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J B Parys

Publications and source records attributed to J B Parys.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Calcium, calcium release receptors, and meiotic resumption in bovine oocytes.

During maturation, mammalian oocytes undergo a series of changes that prepare them for fertilization. These events are regulated by kinases, most notably histone H1 and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) oscillations participate in oocyte signaling, and it has been postulated that they play a role in oocyte maturation. In these studies we investigated the association of Ca2+, Ca2+ channels, and activation of kinases in in vitro-maturating bovine oocytes. BAPTA-AM, a Ca2+ chelator, inhibited oocyte maturation and delayed activation of kinases, although spontaneous [Ca2+]i rises were not observed in control oocytes loaded with fura-2, a Ca2+ indicator. The ability of the 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) to release Ca2+, monitored after the addition of thimerosal and myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3), increased as maturation progressed. This may be associated with a similar increase, monitored by Western blotting, in the density of the type I InsP3R isoform during oocyte maturation. Injection of heparin, an InsP3R antagonist, blocked oocyte maturation and activation of kinases. The density of the ryanodine receptor, another Ca2+ channel, may be 30- to 100-fold lower than that of the InsP3R in bovine oocytes. Thus, our results demonstrate that [Ca2+]i participates in the progression of meiosis and that the InsP3R may be responsible for the majority of Ca2+ release during maturation and fertilization.

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Characterization of a cytosolic and a luminal Ca2+ binding site in the type I inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor.

To study the Ca2+ regulation of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) at the molecular level, we expressed various cytosolic and luminal regions of the mouse type I InsP3R as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins. 45Ca2+ and ruthenium red overlay studies and Stains-all spectra and staining revealed both a cytosolic and a luminal Ca2+ binding site. The luminal Ca2+ binding site was mapped to the nonconserved acidic subregion of the luminal loop between amino acids 2463 and 2528. A K0.5 of 0.3 microM and a Hill coefficient of 1.1 were determined by 45Ca2+ overlay by quantification of 45Ca2+ binding on blots. The cytosolic Ca2+ binding site was localized in a region just preceding the transmembrane domain M1. The Ca2+ binding was mapped to a 23-amino acid stretch between amino acids 2124 and 2146. This cytosolic region showed a single high affinity site for Ca2+, with a K0.5 of 0. 8 microM and a Hill coefficient of 1.0. Neither of the identified Ca2+ binding regions contained an EF-hand motif. We conclude that the type I InsP3R has at least two quite distinct types of Ca2+ binding sites, which are localized in different structural regions of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Kinetics of the non-specific calcium leak from non-mitochondrial calcium stores in permeabilized A7r5 cells.

We have investigated the detailed kinetics of the passive Ca2+ leak from non-mitochondrial Ca2+ stores in permeabilized A7r5 cells. The decrease in the content of stored Ca2+ in the presence of 2 microM thapsigargin deviated from a single-exponential curve in the initial phase of the efflux. The deviation persisted after correcting this efflux for passively bound Ca2+. The non-single-exponential nature of the spontaneous release also occurred when the initial store Ca2+ content was reduced to 40% of its original value by pretreatment with 200 nM inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3). The passive Ca2+ leak could be modelled by two exponential curves with discrete rate constants of 0.06 min-1 and 0.98 min-1, and not by any other type of non-exponential decay. We concluded that individual store units are heterogeneous with respect to their passive Ca2+ permeability. This non-exponential nature of the passive Ca2+ release is unrelated to the non-single-exponential InsP3-induced Ca2+ release.

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Threshold for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate action.

