'Quantal' Ca2+ release and the control of Ca2+ entry by inositol phosphates--a possible mechanism.
The release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores by sub-optimal doses of inositol trisphosphate has been shown to be dose-related ('quantal'), and a simple model is proposed here to account for this phenomenon. It is suggested that there is a regulatory Ca2(+)-binding site on, or associated with, the luminal domain of the InsP3 receptor, which allosterically controls Ca2+ efflux, and the affinity for Ca2+ of that site is modulated by InsP3 binding to the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor; a similar mechanism applied to the ryanodine receptor might also explain some aspects of Ca2(+)-induced Ca2+ release. The stimulated entry of Ca2+ into a cell which occurs upon activation of inositide-linked receptors has been variously and confusingly proposed to be regulated by InsP3, InsP4, and/or a 'capacitative' Ca2+ pool; the mechanism of InsP3 receptor action suggested here is shown to lead to a potential reconciliation of all these conflicting proposals.
Biochemistry Department, AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Babraham, Cambridge, UK.
R F
RF
Irvine
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction
D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D002118:Calcium