Chemical Characterization and Pronase Susceptibility of the Na:K Pump-Associated Phosphoprotein of Human Red Blood Cells

The phosphoproteins formed by incubation of red cell ghosts with [γ-³²P]ATP in the presence of Mg and Na + Mg have been characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ³²P-labeled phosphoprotein was seen as a single peak confined to the region of the diffuse 90,000 dalton polypeptide band; labeling with Na + Mg considerably increased the quantity of ³²P-phosphoprotein contained in this band relative to labeling with Mg alone. Treatment of intact cells with Pronase known to partially hydrolyze the glycoproteins and the 90,000 daltons polypeptide did not change either the amount or the position of the ³²P-phosphoprotein present in the gels. The molecular weight of the ³²P-phosphoprotein is estimated to be 103,000. Pronase treatment of intact cells also did not significantly alter any of the transport parameters of the membrane such as the K pump flux, ouabain binding, or Na,K-ATPase. In contrast, treatment of ghosts with Pronase not only resulted in drastic alteration of the transport parameters but also inhibited the formation of the phosphoprotein under all conditions. Thus, while the Na:K pump is not intrinsically resistant to Pronase, those elements of the pump which are susceptible are not accessible from the outside of the cell. Further, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after Pronase treatment of intact cells results in a substantial increase in the purification of the phosphoprotein relative to that which was previously possible in ghosts.     

The sodium and potassium activated ATPase. II. Comparative study of intestinal epithelium and red cells

The Na-K ATPase found in sedimentable fractions of intestinal epithelium of rats hydrolyzed cytidine triphosphate nearly as well as ATP (25% to 50%); was active only in presence of divalent cations, with specificity for Mg (100%), Mn (50%) and Ca (10%); showed a plateau of activation when Mg concentrations were in excess of substrate; and was inhibited by a second divalent cation (Zn > Mn > Ca), and by 3 × 10^?4 M ouabain (50%). Parallel assays of rat red cell ghosts showed differences in substrate specificity (CTP was not utilized), in activation kinetics (activation peak with Mg) and in greater specificity to Mg (Mn was a weaker activator and Zn was a weaker inhibitor). Stabilities also differed in the two preparations: Na? K ATPase of intestinal epithelium was activated by sucrose extraction and denatured during cytolysis at room temperature, while that of red cell fragments was denatured during sucrose extraction and preserved by hemolysis at room temperature. Other properties of Na? K ATPase studied in the two tissues included activation by monovalent cations (optimum at 160 mM Na, 15 mM K), specificity to monovalent cations, and sensitivity to lipid solvents and to some drugs. The data were discussed in terms of comparative properties of Na? K ATPases of various cells. Residual ATPase activities of intestinal epithelium and red cell ghosts were shown to differ in substrate specificity, inhibition and activation. “Residual ATPase” from intestinal epithelium was a zinc-activated nucleoside polyphosphate phosphohydrolase, while ghosts contained Mg? ATPase. Only the latter enzyme was specific to ATP and Mg, activated by Ca in presence of Mg, and sensitive to inhibition by PCMB and Zn.     

Phosphorylated intermediates of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase in renal plasma membranes

Renal basal-lateral and brush border membrane preparations were phosphorylated in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP. The 32P-labeled membrane proteins were analysed on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The phosphorylated intermediates formed in different conditions are compared with the intermediates formed in well defined membrane preparations such as erythrocyte plasma membranes and sarcoplasmic reticulum from skeletal muscle, and with the intermediates of purified renal enzymes such as (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase. Two Ca2+-induced, hydroxylamine-sensitive phosphoproteins are formed in the basal-lateral membrane preparations. They migrate with a molecular radius Mr of about 130 000 and 100 000. The phosphorylation of the 130 kDa protein was stimulated by La3+-ions (20 microM) in a similar way as the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from erythrocytes. The 130 kDa phosphoprotein also comigrated with the erythrocyte (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. In addition in the same preparation, another hydroxylamine-sensitive 100 kDa phosphoprotein was formed in the presence of Na+. This phosphoprotein comigrates with a preparation of renal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. In brush border membrane preparations the Ca2+-induced and the Na+-induced phosphorylation bands are absent. This is consistent with the basal-lateral localization of the renal Ca2+-pump and Na+-pump. The predominant phosphoprotein in brush border membrane preparations is a 85 kDa protein that could be identified as the phosphorylated intermediate of renal alkaline phosphatase. This phosphoprotein is also present in basal-lateral membrane preparations, but it can be accounted for by contamination of those membranes with brush border membranes.     

