Abstract
Thapsigargin, a sesquiterpene lactone with potent irritant and tumour-promoting activities, stimulates a rapid (within 15 s) transient increase in intracellular [Ca2+] in the NG115-401L neural cell line, as measured by the fluorescent indicator dye fura-2. This increase in cytoplasmic free [Ca2+] is concentration-dependent (ED50 around 20 nM) and occurs in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Activation of NG115-401L cells by the inflammatory peptide bradykinin generates inositol phosphates, which parallel increases in intracellular [Ca2+]. However, the rise in cytoplasmic [Ca2+] stimulated by thapsigargin occurs in the absence of detectable production of inositol phosphates. Thapsigargin is unlike phorboid tumour promoters in that it has no action on two non-invasive indicators of phorbol stimulation of these cells, i.e. [3H]choline metabolite production and rise in intracellular pH. These data suggest that thapsigargin releases Ca2+ from an intracellular store by a novel mechanism, independent of the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides and concomitant activation of protein kinase C. Thus thapsigargin may provide a valuable tool for the analysis of intracellular signalling mechanisms.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Biochemical Journal |
Volume | 253 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 81-6 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISSN | 0264-6021 |
Publication status | Published - 1988 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Bradykinin
- Calcimycin
- Calcium
- Cell Line
- Choline
- Digitonin
- Inositol Phosphates
- Intracellular Fluid
- Neurons
- Plant Extracts
- Plants, Medicinal
- Spectrometry, Fluorescence
- Sugar Phosphates
- Thapsigargin