Inositol(1,3,4,5)tetrakisphosphate-induced activation of sea urchin eggs requires the presence of inositol trisphosphate.

We have earlier reported that Inositol (1,3,4,5)tetrakisphosphate microinjection will activate eggs of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus provided that it is co-injected with inositol (2,4,5)trisphosphate (Irvine and Moor, Biochem. J. 240, 917-920, 1986). Here we extend these observations to show that inositol (1,3,4,5,6)pentakisphosphate is a partial agonist in this assay and the requirement for the presence of inositol (2,4,5)trisphosphate cannot be bypassed by raised, but sub-threshold, Ca2+ concentrations. A mechanism for the proposed stimulation of Ca2+ entry into the cell requiring both inositol tris- and tetrakisphosphates is presented.