Role of membrane-bound Ca in ghost permeability to Na and K

Summary The permeability of red cell ghosts to K is determined by the amount of membrane-bound Mg which, in turn, depends on internal Mg. Contrasting with such effect, an increase in cellular Ca raises K permeability. To test whether this, action is due to a competitive displacement of membrane Mg, the free Ca content of human red cell ghosts was altered by means of Ca-EGTA buffers. Net Na and K movements as well as Ca and Mg bindings, were assessed after incubation in a Na-medium at 37°C. Raising Ca from 3×10^–7 to 1×10^–2M caused a large K efflux with very little Na gain. Under similar conditions, Ca binding was increased without affecting membranebound Mg. Both Ca binding and K loss were markedly diminished by either adding ATP to the hemolytic medium or increasing internal Mg at a fixed Ca concentration. A Scatchard analysis showed three Ca binding sites, two of them having high affinity. It is concluded that Ca action does not arise from a displacement of membrane-bound Mg but from binding to different sites in the membrane. Presumably, high affinity sites are involved in the control of K permeability.     

Red cell membrane alterations in human chronic fluoride toxicity.

Red cells from humans exposed chronically to toxic levels of fluoride through drinking water showed significant increase in lipid peroxidation and membranous cholesterol and phospholipids. Additionally, electrophoretic patterns of ghost membrane proteins revealed the presence of a new band in the range of congruent to 66 Kd and increase in the high molecular weight protein and predominance of bands with a molecular weight of congruent to 93 Kd and congruent to 20 Kd. The activities of total, Na(+)-K(+)-, Mg(2+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPases were significantly decreased in the red cell ghosts of fluorotic patients.     

Resolution of erythrocyte membrane proteins by two-dimensional electrophoresis.

A two-dimensional electrophoresis method has been developed which solubilizes erythrocyte membrane proteins, and which resolves the components of the band that migrates in detergent gels as if its molecular mass were 95,000 daltons. This method uses gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate in the first dimension and phenol, aqueous urea, and acetic acid in the second dimension. The 95,000 dalton band is known to contain several different membrane proteins, including those associated with anion transport, glucose transport, and (Na+,K+) transport. Two-dimensional electrophoresis resolved this band into one major spot and several minor ones. Pronase digestion of whole erythrocytes, followed by preparation of ghosts and two-dimensional electrophoresis, showed that only the major component of this band was digested by pronase.     

Dephosphorylation of rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase by phosphoprotein phosphatase and human placental alkaline phosphatase

Phosphorylation of rabbit muscle glycogen synthase by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase results in the incorporation of ³²P into two major tryptic peptides (P-1 and P-2) which are identified by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel. When ³²P-labeled synthase is incubated with rabbit muscle phosphoprotein phosphatase both P-1 and P-2 are hydrolyzed. Incubation of ³²P-labeled synthase with human placental alkaline phosphatase results in a specific hydrolysis of P-1. Measurement of the increase in synthase activity ratio accompanied by the dephosphorylation of P-1 with human placental alkaline phosphatase and, subsequently, of P-2 with phosphoprotein phosphatase shows that both P-1 and P-2 affect the glucose-6-P dependency of the synthase.     