We developed a unidirectional 45Ca2+ efflux technique in which 60 cumulative doses of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3), each lasting 6 s, were subsequently added to permeabilized A7r5 cells. This technique allowed an accurate determination of the threshold for InsP3 action, which was around 32 nM InsP3 under control conditions. The InsP3-induced Ca2+ release was characterized by an initial rapid phase, after which the normalized rate progressively decreased. The slowing of the release was associated with a shift of the threshold to higher InsP3 concentrations. Stimulatory concentrations of thimerosal (10 microM) shifted the threshold to 4.5 nM InsP3 and increased both the cooperativity and the maximal normalized rate of Ca2+ release. This low threshold was maintained when the thimerosal concentration was increased to inhibitory levels (100 microM) but then the effects on the cooperativity and on the normalized rate of Ca2+ release disappeared. Oxidized glutathione (5 mM) was much less effective in stimulating the release and did not have an effect on the threshold or on the cooperativity. ATP (5 mM) stimulated the release despite a shift in threshold toward higher InsP3 concentrations. Luminal Ca2+ did not affect the threshold for InsP3 action but stimulated the normalized release at each InsP3 concentration. The inhibitory effect of 10 microM free cytosolic Ca2+ was associated with a shift in threshold to higher InsP3 concentrations and a decreased cooperativity of the release process. We conclude that this novel technique of accurately measuring the threshold for InsP3 action under various experimental conditions has allowed us to refine the analysis of the kinetic parameters involved in the regulation of the InsP3 receptor.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Expression and function of ryanodine receptors in nonexcitable cells.

We have used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to investigate the expression of ryanodine receptors in several excitable and nonexcitable cell types. Consistent with previous reports, we detected ryanodine receptor expression in brain, heart, and skeletal muscle. In addition, we detected ryanodine receptor expression in various other excitable cells including PC 12 and A7r5 cells. Several muscle cell lines (BC3H1, C2C12, L6, and Sol8) weakly expressed ryanodine receptor when undifferentiated but strongly expressed type 1 and type 3 ryanodine receptor isoforms when differentiated into a muscle phenotype. Only 2 (HeLa and LLC-PK1 cells) out of 11 nonexcitable cell types examined expressed ryanodine receptors. Expression of ryanodine receptors at the protein level in these cells was confirmed using [3H]ryanodine binding. We also investigated the function of ryanodine receptors in Ca2+ signaling in HeLa cells using single-cell Fura-2 imaging. Neither caffeine nor ryanodine caused a detectable elevation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ in single HeLa cells. However, ryanodine caused a significant decrease in the amplitude of Ca 2+ signals evoked by repetitive stimulation with ATP. These studies show that ryanodine receptors are expressed in some nonexcitable cell types and furthermore suggest that the ryanodine receptors may be involved in a subtle regulation of intracellular Ca2+ responses.

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Hypotonically induced calcium release from intracellular calcium stores.

Osmotic cell swelling induced by hypotonic stress is associated with a rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which is at least partly due to a release of Ca2+ from internal stores. Since osmotic influx of water dilutes the cytoplasmic milieu, we have investigated how nonmitochondrial Ca2+ stores in permeabilized A7r5 cells respond to a reduction in cytoplasmic tonicity. We now present experimental evidence for a direct Ca2+ release from the stores when exposed to a hypotonic medium. The release is graded, but does not occur through the inositol trisphosphate or the ryanodine receptor. Ca2+ seems to be released through the passive leak pathway, and this phenomenon can be partially inhibited by divalent cations in the following order of potency: Ni2+ = Co2+ > Mn2+ > Mg2+ > Ba2+. This release also occurs in intact A7r5 cells. This novel mechanism of hypotonically induced Ca2+ release is therefore an inherent property of the stores, which can occur in the absence of second messengers. Intracellular stores can therefore act as osmosensors.

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Initiation sites for Ca2+ signals in endothelial cells.

Intracellular Ca2+ signals in response to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-producing agents often present themselves as Ca2+ oscillations and propagating Ca2+ waves originating at discrete initiation sites. We studied the spatial organization of the Ca2+ signal in single CPAE endothelial cells stimulated with adenosine triphosphate. The long, thin processes presented a higher agonist sensitivity and, for the same agonist concentration, a faster rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and rate of wave propagation than the cell body. Ca2+ waves originated preferentially in one of these processes and then invaded the cell body. Removal of external Ca2+ induced a progressive inhibition up to blockade of the response in the process but not in the cell body. These findings suggest that CPAE cells contain many individual store units, each of which has the inherent ability to set the stage for Ca2+ release. A diffusing messenger originating from the initiation zone then coordinates the events leading to Ca2+ release in the individual store units to produce a Ca2+ wave.

