Calmodulin (CaM) is a ubiquitous protein that plays a critical role in regulating cellular functions by altering the activity of a large number of proteins, including the d-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor (IP3R). CaM inhibits IP3 binding in both the presence and absence of Ca2+ and IP3-induced Ca2+ release in the presence of Ca2+. We have now mapped and characterized a Ca2+-inde...

RNA interference (RNAi) is a widespread and widely exploited phenomenon. Here, we show that changing inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) signalling alters RNAi sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Reducing IP3 signalling enhances sensitivity to RNAi in a broad range of genes and tissues. Conversely up-regulating IP3 signalling decreases sensitivity. Tissue-specific rescue experiments suggest I...

Inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] is one of the key intracellular second messengers in cells and mobilizes Ca2+ stores in the ER (endoplasmic reticulum). Ins(1,4,5)P3 has a short half-life within the cell, and is rapidly metabolized through one of two pathways, one of which involves further phosphorylation of the inositol ring: Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase (IP3-3K) phosphorylates Ins(1,4,5...

PURPOSE To evaluate the generation of the second messenger molecule inositol triphosphate (IP3) in response to phagocytic challenge in cultures of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) prepared from normal Long Evans or dystrophic Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats. METHODS RPE cultures were phagocytically challenged with isolated rat rod outer segments (ROS) or polystyrene latex spheres (PSL). ...

The role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (1,4,5-IP3) in regulating cytosolic Ca++ by stimulating Ca++ release from intracellular organelles is well established. However, other modes of intracellular Ca++ regulation by 1,4,5-IP3 have not been determined. To determine if 1,4,5-IP3 may regulate cell cytosolic Ca++ by acting on plasma membrane bound Na(+)-Ca++ exchanger, we investigated Ca++ transp...

Xestospongins (Xe's) A, C, D, araguspongine B, and demethylxestospongin B, a group of macrocyclic bis-1-oxaquinolizidines isolated from the Australian sponge, Xestospongia species, are shown to be potent blockers of IP3-mediated Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum vesicles of rabbit cerebellum. XeC blocks IP3-induced Ca2+ release (IC50 = 358 nM) without interacting with the IP3-binding site...

Inositol triphosphate (IP3) is an important second messenger that participates in signal transduction pathways in diverse cell types including hippocampal neurons. Stimulation of phospholipase C in response to various stimuli (hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, neurotrophins, neuromodulators, odorants, light, etc) results in hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate (PIP2),...

1. The effect of intracellular application of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) from the patch pipette was analyzed in isolated rat olfactory neurons under whole-cell patch clamp. 2. Intracellular dialysis of 10 microM 1,4,5-IP3 in K(+)-internal solution induced a sustained depolarization of 35.8 +/- 10.5 (SD) mV (n = 16). The IP3-induced response was observed in 75% of the cells dialyzed with...

The Xenopus oocyte has been a favored model system in which to study spatio-temporal mechanisms of intracellular Ca2+ dynamics, in large part because this giant cell facilitates intracellular injections of Ca2+ indicator dyes, buffers and caged compounds. However, the recent commercial availability of membrane-permeant ester forms of caged IP3 (ci-IP3) and EGTA, now allows for facile loading of...