Insights into the regulation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase and the interplay between its domains

eEF2K (eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase) is a Ca2+/CaM (calmodulin)-dependent protein kinase which regulates the translation elongation machinery. eEF2K belongs to the small group of so-called 'α-kinases' which are distinct from the main eukaryotic protein kinase superfamily. In addition to the α-kinase catalytic domain, other domains have been identified in eEF2K: a CaM-binding region, N-terminal to the kinase domain; a C-terminal region containing several predicted α-helices (resembling SEL1 domains); and a probably rather unstructured 'linker' region connecting them. In the present paper, we demonstrate: (i) that several highly conserved residues, implicated in binding ATP or metal ions, are critical for eEF2K activity; (ii) that Ca2+/CaM enhance the ability of eEF2K to bind to ATP, providing the first insight into the allosteric control of eEF2K; (iii) that the CaM-binding/α-kinase domain of eEF2K itself possesses autokinase activity, but is unable to phosphorylate substrates in trans; (iv) that phosphorylation of these substrates requires the SEL1-like domains of eEF2K; and (v) that highly conserved residues in the C-terminal tip of eEF2K are essential for the phosphorylation of eEF2, but not a peptide substrate. On the basis of these findings, we propose a model for the functional organization and control of eEF2K.     

Ecto-Protein Kinase and Surface Protein Phosphorylation in PC12 Cells: Interactions with Nerve Growth Factor

Abstract: The phosphorylation of surface proteins by ectoprotein kinase has been proposed to play a role in mechanisms underlying neuronal differentiation and their responsiveness to nerve growth factor (NGF). PC 12 clones represent an optimal model for investigating the mode of action of NGF in a homogeneous cell population. In the present study we obtained evidence that PC12 cells possess ectoprotein kinase and characterized the endogenous phosphorylation of its surface protein substrates. PC12 cells maintained in a chemically defined medium exhibited phosphorylation of proteins by [γ-³²P]ATP added to the medium at time points preceding the intracellular phosphorylation of proteins in cells labeled with ³²P_i. This activity was abolished by adding apyrase or trypsin to the medium but was not sensitive to addition of an excess of unlabeled P_i. As also expected from ecto-protein kinase activity, PC12 cells catalyzed the phosphorylation of an exogenous protein substrate added to the medium, dephospho-α-casein, and this activity competed with the endogenous phosphorylation for extracellular ATP. Based on these criteria, three protein components migrating in sodium dodecyl sulfate gels with apparent molecular weights of 105K, 39K, and 20K were identified as exclusive substrates of ecto-protein kinase in PC12 cells. Of the phosphate incorporated into these proteins from extracellular ATP, 75–87% was found in phosphothreonine. The phosphorylation of the 39K protein by ecto-protein kinase did not require Mg²⁺, implicating this activity in the previously demonstrated regulation of Ca²⁺-dependent, high-affinity norepinephrine uptake in PC12 cells by extracellular ATP. The protein kinase inhibitor K-252a inhibited both intra- and extracellular protein phosphorylation in intact PC12 cells. Its hydrophilic analogue K-252b, had only minimal effects on intracellular protein phosphorylation but readily inhibited the phosphorylation of specific substrates of ecto-protein kinase in PC12 cells incubated with extracellular ATP, suggesting the involvement of ecto-protein kinase in the reported inhibition of NGF-induced neurite extension by K-252b. Preincubation of PC12 cells with 50 ng/ml of NGF for 5 min stimulated the activity of ecto-protein kinase toward all its endogenous substrates. Exposure of PC12 cells to the same NGF concentration for 3 days revealed another substrate of ecto-protein kinase, a 53K protein, whose surface phosphorylation is expressed only after NGF-induced neuronal differentiation. In the concentration range (10–100 μM) at which 6-thioguanine blocked NGF-promoted neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells, 6-thioguanine effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of specific proteins by ecto-protein kinase. This study provides the basis for continued investigation of the involvement of ecto-protein kinase and its surface protein substrates in neuronal differentiation, neuritogenesis, and synaptogenesis.     

