title: Injection of rat hepatocyte poly(A)+ RNA to Xenopus laevis oocytes leads to expression of a constitutively-active divalent cation channel distinguishable from endogenous receptor-activated channels.
abstract: The expression of hepatocyte plasma membrane receptor-activated divalent cation channels in immature (stages V and VI) Xenopus laevis oocytes and the properties which allow these channels to be distinguished from endogenous receptor-activated divalent cation channels were investigated. Divalent cation inflow to oocytes housed in a multiwell plate was measured using the fluorescent dyes Fluo-3 and Fura-2. In control oocytes, ionomycin, cholera toxin, thapsigargin, 3-fluoro-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3F) and guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) stimulated Ca2+ and Mn2+ inflow following addition of these ions to the oocytes. Ionomycin-, cholera-toxin-, thapsigargin- and InsP3F-stimulated Ca2+ inflow was inhibited by Gd3+ (half maximal inhibition at less thari 5 microM Gd3+ for InsP3F-stimulated Ca2+ inflow). GTP gamma S-stimulated Ca2+ inflow was insensitive to 50 microM Gd3+ and to SK&F 96365. These results indicate that at least three types of endogenous receptor-activated Ca2+ channels can be detected in Xenopus oocytes using Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dyes: lanthanide-sensitive divalent cation channels activated by intracellular Ca2+ store depletion, lanthanide-sensitive divalent cation channels activated by cholera toxin, and lanthanide-insensitive divalent cation channels activated by an unknown trimeric G-protein. Oocytes microinjected with rat hepatocyte poly(A)+ RNA exhibited greater rates of Ca2+ and Mn2+ inflow in the basal (no agonist) state, greater rates of Ca2+ inflow in the presence of vasopressin or InsP3F and greater rates of Ba2+ inflow in the presence of InsP3F, when compared with "mock"-injected oocytes. In poly(A)+ RNA-injected oocytes, vasopressin- and InsP3F-stimulated Ca2+ inflow, but not basal Ca2+ inflow, was inhibited by Gd3+. It is concluded that at least one type of hepatocyte plasma membrane divalent cation channel, which admits Mn2+ as well as Ca2+ and is lanthanide-insensitive, can be expressed and detected in Xenopus oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Auld
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bawden
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Berven
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harland
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Barritt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium