Probes for manipulating and monitoring IP3

- Summary of probes for manipulating IP3.
- Discussion about the future direction in the study of IP3/Ca2+ signaling.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) is an important second messenger produced via G-protein-coupled receptor- or receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated pathways. IP3 levels induce Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via IP3 receptor (IP3R) located in the ER membrane. The resultant spatiotemporal pattern of Ca2+ signals regulates diverse cellular functions, including fertilization, gene expression, synaptic plasticity, and cell death. Therefore, monitoring and manipulating IP3 levels is important to elucidate not only the functions of IP3-mediated pathways but also the encoding mechanism of IP3R as a converter of intracellular signals from IP3 to Ca2+.

100