Deletion of specific protein kinase C subspecies in human melanoma cells

It has been shown that tumor-promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), stimulates the proliferation of normal human melanocytes, whereas it inhibits the growth of human melanoma cell lines. The expression of protein kinase C (PKC) subspecies, the major intracellular receptors for TPA, was examined in normal melanocytes and the four melanoma cell lines HM3KO, MeWo, HMV-1, and G361. PKC was partially purified and then separated into subspecies by column chromatography on Mono Q and hydroxyapatite successively, and finally subjected to immunoblot analysis using antibodies specific for the PKC subspecies. Of the PKC subspecies examined, δ-, ϵ-, and ζ-PKC were detected in both normal melanocytes and the four melanoma cell lines. In contrast, both α-PKC and β-PKC were expressed in normal melanocytes, whereas either α-PKC or β-PKC was detected in melanoma cells. Specifically, HM3KO, MeWo, and HMV-1 cells were shown to contain α-PKC but not β-PKC, while G361 cells expressed β-PKC but not α-PKC. The growth of these melanoma cells was suppressed by TPA treatment, and the growth of the G361 cells lacking α-PKC was inhibited more efficiently than the other melanoma cell lines which lacked β-PKC. It was further shown that β-PKC was not detected in freshly isolated human primary or metastatic melanoma tissues. These results suggest that the expression of α-PKC or β-PKC may be altered during the malignant transformation of normal melanocytes and that loss of α-PKC or β-PKC may be related to the inhibitory effect of TPA on the growth of melanoma cells. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Activation mechanism of CDK2: role of cyclin binding versus phosphorylation

Activation of the cyclin-dependent kinases is a two-step process involving cyclin binding followed by phosphorylation at a conserved threonine residue within the kinase activation loop. In this study, we describe the separate roles of cyclin A binding versus phosphorylation in the overall activation mechanism of CDK2. Interaction of CDK2 with cyclin A results in a partially active complex that is moderately defective in the binding of the protein substrate, but not ATP, and severely defective in both phosphoryl group transfer and turnover. Alternatively, phosphorylation of the CDK2 monomer also results in a partially activated species, but one that is severely (> or = 480-fold) defective in substrate binding exclusively. Catalytic turnover in the phosphorylated CDK2 monomer is largely unimpaired (approximately 8-fold lower). Our data support a model for the activation of CDK2 in vivo, in which interaction of unphosphorylated CDK2 with cyclin A serves to configure the active site for ground-state binding of both ATP and the protein substrate, and further aligns ATP in the transition state for phosphoryl transfer. Optimizing the alignment of protein substrates in the phosphoryl transfer reaction is the principal role of phosphorylation at Thr(160).     

Substrate-selective and calcium-independent activation of CaMKII by α-actinin

Protein-protein interactions are thought to modulate the efficiency and specificity of Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling in specific subcellular compartments. Here we show that the F-actin-binding protein α-actinin targets CaMKIIα to F-actin in cells by binding to the CaMKII regulatory domain, mimicking CaM. The interaction with α-actinin is blocked by CaMKII autophosphorylation at Thr-306, but not by autophosphorylation at Thr-305, whereas autophosphorylation at either site blocks Ca(2+)/CaM binding. The binding of α-actinin to CaMKII is Ca(2+)-independent and activates the phosphorylation of a subset of substrates in vitro. In intact cells, α-actinin selectively stabilizes CaMKII association with GluN2B-containing glutamate receptors and enhances phosphorylation of Ser-1303 in GluN2B, but inhibits CaMKII phosphorylation of Ser-831 in glutamate receptor GluA1 subunits by competing for activation by Ca(2+)/CaM. These data show that Ca(2+)-independent binding of α-actinin to CaMKII differentially modulates the phosphorylation of physiological targets that play key roles in long-term synaptic plasticity.     