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Mechanisms responsible for quantal Ca2+ release from inositol trisphosphate-sensitive calcium stores.

Activation of cells by hormones, growth factors or neurotransmitters leads to an increased production of inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) and, after activation of the InsP3 receptor (InsP3R), to Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores. The release of intracellular Ca2+ is characterised by a graded response when submaximal doses of agonists are used. The basic phenomenon, called "quantal Ca2+ release", is that even the maintained presence of a submaximal dose of agonist or of InsP3 for long time periods (up to 20 min) provokes only a partial release of Ca2+. This partial, or quantal, release phenomenon is due to the fact that the initially very rapid InsP3-induced Ca2+ release eventually develops into a much slower release phase. Physiologically, quantal release allows the Ca2+ stores to function as increment detectors and to induce local Ca2+ responses. The basic mechanism for quantal release of Ca2+ is presently not known. Possible mechanisms to explain the quantal behaviour of InsP3- induced Ca2+ release include the presence of InsP3Rs with varying sensitivities for InsP3, heterogeneous InsP3R distribution, intrinsic inactivation of the InsP3Rs, and regulation of the InsP3Rs by Ca2+ store content. This article reviews critically the evidence for the various mechanisms and evaluates their functional importance. A Ca2+-mediated conformational change of the InsP3R is most likely the key feature of the mechanism for quantal Ca2+ release, but the exact mode of operation remains unclear. It should also be pointed out that in intact cells more than one mechanism can be involved.

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Quantal release of calcium in permeabilized A7r5 cells is not caused by intrinsic inactivation of the inositol trisphosphate receptor.

Since the role of intrinsic inactivation of the receptor for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) in the phenomenon of quantal release of Ca2+ is still a point of debate, we investigated whether inactivation of the InsP3 receptor can be responsible for quantal release in permeabilized A7r5 cells. A crucial experiment was that a second challenge of the cells with a low dose of InsP3, after washing out the first challenge, was unable to produce a renewed phasic response under conditions where the Ca2+ pumps were blocked. A new phasic response was however obtained with either addition of a higher dose of InsP3 or after allowing the refilling of the Ca2+ stores. We conclude therefore that quantal Ca2+ release in A7r5 cells is not due to InsP3 receptor inactivation.

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Control of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release by cytosolic Ca2+.

The synergistic action of cytosolic Ca2+ and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) in releasing intracellular Ca2+ stores has been suggested to be responsible for the complex intracellular Ca2 signals observed during hormonal stimulation of many cell types. However, the ability of cytosolic Ca2+ to potentiate Ca2+ release has recently been questioned because of the observed inhibitory effects of Ca2+ chelators used in previous studies. In the present study, EGTA and BAPTA [1,2-bis-(2-amino-phenoxy)ethane- NNN'N'-tetra-acetic acid] poorly inhibited InsP3-induced Ca2+ release from permeabilized A7r5 smooth-muscle cells. Additionally, stimulatory effects of cytosolic and luminal Ca2+ were observed either in the complete absence of Ca2+ chelator or at constant Ca(2+)-free chelator concentration. These data suggest that potentiation of InsP3-induced Ca2+ release by Ca2+ in A7r5 cells reflects an interaction between Ca2+ and InsP3 receptors, rather than a decrease in chelator-dependent inhibition. The EC50 for activation of InsP3-induced Ca2+ release by cytosolic Ca2+ was unaffected by ATP, or by changing InsP3 concentration, although InsP3-induced Ca2+ release became less sensitive to the inhibitory effects of cytosolic Ca2+ as the InsP3 concentration was elevated. Increasing H+ or Mg2+ concentration shifted the Ca(2+)-activation curve towards higher Ca2+ concentrations. These data suggest that, in addition to the InsP3-binding site, the affinity of the Ca(2+)-binding site(s) on InsP3 receptors can be modulated by intracellular cations.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Slow kinetics of InsP3-induced Ca2+ release: differences between uni- and bi-directional 45Ca2+ fluxes.