Membrane compartmentalized ATP and its preferential use by the Na, K-ATPase of human red cell ghosts

This paper describes work which begins to define the molecular organization in the region of the membrane that comprises the functional domain of the Na:K pump. The membrane-bound phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and Na, K-ATPase appear to be directly linked via a compartmentalized form of ATP. Evidence for the membrane pool of ATP is based on the labeling characteristics of the phosphoproteins by [γ-(32)P]ATP of ghosts incubated under various conditions. Preincubation of ghosts in the presence of ATP at 37 degrees C, but not at 0 degrees C, completely obscures the formation of the Na-phosphoprotein in ghosts washed and subsequently incubated in the presence of [gamma-(32)P]ATP. In contrast to the Na component, the Mg component of phosphorylation is only slightly altered by preincubation with ATP. ATPase activity measured as (32)P(i) liberated during the subsequent incubation at 0 degrees C, reflects completely the differential effects of preincubation with ATP on (32)P incorporation into phosphoprotein. ATP placed within the pool by preincubation can be removed by operating the Na, K-ATPase or the PGK reaction in the reverse direction by use of exogenous substrates. Alternatively, the membrane pool of ATP can be formed also from exogenous substrates by running the PGK reaction in the forward direction. These results, while providing direct support for a membrane compartment of ATP, also indicate the location of this compartment in relation to the PGK and the Na, K-ATPase. In addition, these results also imply that the Mg and Na components are different enzymatic entities since substrate ATP can be derived from separate sources.     

Calcium transport in human erythrocytes. Separation and reconstitution of high and low Ca affinity (Mg mca)-AT Pase activities in membranes prepared at low ionic strength.

Human erythrocyte membranes obtained by freeze-thawing of ghosts prepared in the absence or presence of EDTA, by washing with a 12 mosm medium at pH 7.7 or a 2 mosm medium at pH 6.5 contain both high and low Ca affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activities. Incubation of ghosts in a less than 2 mosm medium at pH 7.5 or in 0.1 mm EDTA + 1 Him Tris-maleate (pH 8.0) results in removal of the high affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity from the membrane in a time dependent manner. Under similar conditions up to 25% of membrane proteins are removed. The soluble protein fraction extracted, although devoid of ATPase activity, reconstitutes with the remaining membrane residue with restoration of original (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity. Addition of the soluble protein fraction to heat-treated membranes devoid of low affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity allows reconstitution of more than 33% of the original high affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity which has a Ca dissociation constant of approximately 1.6μm. Temperature and phospholipase A₂ studies indicate that low affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity is phospholipid dependent in contrast to high affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity. Ruthenium red and LaCl₃ inhibit both high and low affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activities with similar potencies. The ease of removal of high affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity from the membrane by relatively mild conditions suggests that an activator protein or the high affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase itself is only loosely attached to the membrane. These studies show that low affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity is not an artifact and is distinct from high affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity. The low affinity (Mg + Ca)-ATPase activity is sensitive to Ca²⁺ in the concentration range from below 0.3 μm to 300 μm compatible with an association of this enzyme with Ca transport.     

Evidence for erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins being carriers of blood-group P1 determinants

The contribution of different membrane constituents to the bloodgroup P₁ activity of human erythrocytes was investigated. Pronase digestion of native red cell stroma or partition between butanol and water had no serologically detectable effect, whereas pronase-treatment of previously butanol-extracted membranes liberated virtually all blood-group P₁ determinants from the ghosts. On Laemmli gels, all P₁ activity was found in the band 4.5 region. Thus it is concluded that, in addition to the well-documented P₁ glycolipid, also membrane glycoproteins are carriers of blood-group P₁ determinants.     

Effects of Mg and Ca on the side dependencies of Na and K on ouabain binding to red blood cell ghosts and the control of Na transport by internal Mg

