Xenopus laevis oocytes have proven a useful model system for studying the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ((1,4,5)IP 3 ) 1 -mediated calcium signaling system, providing insights into mechanisms of calcium oscillations (1) and capacitative Ca 2ϩ entry (2, 3). In many cell types, including Xenopus oocytes, activation of surface membrane receptors results in a biphasic Ca 2ϩ response composed of an initial mobilization of internally stored Ca 2ϩ , followed by entry of extracellular Ca 2ϩ (4). Much is known about the role of (1,4,5)IP 3 in mobilizing intracellular Ca 2ϩ , and a working model for the Ca 2ϩ entry process is described by the capacitative model (5, 6) according to which the depletion of intracellular (1,4,5)IP 3 -sensitive Ca 2ϩ stores signals the activation of plasma membrane calcium channels.Recently, a metabolite of Penicillium brevicompactum, adenophostin A, has been isolated and demonstrated to be an agonist for the (1,4,5)IP 3 receptor and to have a potency ϳ100-fold greater than that of (1,4,5)IP 3 (7). Interestingly, two studies performed in Xenopus oocytes (8, 9) suggested a site of action for adenophostin A in addition to that on intracellular Ca 2ϩ stores. In both studies, low concentrations of adenophostin A (Ͻ10 nM) appeared to preferentially activate the Ca (10) found that the diffusion of adenophostin A throughout the oocyte was considerably slower than that of IP 3 and concluded that this might explain the apparently diminished Ca 2ϩ release signal.In this study, we have used confocal microscopy to monitor directly spatial as well as temporal aspects of the effects of adenophostin A on intracellular Ca 2ϩ in Xenopus oocytes using the calcium-sensitive dye Calcium Green. Our results confirm that diffusion of adenophostin A throughout the oocytes is slower than that of IP 3 and additionally indicate that low concentrations of adenophostin A cause a confined mobilization of intracellular Ca 2ϩ that is capable of supporting spatially restricted Ca 2ϩ oscillations and spatially restricted Ca 2ϩ entry. This unique action of adenophostin A provides new insights into the role of IP 3 receptor binding in [Ca 2ϩ ] i oscillations and also into the spatial relationships between intracellular Ca 2ϩ release and activation of capacitative calcium entry.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Isolation of Xenopus OocytesAdult albino female X. laevis (Xenopus One, Ann Arbor, MI) were anesthetized by hypothermia and decapitated. The ovaries were then removed and stored in ND96 buffer (96 mM NaCl, 2 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl 2 , 1 mM CaCl 2 , and 5 mM HEPES (pH 7.6)). Stage V and VI oocytes were manually dissected free from the ovaries and follicles and maintained in ND96 buffer at 18°C until used.