ABSTRACT: Inositol-polyphosphate-induced Ca2+ mobilization was investigated in saponin-permeabilized SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Ins(1,4,5)P3 induced a dose-related release from intracellular Ca2+ stores with an EC50 (concn. giving half-maximal effect) of 0.1 microM and a maximal release of 70%. Ins(1,3,4)P3, DL-Ins(1,4,5,6)P4 and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 did not evoke Ca2+ mobilization in these cells when used at concentrations up to 10 microM. However, Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was found to release Ca2+ in a dose-related manner, but the response was dependent on the source of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 used. When commercially available D-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was used, the EC50 and maximal response values were 1 microM and 50% respectively, compared with values for chemically synthesized DL-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 of 2 microM and 25%. The enhanced maximal response of commercial D-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 was decreased by pretreatment with rat brain crude Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase and was therefore concluded to be indicative of initial Ins(1,4,5)P3 contamination of the Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 preparation. When metabolism of DL-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (10 microM) in these cells at 25 degrees C was investigated by h.p.l.c., substantial amounts of Ins(1,4,5)P3 (0.2 microM) and Ins(1,3,4)P3 (0.8 microM) were found to be produced within 3 min. Analysis of DL-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 incubation with cells at 4 degrees C, however, indicated that metabolism had been arrested ([3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 detection limits were estimated to be approx. 0.01 microM). When chemically synthesized DL-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 and incubation conditions of low temperature were used, the Ca2(+)-releasing properties of this compound were established to be 1 microM and 19% for the EC50 and maximal response values respectively. The results obtained strongly suggest that Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 alone has the ability to release intracellular Ca2+. However, in the presence of sub-maximal concentrations of Ins(1,4,5)P3, Ca2+ release appears to be synergistic with Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, but at supramaximal concentrations not even additive effects are observed.