The effect of alteration in the concentration of internal Mg on the rate of ouabain binding to reconstituted human red blood cell ghosts has been evaluated as well as the effect of Mgi on Na:Na compared to Na:K exchange. It was found that the dependence of the rate of ATP-promoted ouabain binding on the combined presence of Nai and Ko which occurs at high [Mg]i is lost when the concentration of Mgi is lowered. The sensitivity of the external surface for Ko is also changed since Ko can now inhibit the ouabain binding rate in the absence of Nai; on the other hand Nao at low [Mg]i can stimulate ouabain binding indicating that the relative affinity of the outside surface for Nao has either increased or that for Ko has decreased or both. Thus the effects of changes in [Mg]i result in a change in the side-dependent actions of Na and K and emphasize the possible difficulties of interpreting results obtained on systems lacking sidedness. Mgi was found to be required for Pi-promoted ouabain binding and that the inhibitory action of Nai increased as [Mg]i was increased. In addition, Ca was found to be most effective in inhibiting the rate of ATP-promoted ouabain binding when Na and K were present together than when either was present alone. Na:K exchange was found to be more sensitive to the concentration of Mgi than Na:Na exchange; at low [Mg]i Na:K exchange could be stimulated without changing the extent of Na:Na exchange. These results are consistent with the idea that conformational states of the pump complex are directly influenced by [Mg]i.     

The ATPase activity of saponin-treated rat erythrocytes: regulation by monovalent cations, calcium, ouabain, and furosemide

The ATPase activities were studied in rat erythrocytes permeabilized with saponin. The concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions were varied within the range of 0.1-60 microM and 50-370 microM, respectively, by using EGTA-citrate buffer. The maximal activity of Ca2(+)-ATPase of permeabilized erythrocytes was by one order of magnitude higher, whereas the Ca2(+)-binding affinity was 1.5-2 times higher than that in erythrocyte ghosts washed an isotonic solution containing EGTA. Addition of the hemolysate restored the kinetic parameters of ghost Ca2(+)-ATPase practically completely, whereas in the presence of exogenous calmodulin only part of Ca2(+)-ATPase activity was recovered. Neither calmodulin nor R24571, a highly potent specific inhibitor of calmodulin-dependent reactions, influenced the Ca2(+)-ATPase activity of permeabilized erythrocytes. At Ca2+ concentrations below 0.7 microM, ouabain (0.5-1 mM) activated whereas at higher Ca2+ concentrations it inhibited the Ca2(+)-ATPase activity. Taking this observation into account the Na+/K(+)-ATPase was determined as the difference of between the ATPase activities in the presence of Na+ and K+ and in the presence of K+ alone. At physiological concentration of Mg2+ (370 microM), the addition of 0.3-1 microM Ca2+ increased Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity by 1.5-3-fold. Higher concentrations of this cation inhibited the enzyme. At low Mg2+ concentration (e.g., 50 microM) only Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibition by Ca2+ was seen. It was found that at [NaCl] less than 20 mM furosemide was increased ouabain-inhibited component of ATPase in Ca2(+)-free media. This activating effect of furosemide was enhanced with a diminution of [Na+] upto 2 mM and did not reach the saturation level unless the 2 mM of drug was used. The activating effect of furosemide on Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity confirmed by experiments in which the ouabain-inhibited component was measured by the 86Rb+ influx into intact erythrocytes.     

Regulation of Phosphate Incorporation into Four Brain Phosphoproteins that Are Affected by Experience

Various regulators of protein kinase activities were tested for their effects on the in vitro transfer of phosphate from [gamma-32P]ATP to four proteins of rat brain synaptic particulate preparations. One protein, of apparent molecular weight 44,000, accepted 32P in the presence of 8 mM EDTA and no added Mg2+. It was the major phosphoprotein of brain mitochondria. Its phosphorylation was inhibited by pyruvate and stimulated by K+, and it comigrated in electrophoretic gels with authentic alpha-subunit of pyruvate: lipoamide oxidoreductase (decarboxylating) (EC 1.2.4.1) from bovine heart. The major kinase acting on three proteins of apparent molecular weights 24,000, 21,000, and 19,000 was stimulated by Ca2+, by preincubation with phospholipase C, and by 12-tetradecanoyl 4-beta-phorbol 13-acetate. Phosphorylation of these lower-molecular-weight proteins was inhibited by ACTH1-24, by cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate, and by 50 microM trifluoperazine. The stimulatory effect of Ca2+ was antagonized by calmodulin. The kinase in question appears to be B-50 protein kinase or protein kinase C.     