The effects of a long-lasting stimulation with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) have been studied in monolayers of permeabilized A7r5 cells. When measured under unidirectional 45Ca2+ efflux conditions, i.e. in the presence of 2 microM thapsigargin, an initial fast release was observed which then progressively slowed down into a slow phase which persisted for up to 20 min. When measured under bidirectional 45Ca2+ flux conditions with functional Ca2+ pumps, a transient phase of re-uptake occurred between the initial fast and the subsequent slow release phase. These kinetics are compatible with intrinsic inactivation of the InsP3 receptor. However, this inactivation did not prevent the slow release component. The slow component was not due to the accumulation of an InsP3 metabolite nor to a GTP-dependent translocation of Ca2+ between stores. The slow release phase was more pronounced when the Ca2+ pumps were active than when they were inhibited. This observation is compatible with other findings indicating that the InsP3 receptor is controlled by luminal Ca2+. The decreasing effectiveness of a 20 min lasting InsP3 challenge in mobilizing Ca2+ from less filled stores is most likely due to a progressive depletion of the store and cannot be considered as an experimental artifact caused by a preferential emptying of InsP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores. We conclude that the InsP3 receptor can intrinsically inactivate but that this inactivation is unable to prevent the slow release, which is especially pronounced when Ca2+ pumps are active.

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The inositol trisphosphate receptor of Xenopus oocytes.

Xenopus laevis oocytes (stages V and VI) are a widely used model system for the study of Ca2+ signaling. The properties of the Xenopus oocyte InsP3 receptor (InsP3R) are of paramount importance for our thinking about this system and for our efforts to model Ca2+ dynamics in the oocyte cytosol. The recent data regarding the molecular structure, the regulation and the functional properties of the Xenopus oocyte InsP3R are summarized in this review. The main properties of the Xenopus oocyte InsP3R are compared with the properties of the cerebellar InsP3R and are shown to be remarkably similar. The density of the InsP3R in Xenopus oocyte cytoplasm is estimated to a value between 1.1-4.1 x 10(14) tetrameric InsP3R/l. The use of these numbers in a quantitative model of Ca2+ wave propagation leads to values of Ca2+ wave amplitude (0.8-1.5 microM Ca2+) and velocity of the wave propagation (12-24 microns/s) that are in excellent agreement with the values observed experimentally. The density of InsP3Rs in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum is estimated to be about 20,000-fold higher, but in other types of neurons and in peripheral tissues the InsP3R density is estimated to be of the same order of magnitude as, or up to 20-fold higher than, in Xenopus oocytes. The implications of differences in InsP3R density for Ca2+ signaling are discussed.

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Rat basophilic leukemia cells as model system for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor IV, a receptor of the type II family: functional comparison and immunological detection.

