Beryllium competitively inhibits brain myo-inositol monophosphatase, but unlike lithium does not enhance agonist-induced inositol phosphate accumulation.
Despite limiting side-effects, lithium is the drug of choice for the treatment of bipolar depression. Its action may be due, in part, to its ability to dampen phosphatidylinositol turnover by inhibiting myo-inositol monophosphatase. Beryllium has been identified as a potent inhibitor of partially purified myo-inositol monophosphatase isolated from rat brain (Ki = 150 nM), bovine brain (Ki = 35 nM), and from the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH (Ki = 85 nM). It is over three orders of magnitude more potent than LiCl (Ki = 0.5-1.2 mM). Kinetic analysis reveals that beryllium is a competitive inhibitor of myo-inositol monophosphatase, in contrast with lithium which is an uncompetitive inhibitor. Inhibition of exogenous [3H]inositol phosphate hydrolysis by beryllium (IC50 = 250-300 nM) was observed to the same maximal extent as that seen with lithium in permeabilized SK-N-SH cells, reflecting inhibition of cellular myo-inositol monophosphatase. However, in contrast with that observed with lithium, agonist-induced accumulation of inositol phosphate was not observed with beryllium in permeabilized and non-permeabilized SK-N-SH cells and in rat brain slices. Similar results were obtained in permeabilized SK-N-SH cells when GTP-gamma-S was used as an alternative stimulator of inositol phosphate accumulation. The disparity in the actions of beryllium and lithium suggest that either (1) selective inhibition of myo-inositol monophosphatase does not completely explain the action of lithium on the phosphatidylinositol cycle, or (2) that uncompetitive inhibition of myo-inositol monophosphatase is a necessary requirement to observe functional lithium mimetic activity.
Central Research Division, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT 06340.
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Faraci
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Zorn
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Bakker
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Jackson
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Pratt
D000818:Animals; D001608:Beryllium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002417:Cattle; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000201:enzymology; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D007294:Inositol; D008094:Lithium; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; C021822:myo-inositol-1 (or 4)-monophosphatase; D001608:Beryllium