An investigation of the effects of a number of inositol trisphosphate analogues on the transient kinetics of Ca 2؉ release from cerebellar microsomes was undertaken. All the analogues investigated could release the total Ca 2؉ content of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P 3 ) mobilizable Ca 2؉ store; however, their potencies were substantially reduced compared to Ins(1,4,5)P 3 . The concentration required to induce halfmaximal Ca 2؉ mobilization was 0.14 M for Ins(1,4,5)P 3 , 1.8 M for 3-deoxyinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (3-deoxyInsP 3 ), 1.0 M for 2,3-dideoxyinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (2,3-dideoxyInsP 3 ), 24 M for 2,3,6-trideoxyinositol 1,4,5-trisphopshate (2,3,6-trideoxyInsP 3 ), and 2.9 M for inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(2,4,5)P 3 ). In all cases and for all concentrations tested, the inositol trisphosphate analogues induced biphasic transient release of Ca 2؉ , which could fit to a biexponential equation assuming two independent processes. The rate constants calculated for the release process were much larger for Ins(1,4,5)P 3 than the other inositol trisphosphates (the fast phase rate constant varying from 0.3 to 1.6 s ؊1 and the slow phase from 0.01-0.5 s
؊1, at concentrations between 0.03 and 20 M Ins(1,4,5)P 3 ). The rate constants for all other inositol trisphosphates did not appear to exceed 0.4 s ؊1 for the fast phase and 0.1 s ؊1 for the slow phase at their highest concentrations tested. The maximum amplitudes for Ca 2؉ release by the two phases appeared to be similar for all inositol trisphosphates (approximately 45% for the fast phase and approximately 55% for the slow phase). On comparing the rate constants for Ca 2؉ release at inositol trisphosphate concentrations for the analogues which all induced the same extent of Ca 2؉ release, it was apparent that the rates of release were independent of the extent of Ca 2؉ release. As the extent of Ca 2؉ release can be related to degree of occupancy of the binding sites, it is evident that different analogues which occupy the binding site of the receptor to the same extent can induce Ca 2؉ to be released at different rates. We explain this conclusion in terms of partial agonism where inositol phosphates can induce two (or more) occupied states of the channel.Certain hormones and neurotransmitters induce cells to produce the second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P 3 ), 1 which opens an InsP 3 -sensitive calcium channel (the InsP 3 receptor) causing the elevation of cytosolic Ca 2ϩ concentrations (1). This then activates a diverse multitude of cellular processes which depend on the cell type (1). InsP 3 -induced Ca 2ϩ release is a complex process which, despite considerable study, remains poorly understood. Several studies have demonstrated that the InsP 3 -induced Ca 2ϩ release is "quantal" in nature where submaximal concentrations of Ins(1,4,5)P 3 are unable to fully discharge the InsP 3 -sensitive Ca 2ϩ pool unless maximal Ins(1,4,5)P 3 concentrations are added (2, 3). The mechanism for quantal Ca 2ϩ release induced b...