We previously identified a 42 kDa Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (InsP4) receptor protein (p42IP4) in brain membranes from several species. Here the cDNA sequence of p42IP4 was obtained by PCR using degenerate primers derived from peptide sequences of proteolytic fragments of the porcine protein and by subsequent screening of a pig brain cDNA library. The derived peptide sequence of 374 amino acids for porcine p42IP4 is 45 amino acids shorter at the C‐terminus than centaurin‐α from rat (84% homology) and has a calculated molecular mass of 43 kDa. From the InsP4 binding activity present in brain tissue homogenate about 25% is found in the cytosolic fraction and 75% associated with microsomes. Both activities are due to p42IP4 since (i) a peptide‐specific antiserum recognizing specifically p42IP4 labels the InsP4 receptor protein in membranes and in the cytosol, (ii) the antiserum immunoprecipitates both the membrane protein and the cytosolic protein of 42 kDa, (iii) the InsP4 binding activity released by high salt or by alkaline extraction from membranes is identified immunologically as the 42 kDa protein, and (iv) the affinity for InsP4 and specificity for various inositolphosphates are similar for the membrane‐associated and for the soluble p42IP4. The functional importance of p42IP4 is highlighted by the identical affinity for InsP4 and for phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)P3 (Ki=1.6 and 0.9 nM, respectively). Thus, the InsP4 receptor, apparently a peripheral membrane protein, which exists also as a cytosolic protein can transfer the signals mediated by InsP4 or by PtdInsP3 between membranes and cytosolic compartment. © 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies

Proteins which bind with high affinity Ins 1,3,4,5-P4 or Ins 1,4,5-Ps were solubilized from porcine cerebellar membranes. Both binding activities were separated by heparin-agarose chromatography. The Ins 1,3,4,5-P4 receptor was partially purified with an approximately IOOO-fold enrichment as compared to the membrane preparation. In the receptor-enriched preparation the Ins 1,3,4,5-PJ3 binding protein had an afhnity (&) for Ins 1,3,4,5-P,, of 4.6 nM. Ins 1,3,4,5,6-P> displaced [3H]Ins 1,3,4,5-P,binding with a comparable affinity. The Ins 1,3,4,5-qbinding protein displayed high selectivity for Ins 1,3,4,5-P, over other inositolphosphates (ICa for Ins 1,4,5,6-P, 150 nM, for Ins-P, 1 PM and for Ins 1,3,4-P3 5 PM). Most Importantly, Ins 1,4,5-P3 did not displace [3H]Ins 1,3,4,5-P4binding at concentrations up to 10 PM. Binding of Ins 1,3,4&LP4 was maximal in the pH range between 4.5 and 6, was stable with Ca*+ concentration varied from 1 nM to 1 mM, and was suppressed by heparin (ICH, about 2 nM). The high affinity receptor for Ins 1,3,4,5-P, reported here, which is distinct from the Ins 1,4,5-PJ receptor might allow to evaluate the possible functional role of Ins I ,3,4,5-P, in the cellular signal transduction.

Recently emerging evidence suggests important roles for inositol polyphosphates and inositol phospholipids in neuronal Ca2+ signalling, membrane vesicle trafficking and cytoskeletal rearrangement. A prerequisite for a detailed physiological characterization of the signalling of both potential second messengers inositol-(1,3,4,5)-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4) and phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdInsP3) in the nervous system is the precise cellular localization of their receptors. Based on the cDNA sequence of a recently cloned brain-specific receptor with high affinity for both InsP4 and PtdInsP3 (InsP4-PtdInsP3R), p42IP4/centaurin-alpha, we localized the mRNA and the protein in rat brain. In situ hybridization revealed a widespread expression of the InsP4-PtdInsP3R with prominent labelling in cerebellum, hippocampus, cortex and thalamus, which moreover is developmentally regulated. Using peptide-specific antibodies, the immunoreactivity was localized in the adult brain in the vast majority of neuronal cell types and probably also in some glial cells. Prominent immunoreactivity was found in axonal processes and in cell types characterized by extensive neurites. In the hypothalamus a subpopulation of parvocellular neurons in the peri- and paraventricular nuclei was most heavily labelled. This was confined by strong immunoreactivity in the lamina externa of the median eminence in close proximity to portal plexus blood vessels. Electron microscopy revealed that the InsP4-PtdInsP3R was frequently associated with presynaptic vesicular structures. Further studies should identify the role of the InsP4-PtdInsP3R in cellular neural processes.

A photolabile arylazido analogue of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 selectively substituted at the 1-phosphate group was synthesized by coupling 2-aminoethanol(1)-1-phospho-D-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidosalicylic acid [Schäfer, Nehls-Sahabandu, Grabowsky, Dehlinger-Kremer, Schulz & Mayr (1990) Biochem. J. 272, 817-825] and subsequently phosphorylating the product by bovine brain Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase. The product, N-(4-azidosalicyl)-aminoethanol(1)-1-phospho-D-myo-inositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [AsaIns(1,3,4,5)P4] was radioiodinated and purified by anion-exchange chromatography. AsaIns(1,3,4,5)P4 bound to a high-affinity Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 receptor from pig cerebellum with an affinity only 3-fold lower than that of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4. Photoirradiation of 125I-AsaIns(1,3,4,5)P4 in the presence of the receptor preparation revealed that the radioactive label was specifically associated with a protein band of apparent molecular mass 42 kDa, which Donié & Reiser [(1991) Biochem. J. 275, 453-457] had previously tentatively assigned to the Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 receptor protein. The radioactive label was displaced from the receptor when the binding reaction with 125I-AsaIns(1,3,4,5)P4 was carried out in the presence of 5 microM-Ins(1,3,4,5)P4.

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