All three IP3 receptor subtypes generate Ca2+ puffs, the universal building blocks of IP3-evoked Ca2+ signals.

All three subtypes of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) are intracellular Ca2+ channels that are co-regulated by IP3 and Ca2+ This allows IP3Rs to evoke regenerative Ca2+ signals, the smallest of which are Ca2+ puffs that reflect the coordinated opening of a few clustered IP3Rs. We use total internal reflection microscopy (TIRF) microscopy to record Ca2+ signals in HEK cells expressing all three IP3R subtypes or a single native subtype. Ca2+ puffs are less frequent in cells expressing one IP3R subtype, commensurate with them expressing fewer IP3Rs than wild-type cells. However, all three IP3R subtypes generate broadly similar Ca2+ puffs with similar numbers of IP3Rs contributing to each. This suggests that IP3R clusters may be assembled by conserved mechanisms that generate similarly sized clusters across different IP3R expression levels. The Ca2+ puffs evoked by IP3R2 had slower kinetics and more prolonged durations, which may be due to IP3 binding with greater affinity to IP3R2. We conclude that Ca2+ puffs are the building blocks for the Ca2+ signals evoked by all IP3Rs.