Raising the intracellular level of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate changes plasma membrane ion transport in characean algae.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) was introduced into the cytoplasm of characean algae in two different ways: (i) by iontophoretic injection into cytoplasm-enriched fragments from Chara and (ii) by adding InsP3 to the permeabilization medium of locally permeabilized cells of Nitella. In both systems this operation induced a depolarization of the membrane potential, ranging from a few mV to sequences of action potentials. The effect of InsP3 on locally permeabilized Nitella cells was abolished when InsP3 was added together with 30 mM EGTA. When inositol 1,4-bisphosphate or myo-inositol were substituted for InsP3 in this system, there was no change in the membrane potential. On the other hand, increasing the free Ca2+ concentration in the permeabilization medium induced, in a similar fashion to InsP3, action potentials. Similarities between InsP3 and Ca2+ action were also observed upon injection into Chara fragments. Both injections increased an inward current. In the first few seconds after injection the current/voltage characteristics of the InsP3-induced current resembled those of the Ca2(+)-sensitive current. Subsequently, differences between the InsP3- and Ca2(+)-induced phenomena became apparent in that the InsP3-induced current continued to increase while the Ca2(+)-induced current declined, returning to the resting level. Our results suggest that these plant cells contain an InsP3 sensitive system that, under experimental conditions, is able to affect membrane transport via an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+.