopy. During fertilization, PIP2 increased at the plasma membrane in two phases rather than continually decreasing. The first increase was quickly followed by a decrease about 40 seconds after sperm-egg contact. However, these changes took place only after the Ca2+ wave had already initiated and propagated. The fertilized eggs then displayed a prolonged increase of PIP2 that was accompanied by the appearance of numerous spikes in the perivitelline space during the elevation of the fertilization envelope (FE). These spikes, protruding from the plasma membrane, were filled with microfilaments. Sequestration of PIP2 by RFP-PH at higher doses resulted in changes of subplasmalemmal actin networks which significantly delayed the intracellular Ca2+ signaling, impaired elevation of FE, and increased occurrences of polyspermic fertilization.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results suggest that PIP2 plays comprehensive roles in shaping Ca2+ waves and guiding structural and functional changes required for successful fertilization. We propose that the PIP2 increase and the subsequent formation of actin spikes not only provide the mechanical supports for the elevating FE, but also accommodate increased membrane surfaces during cortical granule exocytosis.

Phosphoinositide signalling and cardiac arrhythmias

Arrhythmias arise from a complex interaction between structural changes in the myocardium and changes in cellular electrophysiology. Electrophysiological balance requires precise control of sarcolemmal ion channels and exchangers, many of which are regulated by phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate. Phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate is the immediate precursor of inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate, a regulator of intracellular Ca2+ signalling and, therefore, a potential contributor to arrhythmogenesis by altering Ca2+ homeostasis. The aim of the present review is to outline current evidence that this signalling pathway can be a player in the initiation or maintenance of arrhythmias.

Critical role of PIP5KIγ87 in InsP3-mediated Ca2+ signaling

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is the obligatory precursor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3 or IP3) and is therefore critical to intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we identified the short splice variant of type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase γ (PIP5KIγ87) as the major contributor of the PIP2 pool that supports G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated IP3 generation. PIP5KIγ87 RNAi decreases the histamine-induced IP3 response and Ca2+ flux by 70%. Strikingly, RNAi of other PIP5KI isoforms has minimal effect, even though some of these isoforms account for a larger percent of total PIP2 mass and have previously been implicated in receptor mediated endocytosis or focal adhesion formation. Therefore, PIP5KIγ87's PIP2 pool that supports GPCR-mediated Ca2+ signaling is functionally compartmentalized from those generated by the other PIP5KIs.

Regional changes in rat brain inositol monophosphatase 1 (IMPase 1) activity with chronic lithium treatment

Myo-inositol monophosphatase 1 (IMPase 1) is one of the targets for the mood-stabilizing action of lithium. Inhibition of IMPase is the basis for the “inositol depletion hypothesis” for the molecular action of lithium. To better understand the precise action of chronic (up to 4 weeks) lithium treatment on IMPase 1 activity, we measured IMPase 1 activity using both a colorimetric and a radiometric assay in rats (53–58 days old) fed a diet containing 0.2% lithium carbonate. Our results show that IMPase 1 activity increases substantially in the various brain regions analyzed, even doubling in some regions in the following order, after chronic treatment: hippocampus>cerebellum>striatum>cerebral cortex>brain stem. Both the qualitative and quantitative increases of IMPase 1 activity by chronic lithium treatment were substantiated by Western blot analysis of hippocampal and cerebral cortex regions. We conclude that the increased IMPase 1 activity is an adaptational response to chronic lithium treatment, and may involve direct or indirect stimulation of IMPA1 (which encodes IMPase 1) and/or turnover of the enzyme. The increased enzyme activity may alter critical neurochemical processes involving either free myo-inositol, the precursor of inositol based signaling system or other metabolic pathways, since IMPase 1 also utilizes selective sugar phosphates, such as galactose-1-phosphate, as substrates. One or more of these signal and metabolic pathways may be associated with lithium's psychotherapeutic mood-stabilizing action.

