Pe. Lund et B. Hellman, ACTIVATION OF G-PROTEINS INDUCES CA2-CELLS( OSCILLATIONS WITH HYPERPOLARIZING K+ CURRENTS IN PANCREATIC BETA), Second messengers and phosphoproteins, 14(3), 1993, pp. 173-183
Activation of G-proteins by internal perfusion with GTP-gamma-S or ext
ernal application of carbachol resulted in oscillations of Ca2+ in iso
lated mouse pancreatic beta-cells. The Ca2+ transients were associated
with the generation of K+ currents sufficiently pronounced to induce
marked pulses of hyperpolarization. The oscillatory G-protein response
remained largely unaffected when altering the membrane potential. The
oscillations became less frequent in the presence of 1 mM neomycin an
d disappeared when the cells were internally perfused with 100 mu g/ml
heparin. The frequency of the oscillations was positively correlated
with the basal level of cytoplasmic Ca2+. Addition of Ca2+ to the inte
rnal perfusion medium increased the oscillatory rate and buffering of
the ion with Indo-1 or EGTA had the opposite effect. It is concluded t
hat G-protein activation results in cyclic mobilisation of intracellul
ar calcium mediated by inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate and that the basal
concentration of cytoplasmic Ca2+ is an important determinant for the
frequency of the oscillations.