This study concerns the detection and analysis of the highly homologous type II-like inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptors (InsP3R-II, -IV and -V). We have particularly investigated RBL-2H3 cells, which at the mRNA level predominantly expressed InsP3R-IV [De Smedt H. Missiaen L. Parys JB. et al. (1994) Determination of relative amounts of inositol trisphosphate receptor mRNA isoforms by ratio polymerase chain reaction. J. Biol. Chem., 269, 21691-21698]. When measured in identical experimental conditions, microsomes from RBL-2H3 cells were characterized by a much higher InsP3 binding affinity (Kd 3.8 +/- 0.8 nM, Bmax 0.40 +/- 0.08 pmol/mg protein) than microsomes from A7r5 cells (Kd 65 +/- 7 nM, Bmax 0.65 +/- 0.08 pmol/mg protein) or from cerebellum (Kd 135 +/- 14 nM, Bmax 7.35 +/- 1.13 pmol/mg protein). An affinity-purified antibody against the C-terminus of type II-like InsP3Rs detected, after SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting, a 250 kD protein in RBL-2H3 and C3H10T1/2 cells, but not in other cell types. An isoform-specific antibody against the C-terminus of InsP3R-I was used to determine the presence of the various InsP3R-I splice isoforms at the protein level. The 273 kD (brain), 261 kD (peripheral tissues) and 256 kD (Xenopus oocytes) isoforms were recognized. Expression of InsP3R-I in RBL-2H3 cells was very low. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that InsP3R isoforms may differ to a large extent in their affinity for InsP3 and suggest that RBL-2H3 cells are a useful model for the study of InsP3R-IV.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Molecular and functional diversity of inositol triphosphate-induced Ca(2+) release].

A remarkable duality concerning the role of intracellular Ca2+ ions is observed. At one side Ca2+ is a universal secondary messenger, and at the other side a prolonged increase of the Ca2+ concentration will lead to pathological conditions. This is the reason that Ca2+ signals occur in complex spatio-temporal patterns such as waves and oscillations. This behaviour reflects the existence of a fundamental heterogeneity at the level of the molecular and functional parameters that regulate the Ca2+ fluctuations. The molecular basis of the complex Ca2+ signals is the regenerative character of the inositol trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) responsible for the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. In this work, we describe the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the expression of the InsP3R isoforms in various cell types. It appeared that there exist at least 5 different isoforms and that the isoforms of type II, IV and the newly described receptor of type V form a sub-family. The type I receptors are ubiquitous, but most cell types express in addition one or more isoforms. In the second part of this work, we describe the functional heterogeneity that results from the interaction of the InsP3R with InsP3 as well as with allosteric factors. In this study we demonstrate that the InsP3R isoforms show remarkable differences with respect to their sensitivity for InsP3. An extremely important modulator of the InsP3R is the Ca2+ ion itself. Cytosolic Ca2+ has a stimulatory as well as an inhibitory role. The Ca2+ present in the lumen of the store is also an important regulator of the InsP3R. In the third part of this work we have made a correlation between the observed molecular and functional heterogeneity and the fundamental physiological properties of complex Ca2+ signals, like quantal release, Ca2+ oscillations and Ca2+ waves. Both the isoform diversity and the regulation of the InsP3R by cytosolic and luminal Ca2+ are necessary for the fine-tuning of the Ca2+ signals. The isoform diversity may also play a role in the origin of asymmetrical signals present in polarised cells and in the InsP3-dependent signals through the plasma membrane and through the perinuclear membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Determination of relative amounts of inositol trisphosphate receptor mRNA isoforms by ratio polymerase chain reaction.

The relative expression of different inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) mRNA was determined in a selection of murine and rat cell types that are commonly used to study InsP3-mediated Ca2+ signaling. Different mRNA species (encoding the known InsP3R isoforms) were co-amplified using common polymerase chain reaction primer pairs that recognized sequences that are totally conserved between the various InsP3R. Specific identification of the co-amplified sequences was done by restriction site analysis. In cerebellum, mRNA encoding InsP3R-I accounted for > 90% of the total InsP3R mRNA. This isoform was also present in all other cell types tested and was often the major isoform. In contrast, the level of expression of the other isoforms was cell type-specific. A new InsP3R isoform (type V) was detected that had 94.5% sequence identity with the InsP3R-II in the amplified region. Interestingly, this isoform was largely expressed in murine but not in rat cells. We functionally characterized InsP3R-V using the mouse fibroblast C3H10T1/2 cells, where mRNA encoding InsP3R-V accounted for 76.4% of the total InsP3R mRNA. InsP3-induced Ca2+ release in permeabilized C3H10T1/2 cells was regulated by luminal and cytosolic Ca2+, stimulated by thimerosal, and inhibited by caffeine.

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