title: Ca2+ signalling and membrane current activated by cADPr in starfish oocytes.
abstract: Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPr) is a second messenger that regulates intracellular free [Ca2+] ([Ca2+](i)) in a variety of cell types, including immature oocytes from the starfish Astropecten auranciacus. In this study, we employed confocal laser scanning microscopy and voltage clamp techniques to investigate the source of the cADPr-elicited Ca2+ wave originating from the cortical Ca2+ patches we have described previously. The Ca2+ swing was accompanied by a membrane current with a reversal potential of approximately +20 mV. Decreasing external Na+ almost abolished the current without affecting the Ca2+ response. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ altered neither the Ca2+ transient nor the ionic current, nor did the holding potential exert any effect on the Ca2+ wave. Both the Ca2+ response and the membrane current were abolished when BAPTA, ruthenium red or 8-NH(2)-cADPr were preinjected into the oocytes, while perfusion with ADPr did not elicit any [Ca2+](i) increase or ionic current. However, elevating [Ca2+](i) by uncaging Ca2+ from nitrophenyl- (NP-EGTA) or by photoliberating inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3)) induced an ionic current with biophysical properties similar to that elicited by cADPr. These results suggest that cADPr activates a Ca2+ wave by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular ryanodine receptors and that the rise in [Ca2+](i) triggers a non-selective monovalent cation current that does not seem to contribute to the global Ca2+ elevation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moccia
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Nusco
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ercolano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gragnaniello
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D036563:Cyclic ADP-Ribose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000502:physiology; D013215:Starfish; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D036563:Cyclic ADP-Ribose; D002118:Calcium