Chemically reprogramming the phospho‐transfer reaction to crosslink protein kinases to their substrates

The proteomic mapping of enzyme–substrate interactions is challenged by their transient nature. A method to capture interacting protein kinases in complexes with a single substrate of interest would provide a new tool for mapping kinase signaling networks. Here, we describe a nucleotide‐based substrate analog capable of reprogramming the wild‐type phosphoryl‐transfer reaction to produce a kinase‐acrylamide‐based thioether crosslink to mutant substrates with a cysteine nucleophile substituted at the native phosphorylation site. A previously reported ATP‐based methacrylate crosslinker (ATP‐MA) was capable of mediating kinase crosslinking to short peptides but not protein substrates. Exploration of structural variants of ATP‐MA to enable crosslinking of protein substrates to kinases led to the discovery that an ADP‐based methacrylate (ADP‐MA) crosslinker was superior to the ATP scaffold at crosslinking in vitro. The improved efficiency of ADP‐MA over ATP‐MA is due to reduced inhibition of the second step of the kinase–substrate crosslinking reaction by the product of the first step of the reaction. The new probe, ADP‐MA, demonstrated enhanced in vitro crosslinking between the Src tyrosine kinase and its substrate Cortactin in a phosphorylation site‐specific manner. The kinase–substrate crosslinking reaction can be carried out in a complex mammalian cell lysate setting, although the low abundance of endogenous kinases remains a significant challenge for efficient capture.     

Modulation of ζ-Protein Kinase C by Cyclic AMP in PC12 Cells Occurs Through Phosphorylation by Protein Kinase A

Abstract: Although cyclic AMP (cAMP) has been reported to cross talk with the protein kinase C (PKC) system, effects of elevated intracellular cAMP on the activities of specific PKC isoforms have not been studied. We report findings from a permeabilized cell assay that was used to examine changes in the activity of the atypical PKC isoforms brought about by exposure of PC12 cells to agents that elevate intracellular cAMP. We found that increases in intracellular cAMP led to rapid stimulation of atypical PKC activity, 40–70% above control, for a sustained period of time, a response that occurred independent of the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-sensitive PKC isoforms. Changes in intracellular cAMP levels resulted in a dose-dependent redistribution of ζ-PKC to the cytoplasm with a concomitant increase in the phosphorylation state of the enzyme. Incubation of purified ζ-PKC with increasing concentrations of PKA likewise caused a twofold increase in the phosphorylation state of ζ-PKC. In contrast to the positive effect that PKA-mediated phosphorylation had on the activity of ζ-PKC, the enzyme displayed reduced binding to ras when phosphorylated. Taken together, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that protein phosphorylation of PKC acts as a positive effector of its enzyme activity and may serve as a negative modulator for interaction with other proteins.     

Autophosphorylation of the protein kinase dependent on double-stranded RNA

The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent protein kinase (p68 kinase) from interferon-treated human cell is a Mr 68,000 protein induced by interferon. By the use of a specific monoclonal antibody, we have been able to study the two distinct protein kinase activities characteristic of purified p68 kinase. The first activity is functional for endogenous phosphorylation of the enzyme (p68 kinase), whereas the second one is responsible for the phosphorylation of exogenous substrates such as eukaryotic initiation factor 2 and histone. When activated by dsRNA in the presence of Mn2+ and ATP, p68 kinase is autophosphorylated and is then capable of catalyzing phosphorylation of histone in the absence of dsRNA. Whereas binding of 8-azido-[alpha-32P] ATP (8-N3ATP) to p68 kinase is dependent on both dsRNA and Mn2+, phosphorylated p68 kinase binds 8-N3ATP independent of dsRNA. This is consistent with a dsRNA requirement for the autophosphorylation of p68 kinase, but not for the phosphorylation of exogenous substrates. p68 kinase is mainly associated with the ribosomal pellet. It could be recovered efficiently by a buffer containing both high salt and a nonionic detergent. Synthesis of p68 kinase is induced several-fold by interferon in different types of human cells. Partial proteolysis of [35S]methionine and an 8-N3ATP-labeled p68 kinase preparation by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease indicated the presence of a major Mr 48,000 polypeptide (p48) with a specific ATP-binding site. p48 probably contains the catalytic unit of p68 kinase and is analogous to a similar protein which we have previously described as a distinct protein present in a complexed form with p68 kinase. We now believe that the presence of p48 in previously purified kinase preparations was due to partial degradation of p68 kinase.     

