INOSITOL TRISPHOSPHATE AND CALCIUM - 2 INTERACTING 2ND MESSENGERS - PRESENTATION OF BERRIDGE,MICHAEL,J., THE 1996 MASSRY-PRIZE LAUREATE, DURING THE AWARD CEREMONY, BEVERLY-HILLS, CALIF, NOV 16, 1996

Inositol trisphosphate (InsP(3)) functions as a second messenger to co ntrol the release of internal calcium and the entry of external calciu m. This InsP(3)/Ca2+ signalling pathway is based on a hierachical syst em with the release from individual channels being the fundamental eve nt (Ca2+ blips). A collection of blips produces larger elementary even ts (Ca2+ puffs) which then fuse through a regenerative process of calc ium-induced calcium release to give global events (Ca2+ waves). This h ighly versatile signalling system has been adapted to regulate a wide range of cellular processes including fertilization, development, prol iferation and apoptosis.