Identification of Ca2+-pump-related phosphoprotein in plasma membrane vesicles of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells

Plasma membrane vesicles of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells have been isolated to a high degree of purity. In the presence of Mg2+, the plasma membrane preparation exhibits a Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity of 2 mumol Pi per h per mg protein. It is suggested that this (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity is related to the measured Ca2+ transport which was characterized by Km values for ATP and Ca2+ of 44 +/- 9 microM and 0.25 +/- 0.10 microM, respectively. Phosphorylation of plasma membranes with [gamma-32P]ATP and analysis of the radioactive species by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a Ca2+-dependent hydroxylamine-sensitive phosphoprotein with a molecular mass of 135 kDa. Molecular mass and other data differentiate this phosphoprotein from the catalytic subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and from the catalytic subunit of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of endoplasmic reticulum. It is suggested that the 135 kDa phosphoprotein represents the phosphorylated catalytic subunit of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of the plasma membrane of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. This finding is discussed in relation to previous attempts to identify a Ca2+-pump in plasma membranes isolated from nucleated cells.     

Erythrocyte membrane ATPase and calcium pumping activities in porcine malignant hyperthermia

To investigate possible abnormalities in erythrocyte membrane enzyme activities in the pharmacogenetic disorder MH, membrane ATPase activities have been examined in erythrocyte ghosts prepared from red blood cells of MHS and normal swine. While no differences were noted in Mg2+-ATPase activities, the (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity of MHS erythrocyte ghosts was less than that of normal ghosts. Ca2+-ATPase activity exhibited low- and high-affinity Ca2+-binding sites in both types of erythrocyte ghost. While the Km for Ca2+ was greater for normal than for MHS erythrocyte ghosts at the high-affinity Ca2+-binding site, the reverse was true at the low-affinity Ca2+-binding site. Irrespective of the type of calcium binding site occupied, the Vmax for normal erythrocyte ghost Ca2+-ATPase activity was greater than that for MHS ghosts. In the presence of calmodulin, there was now no difference between MHS and normal erythrocyte ghosts in either the Km for Ca2+ or the Vmax of the Ca2+-ATPase activity. To determine if the calcium pumping activity of intact MHS and normal pig erythrocytes differed, calcium efflux from the 45Ca-loaded erythrocytes was determined; this activity was significantly greater for MHS than for normal erythrocytes. Thus, the present study confirms that there are abnormalities in the membranes of MHS pig red blood cells. However, we conclude that these abnormalities are unlikely to result in an impaired ability of MHS erythrocytes to regulate their cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.     

Effect of farm yard manure on the availability of Ca from Ca45CO3 in a sodic soil (ESP 77.7)

Summary Application of FYM caused a gradual increase in the dry weight of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata Pers.) tops. It also caused a gradual increase in the content of Mg and K and a decrease in the content of Ca, Na, N and P in dhaincha tops. Increase in Ca: Na ratio was more steeper than (Ca+Mg): (Na+K) ratio. Total uptake of Ca, Mg, K, N and P increased and that of Na decreased in response to FYM. Contribution of Ca from Ca⁴⁵CO₃ did not differ much at different levels of FYM and it was less than 6 per cent of total Ca in plant tops in all the treatments. re]19721017     

Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase of microsomal membranes from bovine aortic smooth muscle. Identification and characterization of an acid-stable phosphorylated intermediate of the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase

An acid-stable phosphoprotein was formed in a microsomal membrane fraction isolated from bovine aortic smooth muscle in the presence of Mg2+ + ATP and Ca2+. The microsomes also showed Ca2+ uptake activity. The Ca2+ dependence of phosphoprotein formation and of Ca2+ uptake occurred over the same range of Ca2+ concentration (1-10 microM), and resembled similar findings from rabbit skeletal microsomes. The molecular weight of the phosphorylated protein, estimated by SDS-gel electrophoresis, was approximately 105,000. The phosphoprotein was labile at alkaline pH, and its decomposition was accelerated by hydroxylamine. Half-maximum incorporation of 32P in the presence of 10 microM Ca2+ occurred at 60 nM ATP. The calcium-dependent phosphoprotein formation was not affected by 5 mM NaN3, but was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by ADP with a 50% inhibition occurring at 180 microM. Fifty mM MgCl2 was required for the maximal phosphorylation. The rate of phosphoprotein decomposition after adding 2 mM EGTA was accelerated by varying the Mg2+ concentration from 10 microM to 3 mM. Alkaline pH (9.0) slowed the rate of phosphoprotein decay. Optimal Ca2+-dependent phosphoprotein occurred at 15 degrees C over a broad pH range (6.4 to 9.0). The activation energy of EGTA-induced phosphoprotein decomposition was 25.6 kcal/mol between 0 and 16 degrees C and 14.6 kcal/mol between 16 and 30 degrees C. The phosphoprotein formed by aortic microsomes was thus quite similar to the acid-stable phosphorylated intermediate of the Ca2+-transport ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum from skeletal and cardiac muscle. These data suggest that the Ca2+-dependent phosphoprotein is a reaction intermediate of the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase of the aortic microsomes.     

Spectrin band 1 and 2 are antigenically distinct and are not composed of subunits.

Human erythrocyte membranes and freshly isolated spectrin were separated into their constituent peptides by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The peptides were electrophoresed from slices of such gels into agarose gels containing anti-spectrin antibodies and Triton X-100. In fresh preparations, precipitin arcs were observed only against peptides migrating as bands 1 and 2. It was found that bands 1 and 2 did not cross-react. There were two major arcs from band 1 and one principal arc from band 2, plus minor splitting of these arcs. None of the band 1 arcs fused with band 2 arcs. In fresh erythrocyte ghosts only bands 1 and 2 reacted with anti-spectrin; bands 2.1, 3, and 5, in particular, showed no precipitin arcs. However, in aged ghosts, arcs appeared in the band 3 region; in aged isolated spectrin, arcs appeared in the band 2.1 region; and in trypsin-degraded spectrin, reactive species occurred in all molecular weight classes. It is concluded that spectrin has no subunits smaller than 220,000 molecular weight and that bands 1 and 2 are immunochemically distinct.     

Mechanisms of inhibition of active transport ATPases by mercurials.

Inhibition by methylmercury and mercuric chloride of Mg,Ca ATPase and Na,K ATPase activities in human erythrocyte ghosts was correlated with the binding capacity of ghosts for the mercurial. Full inhibition was always reached below saturation of binding capacity, and half-inhibition at levels as low as 10% saturation. Under such conditions, concentrations of free inhibitor were negligibly low, and existing mathematical models of inhibition were not applicable. New inhibitor partition equations were introduced to model the mechanisms of action of mercurials. Up to 7 methylmercury groups were calculated to bind to one Na,K ATPase molecule at non-inhibitory sites, while only one reacted with the inhibitory site. Mg,Ca ATPase showed simple one-hit inhibition (one mercurial per enzyme); further washing of ghosts, however, unmasked a second binding site (cooperative two-hit inhibition). Affinities of mercurials to sites of inhibition were calculated relative to other ligands in erythrocyte membranes: the ratios ranged from 3 : 1 to 50 : 1. The results demonstrated the use of binding capacity assays and inhibitor partition equations to measure and compare the susceptibilities of membrane-bound enzymes to poisoning by mercurials.     

Phosphorylation of a nucleolus-specific phosphoprotein in vitro.

The cellular site and characteristics of the phosphorylation of a nucleolus-specific phosphoprotein (molecular weight, 120 000) in mouse ascites tumor cells were studied. The phosphoprotein was strongly labeled with ³²P when the isolated nucleoli were incubated with [γ-³²P]ATP in vitro. This phosphoprotein, and protein kinase for the protein phosphorylation were both purified from 0.3 M KCl soluble protein fraction of the nucleoli by hydroxylapatite and phosphocellulose column chromatographies. It was found that phosphorylation of the nucleolus-specific phosphoprotein was catalyzed selectively by a guanosine 3:5-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in the nucleoli and the reaction product was the same phosphoprotein as the substrate used.