The insulin-like growth factor II receptor is phosphorylated by a tyrosine kinase in adipocyte plasma membranes

Incorporation of 32P from [gamma-32P]ATP into tyrosine residues of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II receptor was observed in a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction of rat adipocyte plasma membranes. IGF-II receptor phosphorylation proceeded to a stoichiometry of approximately 0.5 mol of phosphate/IGF-II binding site after 10 min of incubation at 4 degrees C. A Km for ATP of 6 microM was calculated for this phosphorylation reaction. Addition of IGF-II caused an approximately 2-fold increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the IGF-II receptor in this preparation. In contrast, phosphorylation of angiotensin II by the Triton X-100 washed membranes was not stimulated by IGF-II. Incubation of purified receptor immobilized on IGF-II agarose or of receptor-enriched low density microsomal membranes with [gamma-32P]ATP did not result in appreciable incorporation of [32P]phosphate into the IGF-II receptor nor into exogenous substrates. These data suggest that the IGF-II receptor is not a tyrosine protein kinase capable of autophosphorylation but that it is a substrate for a tyrosine protein kinase endogenous to the adipocyte plasma membrane. The stimulatory effect of IGF-II on the tyrosine phosphorylation of its receptor may be due to a conformational change which converts the receptor to a better substrate for this tyrosine kinase.     

Function of the nonidentical subunits of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase

The pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) component of the bovine kidney pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) contains two nonidentical subunits. PDH catalyzes the decarboxylation of pyruvate to produce α-hydroxyethylthiamine-PP (HETPP) and the reductive acetylation of the lipoyl moieties of dihydrolipoyl transacetylase with HETPP. Phosphorylation of PDH with PDH kinase and ATP markedly inhibits the first reaction but does not inhibit the second reaction. Since the α-subunit but not the β-subunit of PDH undergoes phosphorylation, these results suggest that the α-subunit catalyzes the first reaction and the β-subunit catalyzes the second reaction. Thiamine-PP reduces the rate of phosphorylation of PDC by PDH kinase and ATP. Phosphorylation of PDC increases the K_D of the PDC-Mg-thiamine-PP complex about 12-fold. It appears that the thiamine-PP binding site and the phosphorylation site on PDH influence each other and that HETPP is bound to PDH in a different orientation or possibly at a different site than is thiamine-PP.     

Protein kinase activities in immune complexes of simian virus 40 large T-antigen and transformation-associated cellular p53 protein.

Immune complex kinase assays in the simian virus 40 system were performed by incubation of immunoprecipitates containing tumor antigens with [gamma-32P]ATP, followed by analysis of any phosphoacceptor proteins. These assays yielded mainly the viral large T-antigen and, in particular, the associated cellular p53 as endogenous substrates. The nature of these substrates was confirmed by proteolysis techniques. Under specific conditions, casein could be used as an exogenous substrate as well. The kinase reactions showed preference for ATP and MgCl2 instead of GTP or MnCl2. Both phosphoserine and phosphothreonine, but in no case phosphotyrosine, were detected after an immune complex kinase reaction. Apparently, several in vivo phosphorylation sites were recognized in vitro in both large T-antigen and p53, but the presence of some artifactual sites could not be completely excluded. Although contaminating kinases were detectable in the immune complexes, at least the p53 molecules were phosphorylated in vitro in a more specific way. This followed from several characteristics of the immune complex kinase reactions and especially from the strong inhibition of p53 phosphorylation by two anti-large-T monoclonal antibodies. It was shown that large T-antigen showed associated kinase activity, although none of our results could unambiguously demonstrate an intrinsic kinase activity of this protein. Finally, anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies only slightly affected in vitro phosphorylation reactions, whereas a p53 molecule from a simian virus 40-free, chemically transformed human cell line was not phosphorylated in vitro under any condition tested. Thus, it is highly unlikely that the p53 molecule per se carries intrinsic or even associated kinase activities.     