Maitotoxin triggers the cortical reaction and phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate breakdown in amphibian oocytes

Maitotoxin, a potent marine toxin extracted from peredinians, was found to mimic fertilization in Xenopus oocytes and to trigger the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2, the precursor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate], an increase of intracellular pCa and the cortical reaction, including the exocytosis of cortical granules and a wave-like propagation of contraction in the animal hemisphere. All these effects of maitotoxin required the presence of external calcium. Moreover, the toxin considerably increased Ca2+ influx in amphibian oocytes arrested at first meiotic prophase, due to the permanent activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Nevertheless it is doubtful that maitotoxin acts primarily as a Ca2+ ionophore or at the level of Ca2+ channels. Indeed no stimulation of Ca2+ uptake was observed in metaphase-II-arrested oocytes, although maitotoxin readily triggered the breakdown of PtdIns(4,5)P2 as well as the cortical reaction in such cells. On the other hand, PtdIns(4,5)P2 breakdown was not reduced in oocytes microinjected with EGTA, although the calcium chelator prevented the oocytes from undergoing the cortical reaction. Taken together, these findings support the view that the toxin might act primarily by increasing PtdIns(4,5)P2 phosphodiesterase activity.

Calcium modulation of phosphoinositide kinases in transverse tubule vesicles from frog skeletal muscle

Highly purified transverse tubule membranes isolated from frog skeletal muscle phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate. The two phosphorylation reactions have different calcium requirements. Phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, which takes place in both isolated transverse tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, is independent of calcium in a range of concentrations from 10 −9 to 10 −6 m, and is progressively inhibited to 10% of the maximal values by increasing calcium to 10 −4 m or higher ( K 0.5 = 5 × 10 −6M). In contrast, phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate to phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate, a reaction exclusively present in transverse tubule membranes, is maximal at calcium concentrations higher than 2 × 10 −6 m and decreases to 30% of maximal values at calcium concentrations of 2 × 10 −7 m or lower ( K 0.5 = 10 −6M). Unlike frog membranes, transverse tubules from rabbit muscle need exogenous phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate in order to produce the bisphosphate derivative in the same range of calcium concentrations. Inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate has been proposed recently as a chemical messenger in excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle. Calcium regulation of the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate, the membrane-bound precursor of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate, might have physiological implications regarding modulation of excitation-contraction coupling by intracellular calcium levels.

Inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and not phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate is the probable precursor of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in agonist-stimulated parotid gland

When [3H]inositol-prelabelled rat parotid-gland slices were stimulated with carbachol, noradrenaline or Substance P, the major inositol trisphosphate produced with prolonged exposure to agonists was, in each case, inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. Much lower amounts of radioactivity were present in the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate fraction separated by anion-exchange h.p.l.c. Analysis of the inositol trisphosphate head group of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate in [32P]Pi-labelled parotid glands showed the presence of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, but no detectable phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate. Carbachol-stimulated [3H]inositol-labelled parotid glands contained an inositol polyphosphate with the chromatographic properties and electrophoretic mobility of an inositol tetrakisphosphate, the probable structure of which was determined to be inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. Since an enzyme in erythrocyte membranes is capable of degrading this tetrakisphosphate to inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate, it is suggested to be the precursor of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in parotid glands.

Perturbation of the human T-cell antigen receptor-T3 complex leads to the production of inositol tetrakisphosphate: evidence for conversion from inositol trisphosphate.

Antibodies directed against the T-cell antigen receptor-T3 complex mimic antigen and lead to cellular changes consistent with activation. When cells of the human T-cell line Jurkat were stimulated with a monoclonal antibody directed against T3, inositol phosphates were produced. In addition to inositol trisphosphate, which is the product of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate cleavage, a second inositol polyphosphate was formed. This compound was more polar than inositol trisphosphate but less polar than inositol pentakisphosphate. It cochromatographed with inositol tetrakisphosphate from ostrich erythrocytes. In permeabilized Jurkat cells, this compound was shown to be formed from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, but only in the presence of ATP, and 32P was incorporated into it from [gamma-32P]ATP. There also was coincident formation of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. We conclude that the more polar compound is inositol tetrakisphosphate, which is formed by phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and may be the precursor of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate.

Rapid formation of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate following muscarinic receptor stimulation of rat cerebral cortical slices.

Carbachol stimulation of muscarinic receptors in rat cortical slices prelabelled with myo-[2-3H]inositol caused the rapid formation of a novel inositol polyphosphate. Evidence derived from its chromatographic behaviour, and from the structure of the products formed in partial dephosphorylation experiments, suggests that it is probably D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. An enzyme in human red cell membranes specifically removes the 5-phosphate from it to form inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. It is suggested that inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate is likely to be a second messenger, and that it is the precursor of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate and possibly of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate.