Glycogen synthase kinases. Distribution in mammalian tissues of forms that are independent of cyclic AMP.

Extracts of rat tissues contain kinases which catalyze the conversion of glycogen synthease from the glucose 6-phosphate-independent (I) form to the glucose 6-phosphatate-dependent (D) form. These kinases were stimulated by adenosine 3':5' monophosphate (cyclic AMP). The glycogen synthase kinase activity ratio (activity in the absence of cyclic AMP divided by activity in the presence of cyclic AMP) varied from 0.28 to 0.97. The activity ratio for histone kinase in the same extracts ranged from 0.11 to 0.29. The levels of glycogen synthase kinase varied by a factor of 80 in the following rat tissues (given in order of decreasing enzyme activity): kidney, liver, stomach mucosa, lung, brain, heart, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. In the same tissues the levels of histone kinase varied by only a factor of 6 and did not correlate with the levels of glycogen synthase kinase. A modification of the method of Walsh et al. ((1971) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 1977-1985) was developed for purification of the heat-stable inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases (inhibitor). The modified procedure resulted in good yields of highly purified inhibitor and was much simpler than the previously described procedure. This inhibitor completely inhibited cyclic AMP-dependent histone kinase activity of the extracts but much of the glycogen synthase kinase activity was not inhibited. The portion of glycogen synthase kinase that was insensitive to the inhibitor was: stomach mucosa, 95%; brain, 90%; liver, 82%; kidney, 81%; lung, 68%; adipose tissue, 65%; skeletal muscle, 63%; and heart, 54%. This histone kinase activity in the extracts and hte ratio of glycogen synthase kinase to histone kinase activity of purified catalytic subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was used to calculate for each extract the glycogen synthase kinase activity contributed by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Based on these calculations, the portion of the glycogen synthase kinase which was due to kinases independent of cyclic AMP was: kidney, 97%; liver, 91%; lung, 89%; brain, 87%, heart, 85%; stomach mucosa, 84%; adipose tissue, 38%; and skeletal muscle, 33%. A significant portion of the glycogen synthase kinase activity, but virtually none of the cyclic AMP-dependent histone kinase activity, of these extracts could be adsorbed to phosphocellulose columns. Liver extracts contained, in addition, a form of glycogen synthase kinase which was not adsorbed to phosphocellulose and which could be separated from the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by additional chromatography. These studies demonstrate that kinases independent of cyclic AMP account for most of the glycogen synthase kinase activity of many tissues. The widespread distribution and high concentrations of these enzymes suggest that they are of physiological importance.     

Regulation of cardiac cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase

An assay method based on the ability of high concentrations of Mg²⁺ to stimulate phosphorylation of histone in the presence of low concentrations of ATP was developed for the measurement of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios (activity -cyclic GMP/activity + cyclic GMP). In tissues which contain only trace amounts of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, the basal activity ratios were high due to interference from a cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase. In order to study the regulation of the cardica cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, factors affecting the equilibrium between the active and inactive forms of the enzyme were determined. Since the rate of dissociation of cyclic GMP from its binding site(s) was relatively slow at 0–4°C at pH 7.0, the amount of time required to process tissue samples was the major limiting factor for preserving the equilibrium between active and inactive forms of the enzyme. Dilution of heart tissue extracts at 0–4°C did not significantly alter the activity ratio of the enzyme under conditions of basal or elevated cyclic GMP levels. Experiments using charcoal or exogenous cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in the homogenizing medium demonstrated that the release of sequestered cyclic GMP was not responsible for the elevation of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios by agents like acetylcholine. Therefore, the assay reflected in part, at least, the retention of kinase-bound cyclic GMP in the tissue extracts. The effects of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on cyclic GMP levels, the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios, and force of contraction were studied in the perfused rat heart. Both agents produced rapid, dose-dependent increases in cardiac cyclic GMP. Optimal concentrations of acetylcholine produced a 2–3-fold increase in the levels of cyclic GMP and an increase in the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio. No significant effect of acetylcholine on cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase activity was observed. Associated witth the acetylcholine-induced protein kinase, factors affecting the equilibrium between the active and inactive forms of the enzyme were determined. Since the rate of dissociation of cyclic GMP from its binding site(s) was relatively slow at 0–4°C at pH 7.0, the amount of time required to process tissue samples was the major limiting factor for preserving the equilibrium between active and inactive forms of the enzyme. Dilution of heart tissue extracts at 0–4°C did not significantly alter the activity ratio of the enzyme under conditions of basal elevated cyclic GMP levels. Experiments using charcoal or exogenous cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in the homogenizing medium demonstrated that the release of sequestered cyclic GMP was not responsible for the elevation of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios by agents like acetylcholine. Therefore, the assay reflected in part, at least, the retention of kinase-bound cyclic GMP in the tissue extracts. The effects of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside on cyclic GMP levels, the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios, and force of contraction were studied in the perfused rat heart. Both agents produced rapid, dose-dependent increases in cardiac cyclic GMP. Optimal concentrations of acetylcholine produced a 2–3-fold increase in the levels of cyclic GMP and an increase in the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio. No significant effect of acetylcholine on cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase activity was observed. Associated with the acetylcholine-induced increase in cyclic GMP and the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio was a reduction in the force of contraction. In contrast, nitroprusside produced little or no increase in the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio despite increasing the level of cyclic GMP 8–10-fold. Nitroprusside also had no effect on contractile force. In combination, nitroprusside and acetylcholine produced additive effects on cyclic GMP levels, but protein kinase activation and force of contraction were similar to those seen with acetylcholine alone. The results suggest that the cyclic GMP produced by acetylcholine in the rat heart is coupled to activation of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, while that produced by nitroprusside is not.     

Studies on cholesterol esterase in rat adipose tissue: comparison of substrates and regulation of the activity

Efficiency of substrates for cholesterol esterase (EC 3.1.1.13) assay, and regulation of the activity were investigated in rat epididymal adipose tissue. The activity in the supernatant was activated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, cyclic AMP, ATP and Mg2+, both with micellar and liposomal substrates. However, the micellar substrate was more suitable for the assay than the liposomal with respect to Vmax and Km. Thus, the micellar substrate was employed. Pretreatment of the supernatant with exogenous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase enhanced the activity dose dependently, whereas that with cyclic AMP decreased the activity slightly. The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in the assay mixture was within the range which can cause changes in cholesterol esterase activity. These results suggest that the amount of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, rather than the cyclic AMP level, plays an important role in the regulation of cholesterol esterase in tissues with a high cholesterol esterase activity relative to the kinase activity, such as in adipose tissue.     

Modulation of protein phosphorylation by a factor purified from adipocytes.

1. A factor which modulates the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase copurifies from rat adipocytes with an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase. Purification and stability studies suggest that both effects reside in a single factor previously referred to as a feedback regulator. 2. The magnitude and direction of the feedback regulator effect on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was dependent on the concentration of feedback regulator and the concentration and type of protein substrate. Using histone type IIA as substrate, feedback regulator was inhibitory at low histone concentrations and stimulatory at high concentrations. Preincubation of protein kinase with feedback regulator resulted in inhibition at all histone concentrations. With some protein substrates, e.g. histone f2b and casein, inhibition was observed at all histone concentrations. 3. The stimulation of histone type IIA phosphorylation resulted from an increased V with no effect on either the apparent Ka for cyclic AMP or the Km for ATP. Time course studies suggest that feedback regulator increased the rate of phosphorylation without increasing the total number of phosphorylation sites. Increased histone phosphorylation was observed regardless of whether the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was peak I or peak II (off Deae-cellulose), isolated from bovine or rabbit skeletal muscle or rat heart. A small stimulation was observed using cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase. 4. These results indicate that feedback regulator can inhibit or stimulate protein kinase, an effect which is probably substrate directed, and depends on the reaction conditions. Whether feedback regulator modulated protein phosphorylation in vivo in addition to its inhibition of adenylate cyclase is unknown. However, stimulation of protein kinase activity in the presence of cyclic AMP is a valuable and rapid assay for monitoring feedback regulator fractions during purification procedures.     

Cyclic AMP-binding capacities and histone kinase activation in subcellular components of neocortical tissue. Differential responses to three neurohumoural agents

1. Noradrenaline and histamine, when added to superfused guinea-pig cerebral-cortical tissues, increased both cyclic AMP-dependent and -independent histone kinase activities of some, but not of all, subsequently isolated subcellular fractions, and decreased their cyclic [(3)H]AMP-binding capacity, which was concluded to be due to an increase in endogenously bound cyclic AMP. 2. Adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine also diminished the cyclic [(3)H]AMP-binding capacities, but did not affect the histone kinase activities. 3. DEAE-cellulose chromatography and stability to KCl additions showed that the greater part of the histone kinase of the present preparations corresponded to the type II enzyme [of Corbin, Keely & Park (1975) J. Biol. Chem.250, 218-225], with a lesser amount of type I activity. Different sites of cyclic AMP accumulation in relation to these or other kinases are considered in interpreting the differential tissue responses to the neurohumoural agents examined.     

Effect of polyanions and polycations on adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-binding and protein kinase activity.

Histone, protamine, poly-L-arginine, and poly-L-lysine enhance the binding of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) to rat liver cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase as determined by Millipore filtration assay. Poly-L-glutamic acid and poly-L-aspartic acid suppress cyclic AMP-binding stimulated by histone. Poly-L-glutamic acid and poly-L-aspartic acid are effective against protein kinase and result in decrease in initial reaction velocity when histone is used as a protein substrate. Incubation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase with 6 μg poly-L-glutamic acid produces half-maximal inhibition of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase when 30 μg histone is used as substrate.     

Effect of thyroliberin on the concentration of adenosine 3'':5''-phosphate and on the activity of adenosine 3'':5''-phosphate-dependent protein kinase in prolactin-producing cells in culture.

1. The effects of thyroliberin were studied in cultured rat pituitary-tumour cells that synthesize and secrete prolactin (the GH4C1 cell strain). 2. Prolactin and cyclic AMP were measured by radioimmunological methods, and a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was characterized by using histone as substrate. 3. Prolactin release was studied after 5-60min of treatment, and synthesis after 48h of treatment with thyroliberin. One-half maximum stimulation of release and synthesis were observed at 0.25 and at 4nM respectively. 4. Cyclic AMP was temporarily increased in cell suspensions after treatment with thyroliberin, and one-half maximum stimulation was observed at 25nM. 5. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased prolactin release and synthesis, one-half maximum effects being obtained at 20 micronM. 6. A cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, which was one-half maximally stimulated at 30 nM-cyclic AMP, was demonstrated. 7. An increase in the activity ratio (-cyclic AMP/+cyclic AMP) of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was observed after treatment with thyroliberin. Total protein kinase activity in the presence of cyclic AMP was unaltered. The time-course of enzyme activation was similar to that of cyclic AMP formation and corresponded to the time when prolactin release was first observed. 8. It is concluded that thyroliberin induces cyclic AMP formation, resulting in the activation of a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

The role of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the glucagon-stimulated phosphorylation of ATP-citrate lyase

We have examined the mechanism whereby glucagon stimulates the phosphorylation of ATP-citrate lyase in intact rat hepatocytes. Purified ATP-citrate lyase is phosphorylated in vitro by the catalytic subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, in a reaction wherein 2-3 mol phosphate/mol lyase are incorporated, at an initial rate that approaches that observed for mixed histone. This reaction is completely abolished by the protein kinase inhibitor protein. Limited tryptic digestion of ATP-citrate lyase phosphorylated in vitro by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase yields a pattern of 32P-labeled peptides, indistinguishable from those observed in parallel digests of lyase isolated from 32P-labeled, glucagon-stimulated hepatocytes. Phosphorylase b kinase catalyzes the incorporation of 1 mol phosphate/mol lyase, albeit at less than 1/160 the rate observed for phosphorylase b. The phosphorylation of purified ATP-citrate lyase is also catalyzed by homogenates of hepatocytes. This reaction is stimulated by cyclic AMP. At 30 degrees C, in the presence of maximally stimulating concentrations of cyclic AMP, the addition of excess protein kinase inhibitor protein inhibits the phosphorylation of ATP-citrate lyase by 67%. Thus, hepatocytes contain both cyclic AMP-dependent and cyclic AMP-independent ATP-citrate lyase kinase activities. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with glucagon (10(-8) M for 2 min) prior to homogenization results in activation of an endogenous hepatocyte ATP-citrate lyase kinase, as well as histone kinase and phosphorylase b kinase; the glucagon-stimulated increment in lyase kinase (and histone kinase) is observed only when homogenates are assayed in the absence of added cyclic AMP, and is completely abolished by an excess of the protein kinase inhibitor protein. We conclude that the glucagon-stimulated phosphorylation of ATP-citrate lyase in intact hepatocytes is catalyzed directly by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Cyclic GMP-dependent and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases, protein kinase modulators and phosphodiesterases in arteries and veins of dogs. Distribution and effects of arteriovenous fistula and arterial occlusion.

Possible involvement of cyclic GMP-dependent and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases, protein kinase modulators and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in functions of vascular tissues were investigated in the dog. All of the above activities, localized in the smooth muscle-rich inner layer of the blood vessels, were found to be higher in the arteries than in the veins. The peripheral arteries were disproportionately richer in cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (as indicated by high ratios of cyclic GMP-dependent to cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase) than were the veins, with the exception of the pulmonary artery, an atypical arterial tissue exposed to low blood pressure. Interestingly, the protein kinase ratio for the aorta, an artery with no significant role in blood pressure regulation, was not higher than that for the vena cava. Creation of femoral arteriovenous fistulae in the dogs led to preferential reductions in the cyclic GMP-dependent enzyme activity both in the proximal and distal arteries, whereas it was elevated in the stressed vein distal to the anastomotic site. The cyclic GMP-dependent enzyme was preferentially reduced in the saphenous artery distal to occlusion. Changes in the cyclic GMP-dependent enzyme activity appeared to precede gross atrophy or hypertrophy of the vessels. It is suggested that the vascular cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase may be closely related to peripheral resistance and its regulation.     

ACTIVITY OF CYCLIC AMP-DEPENDENT MICROSOMAL PROTEIN KINASE AND PHOSPHORYLATION OF RIBOSOMAL PROTEIN IN RAT BRAIN DURING POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract— Microsomes from rat brain exhibited protein kinase activity which was stimulated by cyclic AMP when assayed in the presence of exogenous protein substrate, such as thymus histone. In the absence of exogenous substrate some phosphorylation of microsomal protein occurred, but no stimulation by cyclic AMP could be discerned, probably because of limitations of substrate. The maximal activity of microsomal protein kinase observed in the presence of saturating concentrations of histone and the optimal concentration (5 μ m ) of cyclic AMP remained essentially unchanged from birth to early adulthood, but the magnitude of the stimulation by cyclic AMP was significantly higher at birth than at 30 days of age. Brain ribosomal proteins could be phosphorylated by the cyclic AMP-dependent brain protein kinase. Their total capacity for acceptance of phosphate by means of this phosphorylation reaction remained unchanged throughout the postnatal development of the brain. Our results are consistent with the possibility that phosphorylation of ribosomal protein mediated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase may play a a role in the postnatal regulation of cerebral protein synthesis, as a result of the changes in the levels of cyclic AMP known to occur in brain during postnatal maturation.     

Protein kinase activities in rat pancreatic islets of Langerhans.

1. Protein kinase activities in homogenates of rat islets of Langerhans were studied. 2. On incubation of homogenates with [gamma-32P]ATP, incorporation of 32P into protein occurred: this phosphorylation was neither increased by cyclic AMP nor decreased by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor described by Ashby & Walsh [(1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 6637--6642]. 3. On incubation of homogenates with [gamma-32P]ATP and histone as exogenous substrate for phosphorylation, incorporation of 32P into protein was stimulated by cyclic AMP (approx. 2.5-fold) and was inhibited by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. In contrast, when casein was used as exogenous substrate, incorporation of 32P into protein was not stimulated by cyclic AMP, nor was it inhibited by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. 4. DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography resolved four peaks of protein kinase activity. One species was the free catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, two species corresponded to 'Type I' and 'Type II' cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzymes [see Corbin, Keely & Park (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 218--225], and the fourth species was a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase. 5. Determination of physical and kinetic properties of the protein kinases showed that the properties of the cyclic AMP-dependent activities were similar to those described in other tissues and were clearly distinct from those of the cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase. 6. The cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase had an s20.w of 5.2S, phosphorylated a serine residue(s) in casein and was not inhibited by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. 7. These studies demonstrate the existence in rat islets of Langerhans of multiple forms of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and also the presence of a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase distinct from the free catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The presence of the cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase may account for the observed characteristics of 32P incorporation into endogenous protein in homogenates of rat islets.     

The effect of turpentine-induced inflammation on rat liver glycosyltransferases and Golgi complex ultrastructure

The effect of vasopressin on the toad urinary bladder has been shown to be mediated by cyclic AMP. It has been assumed that, as demonstrated for other systems, this involves activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. In order to test this hypothesis we investigated the effect of vasopressin on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases in epithelial cells of toad bladders. About 80% of protein kinase activity and cyclic AMP-binding capacity was found to be in the cytosol. DEAE-cellulose chromatography showed a pattern of 15--20% type I and 80--85% type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Cytosolic kinase was activated 3--4-fold by cyclic AMP with half-maximal activation at 5 . 10(-8) M. Similarly, half-maximal binding of cyclic AMP occurred at 7 . 10(-8) M. Incubation of toad bladders in Ringer's solution containing 0.1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, prior to homogenization and assay, showed stable cyclic AMP-binding capacity and protein kinase ratio --cyclic AMP/+cyclic AMP. Exposure of bladders to 10 mU/ml of vasopressin for 10 min caused intracellular activation of protein kinase and decrease in cyclic AMP-binding capacity that were maintained for at least 30 min. Incubation of bladders with increasing concentrations of vasopressin (0.5--100 mU/ml) resulted in a discrepancy between a progressive increase in cyclic AMP levels and a levelling off at 10 mU/ml of vasopressin for the changes in protein kinase ratio and cyclic AMP-binding capacity. The increase in kinase ratio was due to higher activity in the absence of exogenous cyclic AMP and was fully inhibitable by a specific protein kinase inhibitor. Using Sephadex G-25-CM50 column chromatography for separation of holoenzyme and free catalytic subunit we demonstrated that the activation of protein kinase in the vasopressin-treated bladders is due to intracellular dissociation of the kinase. These results show that the effect of vasopressin on the toad bladder involves activation of a cytosolic cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The time course and the dose-response curve of the kinase activation closely parallel vasopressin's effect on osmotic water flow.     

The effect of growth state on the activity of the protein kinase isoenzymes. An increase in type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is correlated with growth arrest in G1 phase

Native polyacrylamide gels have been used to resolve protein kinase isoenzymes from cultured cells and the protein kinases have been identified by carrying out phosphorylation reactions in the gel. Following electrophoresis the gels were incubated with histone and [gamma-32P]ATP. The gels were then thoroughly washed and dried down, and the protein kinases were located by autoradiography. Protein kinase activity as measured in the gel system was a linear function of cytosol protein concentration up to about 100 microgram per channel and incorporation of 32P into histone was time dependent. Three bands of protein kinase activity were resolved in cytosol samples from baby hamster kidney (BHK) fibroblasts. The band with the lowest relative mobility utilized histone IIA or casein equally well as substrate protein whereas bands 2 and 3 demonstrated a clear preference for histone. Bands 2 and 3 displayed a relative mobility in electrophoresis that was identical to that observed for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases I and II from rat liver. Treatment of cytosol samples with cyclic AMP prior to electrophoresis resulted in the disappearance of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases from the gel profile. This method was employed to identify bands 2 and 3 as cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases. The protein kinases in growth-arrested cells were compared with proliferating cells. We have observed a 3.5-fold increase in the activity of Type II protein kinase as the cells arrest growth in G1 phase of the cell cycle. This increase in Type II is correlated with the increase in cells blocked in G1 and a decrease in Type II activity appears to be an early event in permitting cells to leave G1 and resume growth.     

Reversible inhibition by diamide of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases from bovine thyroid.

The effects of diamide on protein kinases isolated from bovine thyroid were studied. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was directly, rapidly, and reversibly inhibited by diamide. This inhibition was non-competitive with respect to ATP or histone and could be prevented by thiol-reducing agents. However, a cyclic nucleotide-independent thyroid protein kinase was not affected. Our data indicate that diamide specifically inhibits protein kinases which are cyclic AMP-dependent.     

Lymphocyte protein kinase activity in cells from young and elderly men and women

Protein kinase activity of lymphocytes isolated from human subjects was assayed using histone as substrate. The activity was stimulated about twofold by cyclic AMP and total enzyme activity, determined in the presence of cyclic AMP, was inhibited by 65% by the specific heat-stable inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Histone phosphorylation was not stimulated by cyclic GMP in the presence of the inhibitor. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase could be activated in vitro by incubating intact cells with isoproterenol or with forskolin and was reflected by a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in the protein kinase activity ratio. In contrast to these well-characterized adenylate cyclase activators, incubating cells for up to 2 hr in vitro in the presence of the specific beta-blocker propranolol had no significant effect on the amount of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase that was in the activated state. When compared in subjects between the ages of 21 and 74 years, lymphocyte protein kinase activity was unaltered by age or gender. These results indicate that cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase is of the cyclic AMP-dependent variety in the human lymphocyte. A low amount of the cyclic AMP-dependent activity (about 15%) is in the already activated state in freshly isolated cells, and this is not further reduced by incubation in vitro or by beta-blockade. In contrast to previously reported changes in the capacity to synthesize cyclic AMP, lymphocyte protein kinase is unaltered by gender or age in human subjects.     

Regulation of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in cerebral cortex

Alterations in the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio in response to putative neurotransmitters and other cyclic AMP-elevating agents in intact cerebral cortical slices and Krebs-Ringer particulate preparations from cerebral cortex were examined. Both norepinephrine (30 microM) and forskolin (20 microM) produced a time-dependent increase in intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in cerebral cortical slices which was paralleled by an increase in both cyclic AMP and the protein kinase activity ratio. The increases were maximal at 5 min. and remained elevated for at least 15 min. Forskolin, norepinephrine, adenosine and isoproterenol produced a concentration-dependent increase in both cyclic AMP and the protein kinase activity ratio, however, the degree of increase observed was dissimilar. Thus, a 5-fold change in intracellular cyclic AMP resulted in only a 2-fold increase in the activity ratio. Of the agents examined, forskolin produced the most marked change in the activity ratio (from 0.23 to 0.78 at 100 microM) while isoproterenol at 100 microM produced only a 50% increase in the activity ratio. The half-time for the decline in forskolin elicited elevations of either the activity ratio or cyclic AMP was about 4-6 min. In the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro 20-1724, both were significantly prolonged being 60-70% of the maximum observed immediately after forskolin stimulation, at 15 min. Potentiation of forskolin elicited increases in the activity ratio by Ro 20-1724 were also observed but the increase in the activity ratio was maximal at 7.5 min. while cyclic AMP accumulations continued to rise during the entire 15 min. incubation. Particulate preparations from cerebral cortex were found to contain a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase which could be activated 2 to 3-fold with either forskolin, norepinephrine, or adenosine. Unlike the intact brain slice the changes in protein kinase activity ratio and intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in cell-free particulate preparations were similar in both time and degree.     