The C-terminus of Raf-1 acts as a 14-3-3-dependent activation switch

The Raf-1 protein kinase is a major activator of the ERK MAPK pathway, which links signaling by a variety of cell surface receptors to the regulation of cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and migration. Signaling by Raf-1 is regulated by a complex and poorly understood interplay between phosphorylation events and protein–protein interactions. One important mode of Raf-1 regulation involves the phosphorylation-dependent binding of 14-3-3 proteins. Here, we have examined the mechanism whereby the C-terminal 14-3-3 binding site of Raf-1, S621, controls the activation of MEK-ERK signaling. We show that phosphorylation of S621 turns over rapidly and is enriched in the activated pool of endogenous Raf-1. The phosphorylation on this site can be mediated by Raf-1 itself but also by other kinase(s). Mutations that prevent the binding of 14-3-3 proteins to S621 render Raf-1 inactive by specifically disrupting its capacity to bind to ATP, and not by gross conformational alteration as indicated by intact MEK binding. Phosphorylation of S621 correlates with the inhibition of Raf-1 catalytic activity in vitro, but 14-3-3 proteins can completely reverse this inhibition. Our findings suggest that 14-3-3 proteins function as critical cofactors in Raf-1 activation, which induce and maintain the protein in a state that is competent for both ATP binding and MEK phosphorylation.     

Modulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of p36 and other substrates by the S-100 protein

The inhibitory effects of Ca2+-binding proteins on tyrosine phosphorylation of p36 protein isolated from bovine intestinal epithelium by immunoprecipitated p130fps were investigated. S-100 protein dose dependently inhibited the p36 phosphorylation, and calmodulin weakly depressed the phosphorylation, whereas parvalbumin and troponin C had no significant effects. The S-100 preparation purified from bovine brain did not contain phosphatase activity or ATPase activity. The concentration of ATP did not affect the S-100-mediated inhibition of phosphorylation but the substrate protein, p36, reversed the inhibition. S-100 similarly inhibited the tyrosine phosphorylation of p36 by p60src but did not affect the p36 phosphorylation by protein kinase C. S-100 inhibited the tyrosine kinase activity of p130fps using the other substrates tested as well. These results suggest that S-100 interacts with the substrate binding site of retroviral tyrosine-specific protein kinases and may play a regulatory role in the tyrosine phosphorylation.     

Requirement of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase kinase for coenzyme A

Phosphorylation and inactivation of acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase by acetyl-CoA carboxylase kinase in the presence of ATP and Mg2+ requires coenzyme A. Coenzyme A did not enhance the phosphorylation of alternative substrates of the carboxylase kinase such as protamine or histones. Analogs of coenzyme A were also effective in stimulating the inactivation of carboxylase. The KA of CoA for stimulated carboxylase inactivation was 25 microM. The presence of coenzyme A did not alter the Km of the carboxylase kinase for its substrates, ATP and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Fluorescence binding studies showed that CoA binds to carboxylase but not to the kinase. The KD of CoA binding to carboxylase is 27 microM. These results indicate that coenzyme A, acting on acetyl-CoA carboxylase, may play an important role in the regulation of the covalent modification mechanism for acetyl-CoA carboxylase.     

Protein kinases and their substrates in brown adipose tissue from newborn rats.

