Abstract

Recently, inositol hexakisphosphate (phytic acid) was shown to bind to photoreceptor arrestin and block its interaction with rhodopsin. Such an interaction might predict that inositol polyphosphates could alter G protein-coupled receptor desensitization. To investigate the possible roles of higher inositol polyphosphates on receptor desensitization, we have expressed the rat substance P receptor in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The functional expression of substance P receptor was monitored by voltage-clamp recording of substance P-induced Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- currents. When control oocytes were stimulated with substance P (30 nM), after 10 min of washing the second responses to substance P were approximately 15% of the first responses. Cytosolic injection of inositol pentakisphosphate (100 microM) or inositol hexakisphosphate (100 microM) inhibited the reduction of the second substance P-induced current responses, maintaining the second responses to 57-58% of the initial responses. The protective effects of inositol pentakisphosphate and inositol hexakisphosphate against agonist-induced desensitization were concentration and time dependent and structurally specific, in that inositol hexasulfate and inositol tris- and tetrakisphosphate isomers were inactive. Microinjection of inositol hexakisphosphate did not (a) change the potency of substance P or the sensitivity of the expressed substance P receptor to substance P, (b) inhibit 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced loss of substance P-induced current responses, or (c) alter the currents elicited by microinjection of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate. These results suggest that inositol pentakisphosphate and inositol hexakisphosphate have specific inhibitory effects on the agonist-induced loss of responsiveness of the rat substance P receptor. Moreover, these protective effects of inositol hexakisphosphate against desensitization were also observed with the endogenous lysophosphatidic acid/phosphatidic acid receptor, indicating that this mechanism is not specific to ectopic receptors. These results suggest that inositol pentakisphosphate and inositol hexakisphosphate may be novel pharmacological tools for the study of agonist-induced desensitization.