Frequency-modulated oscillations of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]c) are believed to be important in signal transduction, but it has been difficult to correlate [Ca2+]c oscillations directly with the activity of Ca(2+)-regulated targets. We have studied the control of Ca(2+)-sensitive mitochondrial dehydrogenases (CSMDHs) by monitoring mitochondrial Ca2+ ([Ca2+]m) and the redox state of flavoproteins and pyridine nucleotides simultaneously with [Ca2+]c in single hepatocytes. Oscillations of [Ca2+]c induced by IP3-dependent hormones were efficiently transmitted to the mitochondria as [Ca2+]m oscillations. Each [Ca2+]m spike was sufficient to cause a maximal transient activation of the CSMDHs and [Ca2+]m oscillations at frequencies above 0.5 per minute caused a sustained activation of mitochondrial metabolism. By contrast, sustained [Ca2+]c increases yielded only transient CSMDH activation, and slow or partial [Ca2+]c elevations were ineffective in increasing [Ca2+]m or stimulating CSMDHs. We conclude that the mitochondria are tuned to oscillating [Ca2+]c signals, the frequency of which can control the CSMDHs over the full range of potential activities.

The effects of GSSG on Ca2+ mobilization by Ins(1,4,5)P3 were studied in permeabilized rat hepatocytes. Incubation with GSSG (2 mM) increased the sensitivity to Ins(1,4,5)P3 for Ca2+ release, with no effect on the size of the Ca2+ pool that could be released with maximal concentrations of Ins(1,4,5)P3. GSSG decreased the EC50 for Ins(1,4,5)P3 from a control value of 578 +/- 23 nM to 137 +/- 21 nM. GSSG had no effect on the metabolism of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in permeabilized cells, and sensitization of Ca2+ release was still observed when the poorly metabolizable analogue inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphorothioate was used. GSSG did not affect the ATP-dependent Ca2+ pump or the extent of loading of intracellular Ca2+ pools. In addition, the enhancement of Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitivity by GSSG occurred under conditions where the Ca2+ pumps were blocked with thapsigargin or by chelation of medium Ca2+ just before Ins(1,4,5)P3 addition. The effect of GSSG was time- and dose-dependent, maximal effects being observed after 5 min incubation with 2 mM-GSSG. Cystine mimicked the GSSG-induced increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitivity, and the effects could be reversed by dithiothreitol (DTT). DTT, GSH glutathione and cysteine had no effect when added alone. Other agents known to react with protein thiols, including N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and Ag+, did not affect the sensitivity to Ins(1,4,5)P3, but were inhibitors of ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake. The data suggest that the sensitivity of the intracellular Ca2+ pools to release by Ins(1,4,5)P3 can be modulated by the formation of mixed disulphides with GSSG or other oxidized thiols.

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The effect of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) binding and the activity of IP3-gated Ca2+ channels was examined in permeabilized hepatocytes. The permeability properties of the channel were measured by using Mn2+ quenching of compartmentalized fura-2 at 37 degrees C and at 4 degrees C for comparison with IP3-binding measurements. GSSG (2 mM) increased the IP3-sensitivity of Mn2+ quenching, consistent with previous studies based on Ca(2+)-release measurements [Renard, Seitz and Thomas (1992) Biochem. J. 284, 507-512]. Measurements of [3H]IP3 binding were made at 4 degrees C after preincubation of permeabilized hepatocytes at 37 degrees C in the absence or presence of GSSG. Under these conditions GSSG stimulated IP3 binding by increasing the number of binding sites without changing the Kd. This effect was observed in the absence or presence of Ca2+, but was abolished when the preincubation with GSSG was carried out at 4 degrees C. Thimerosal also stimulated [3H]IP3 binding, but this effect was mediated both by an increase in the maximum number of binding sites and by a decrease in the Kd. The effects of thimerosal and GSSG were not additive. Further analysis of the effect of GSSG revealed that preincubation of permeabilized hepatocytes at 37 degrees C results in a progressive loss of [3H]IP3-binding sites that can be prevented and reversed by inclusion of GSSG. A parallel loss of IP3-sensitive Mn(2+)-quenchable stores was observed after incubation at 37 degrees C, and this could also be reversed by adding back GSSG. The loss of IP3 binding was not the result of IP3-receptor proteolysis, as judged by Western blotting of immunoreactive protein. The sensitivity of [3H]IP3 binding in permeabilized hepatocytes to varied ratios of GSSG and GSH suggests that the IP3 receptor responds to an oxidized redox environment such as that found in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. GSSG had no direct effect on the ligand-binding activity of detergent-solubilized and partially purified IP3 receptors. We conclude that GSSG exerts an indirect effect on the IP3 receptors in permeabilized hepatocytes by preventing a temperature-dependent loss of IP3-binding sites. We suggest that the hepatic IP3 receptors may interact with a thiol-disulphide oxidoreductase that utilizes GSSG as a substrate and prevents inappropriate unfolding of the ligand-binding domain occurring after incubation of the receptor at 37 degrees C in vitro.

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