The 10000 X g supernatant fraction of brown fat from newborn rats catalyzed the cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of both histone and a preparation of proteins from the same subcellular fraction (endogenous proteins). The apparent affinity for ATP was lower for the phosphorylation of the endogenous proteins than for the phosphorylation of histone. In order to discover whether the phosphorylation of histone and the endogenous proteins were catalyzed by different enzymes, the 100000 X g supernatant was fractionated by ion-exchange and adsorption chromatography. Three different cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases and one cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase were separated and partially purified. Each of these enzymes catalyzed the phosphorylation of both substrates, and the difference in apparent Km for ATP remained. Neither affinity chromatography on histone-Sepharose, nor electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels resulted in the separation of the phosphorylation of histone from that of the endogenous proteins of any of the partially purified kinases. Moreover, experiments in which the phosphorylated substrates were separated by differential precipitation with trichloroacetic acid showed that the endogenous proteins competitively inhibited the phosphorylation of lysine-rich histone. It is concluded that each of the partially purified kinase preparations contains protein kinase, which catalyzes the phosphorylation of both substrates. The difference in apparent Km for ATP was found to be due to the presence in the endogenous protein preparation of a low molecular weight compound which competes with ATP. This was not ATP nor the modulator protein. The ratio of the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins to that of histone was much higher for the cyclic AMP-independent kinase preparation than for the other enzymes. Electrophoresis of the endogenous substrates in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate showed that the enzyme phosphorylated a greater number of proteins than did the cyclic AMP-dependent kinases. The phosphorylation of endogenous proteins relative to that of histone was significantly lower for one of the cyclic AMP-dependent kinases than for the other two. This difference was not reflected in a different pattern of phosphorylation of the individual proteins of the endogenous mixture.     

The complete pathway for catalytic activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, ERK2

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase ERK2 is an essential signal transduction molecule that mediates extracellular signaling by all polypeptide growth factors. Full activation of ERK2 requires phosphorylation at both a threonine residue (Thr(183)) conserved in most protein kinases as well as a tyrosine residue (Tyr(185)) unique to members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family. We have characterized the kinetic role of phosphorylation at each site with respect to the overall activation mechanism, providing a complete picture of the reaction steps involved. Phosphorylation at Tyr(185) serves to configure the ATP binding site, while phosphorylation at both residues is required to stabilize binding of the protein substrate, myelin basic protein. Similar control mechanisms are employed to stabilize ATP and myelin basic protein in the phosphoryl group transfer reaction, accounting for the enormous increase in turnover rate. The mechanism of ERK2 activation is kinetically similar to that of the cell cycle control protein, cdk2/cyclinA. Phosphorylation of Tyr(185) in ERK2 and association of cyclinA with cdk2 both serve to stabilize ATP binding. Subsequent phosphorylation of both enzymes on threonine serves to stabilize binding of the phosphoacceptor substrate.     

Proteolytic processing of human L-type pyruvate kinase increases its ability to be phosphorylated

Red cell soluble cyclic 3′-5′ AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates more efficient L₄ liver pyruvate kinase or the L_b partially proteolysed form of erythrocyte enzyme than the L′₄ precursor. Affinity of protein kinase for liver L₄ and L′₄ as substrates is similar (10 μM at 0.1 M ATP and 1 μM cyclic AMP), but maximal velocity of the phosphorylation reaction is twice higher with L₄ than L′₄. Thus it appears that proteolytic processing of pyruvate kinase increases its ability to be phosphorylated, in the same way that it increases its allosteric properties.     

A protein kinase family in Arabidopsis phosphorylates chloroplast precursor proteins

A serine/threonine protein kinase that is able to phosphorylate chloroplast-destined precursor proteins was purified from leaf extract of Arabidopsis thaliana and was identified by mass spectrometry. The protein kinase, encoded by AT2G17700, belongs to a small protein family comprising in addition AT4G35780 and AT4G38470. All three proteins were expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli and characterized with regard to their properties in precursor protein phosphorylation. They were able to phosphorylate several chloroplast-destined precursor proteins within their cleavable presequences. In contrast, a mitochondria-destined precursor protein was not a substrate for these kinases. For all three enzymes, the phosphorylation reaction was specific for ATP with apparent K(m) values between 14 and 67 microM. They did not utilize other NTPs nor were those able to compete for ATP in the reaction. An excess of ADP was able to inhibit ATP-dependent phosphorylation. Furthermore, all three kinases exhibited autophosphorylation. The protein kinases described here could represent subunits of a regulatory network involved in the cytosolic events of chloroplast protein import.     

Substrates regulate the phosphorylation status of nitrate reductase

The effect of substrates on the phosphorylation status of nitrate reductase (NR; EC 1.6.6.1) was studied. The enzyme was obtained from the first leaf of 7-day-old oat (Avena sativa L. cv. Suregrain) plants, grown in the light. When desalted crude extracts were incubated with ATP, NR was strongly phosphorylated, as evidenced by the inhibition of the enzyme's activity in the presence of Mg²⁺. NR sensitivity to Mg²⁺ remained unchanged when 10 mM nitrate was added to crude extracts after ATP. Addition of nitrate before or simultaneously with ATP slightly decreased Mg²⁺ inhibition of NR, which was strongly diminished in the presence of 10 mM NO₃^?+ 100 µM NADH. Incubation with NADH alone did not affect the enzyme's susceptibility to Mg²⁺ inhibition. When ammonium sulfate was added to crude extracts, NR was recovered in a 0-40% saturation fraction (F1). After incubation of F1 with ATP, the sensitivity of the enzyme to Mg²⁺ inhibition remained low, but it strongly increased after mixing F1 with a 45-60% saturation fraction (F2) suggesting that also in oats an additional factor (inactivating protein, IP), which probably binds to phospho-NR, would be required to keep the phosphorylated enzyme inactive in a +Mg²⁺ medium. Addition of 10 mM NO₃^?+ 100 µM NADH together with desalted F2 did not prevent Mg²⁺ inhibition suggesting that NO₃^? did not interfere with IP binding to phospho-NR. Again, incubation of F1 with both substrates during in vitro phosphorylation kept the enzyme active after adding F2, even in the presence of Mg²⁺, After in vitro phosphorylation, NR in crude extract was hardly reactivated when incubated alone or in the presence of 10 mM NO₃^? at 30°C. On the other hand, a strong and very rapid reactivation was found when the extract was incubated with both nitrate and NADH. Microcystine, an inhibitor of types 1 and 2A phosphoprotein phosphatases, inhibited the reactivation of phospho-NR induced by the substrates. The results presented here show that the substrates could prevent NR phosphorylation and induce the enzyme's dephosphorylation, but they were effective only after their binding to the NR protein. Thereby, they seemed to affect the NR protein itself and not the phosphatase- or the kinase-proteins. It has been reported that nitrate binding to the enzyme's active site induces conformational changes in the NR protein. We propose that this conformational change would prevent NR phosphorylation, by converting the enzyme into a form in which the site recognized by the protein kinase is no longer accessible, and, simultaneously, stimulate NR dephophorylation by allowing the specific phosphatases to recognize NR.     

Phospholipase C activity in plasma membranes isolated from lapine synovial cells in monolayer culture

Two phosphorylase kinase activities were resolved by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The main activity peak was enriched 2800-fold, the minor appeared to be an aggregate of the enzyme. Phosphorylase kinase also phosphorylated histone and casein with no changes in phosphorylation ratios throughout the preparation steps but was most active on yeast phosphorylase. The molecular weight was 29000 +/- 2000. ATP, UTP, GTP served as substrates while CTP was inactive. Mg-ions activated the kinase without inhibition at high concentrations (30 mM). In addition to this cAMP-independent kinase, cAMP-dependent protein kinase also phosphorylated phosphorylase. The catalytic subunit and phosphorylase kinase were not identical since the latter was not inhibited by yeast cAMP binding protein.