Properties and cellular distribution of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from thymus

A protein kinase that catalyzes the phosphorylation of histone was partially purified from rat thymus, and the rate of histone phosphorylation was stimulated three- to fourfold by 1 × 10^?6 M adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP). Thymic protein kinase was more active than the enzyme from spleen. Histone fractions f1, f2a, f2b, and f3 were all capable of serving as phosphate acceptors for the thymic protein kinase, and the rate of phosphorylation of each fraction was stimulated by cyclic AMP. The ability of various 3′,5′-mononucleotides to stimulate protein kinase activity was compared. Inosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic IMP) was the most effective substitute for cyclic AMP. The cellular distribution of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and adenylate cyclase activities in the thymus was determined. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity is present in both small thymocytes and residual thymic tissue. The specific activity of protein kinase from residual tissue, both for basal and cyclic AMP-stimulated enzyme, was greater than that of enzyme from small thymocytes. In contrast to this, adenylate cyclase activity is predominately localized in the thymocytes.     

The effect of growth state on the activity of the protein kinase isoenzymes an increase in type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is correlated with growth arrest in G1 phase

Native polyacrylamide gels have been used to resolve protein kinase isoenzymes from cultured cells and the protein kinases have been identified by carrying out phosphorylation reactions in the gel. Following electrophoresis, the gels were incubated with histome and [γ-³²P]ATP. The gels were then thoroughly washed and dried down, and the protein kinases were located by autoradiography. Protein kinase activity as measured in the gel system was a linear function of cytosol protein concentration up to about 100 μg per channel and incorporation of ³²P into histone was time dependent. Three bands of protein kinase activity were resolved in cytosol samples from baby hamster kidney (BHK) fibroblasts. The band with the lowest relative mobility utilized histone IIA or casein equally well as substrate protein whereas bands 2 and 3 demonstrated a clear preference for histone. Bands 2 and 3 displayed a relative mobility in electrophoresis that was identical to that observed for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases I and II from rat liver. Treatment of cyctosol samples with cyclic AMP prior to electrophoresis resulted in the disappearance of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases from the gel profile. This method was employed to identify bands 2 and 3 as cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases. The protein kinases in growth-arrested cells were compared with proliferating cells. We have observed a 3.5-fold increase in the activity of Type II protein kinase as the cells arrest growth in G₁ phase of the cell cycle. This increase in Type II is correlated with the increase in cells blocked in G₁ and a decrease in II Type activity appears to be an early event in permitting cells to leave G₁ and resume growth.     

Protein kinases in human renal cell carcinoma and renal cortex. A comparison of isozyme distribution and of responsiveness to adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate.

Two major isozyme forms of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (termed protein kinase I and II according to their order of elution from DEAE-cellulose) were resolved by DEAE-cellulose chromatography of extracts from human renal cortex and renal cell carcinoma. The ratio between protein kinase I and protein kinase II in carcinoma extracts was about twice that in extracts of renal cortex. The total soluble cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was similar in extracts from the normal and malignant tissue. Protein kinase isozymes prepared from renal cortex or carcinoma were highly dependent on cyclic AMP for activity under appropriate assay conditions, were activated to the same degree by various concentrations of cyclic AMP, and had similar affinity for the nucleotide, indicating that the mechanism for regulation of protein kinase activity by cyclic AMP was intact for the tumor kinases. The kinetics of endogenous phosphorylation of protein kinase II was similar for enzyme derived from normal or malignant tissue.