Calreticulin modulates capacitative Ca2+ influx by controlling the extent of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ store depletion.

Calreticulin (CRT) is a highly conserved Ca(2+)-binding protein that resides in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We overexpressed CRT in Xenopus oocytes to determine how it could modulate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3))-induced Ca(2+) influx. Under conditions where it did not affect the spatially complex elevations in free cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) due to InsP(3)-induced Ca(2+) release, overexpressed CRT decreased by 46% the Ca(2+)-gated Cl(-) current due to Ca(2+) influx. Deletion mutants revealed that CRT requires its high capacity Ca(2+)-binding domain to reduce the elevations of [Ca(2+)](i) due to Ca(2+) influx. This functional domain was also required for CRT to attenuate the InsP(3)-induced decline in the free Ca(2+) concentration within the ER lumen ([Ca(2+)](ER)), as monitored with a "chameleon" indicator. Our data suggest that by buffering [Ca(2+)](ER) near resting levels, CRT may prevent InsP(3) from depleting the intracellular stores sufficiently to activate Ca(2+) influx.

Second messenger specificity of the inositol trisphosphate receptor: reappraisal based on novel inositol phosphates.

To further understand how the second messenger D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] interacts with its intracellular receptor, we injected 47 highly purified inositol phosphate (InsP) positional isomers in Xenopus oocytes and compared their potency in releasing intracellular Ca2+. The potency of the Ca(2+)-releasing InsPs spanned four orders of magnitude. Seven compounds, including the novel inositol 1,2,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [D/L-Ins (1,2,4,5)P4] and D/L-Ins(1,4,6)P3, had a very high potency. All of these highly active InsPs shared the following structure: two D-trans-equatorial phosphates (eq-P) and one equatorial hydroxyl (eq-OH) attached to ring carbons D-4, D-5, and D-6 (or to the structurally equivalent D-1, D-6, and D-5 carbons). This permissive structure was not sufficient for Ca2+ release, because it was also found in two inactive compounds, Ins(1,6)P2 and Ins(1,3,6)P3. To be active, InsPs also required the structural equivalent of a D-3 eq-OH and/or a D-1 eq-P. Together, our data reveal how the structure of the InsP molecule affects its ability to release Ca2+.