Phosphorylation of chicken oviduct progesterone receptor by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Phosphorylation of immunopurified chicken oviduct progesterone receptor (PR) was studied in intact cells and under cell-free conditions. Cytosol PR was isolated by incubation with anti-PR monoclonal antibody alpha PR22 adsorbed to protein A-Sepharose and suspended in a reaction mixture containing 10 mM Mg2+, 0.1 mM [gamma-32P]ATP, and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) from bovine heart. All three major proteins of avian PR (PR-A, 79 kDa; PR-B, 110 kDa; 90 kDa) incorporated 32P-radioactivity on serine residues. The phosphorylation reaction was inhibited by synthetic inhibitors of protein kinases, H-8 and 20-residue peptide IP20. A 40 degrees C preexposure of PR oligomer increased phosphorylation of the 90-kDa protein, known to be a heat-shock protein (hsp-90). The extent of the phosphorylation reaction was temperature-dependent as the 32P-incorporation into PR-A and PR-B increased gradually, showing a maximum at 37 degrees C. Multiple phosphopeptides (4-7) were resolved by two-dimensional electrophoresis chromatography following cleavage of 32P-labeled peptides with trypsin. Both A and B forms of receptor showed similar phosphorylation patterns with B receptor digestion exhibiting two to three additional peptides. Under physiological conditions, preincubation of oviduct mince with forskolin, a regulator of intracellular cAMP levels, caused a greater extent of phosphorylation of PR-A and PR-B proteins. The results of this study demonstrate that chicken oviduct PR is an excellent substrate for the action of cAMP-PK in vitro and that this enzyme may be a physiological regulator of progesterone action in the oviduct.     

Phosphorylation of immunopurified rat liver glucocorticoid receptor by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

We have examined phosphorylation of the rat liver glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and GR-associated protein kinase (PK) activity in the immunopurified receptor preparations. Affinity labeling of hepatic cytosol with [³H]dexamethasone 21-mesylate showed a covalent association of the steroid with a 94 kDa protein. GR was immunopurified with antireceptor monoclonal antibody BuGR2 (Gametchu & Harrison, Endocrinology 114: 274–279, 1984) to near homogeneity. A 23° C incubation of the immunoprecipitated protein A-Sepharose adsorbed GR with [-³²P]ATP, Mg²⁺ and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent PK (cAMP-PK) from bovine heart, led to an incorporation of radioactivity in the 94 kDa protein. Phosphorylation of GR was not evident in the absence of the added kinase. Of the radioinert nucleotides (ATP, GTP, UTP or CTP) tested, only ATP successfully competed with [-³²P]ATP demonstrating a nucleotide specific requirement for the phosphorylation of GR. Other divalent cations, such as Mn²⁺ or Ca²⁺, could not be substituted for Mg²⁺ during the phosphorylation reaction. Phosphorylation of GR was sensitive to the presence of the protein kinase inhibitor, H-8, an isoquinoline sulfonamide derivative. In addition, the incorporation of radioactivity into GR was both time- and temperature-dependent. The phosphorylation of GR by cAMP-PK was independent of the presence of hsp-90 and transformation state of the receptor. The results of this study demonstrate that GR is an effective substrate for action of cAMP-PK and that the immunopurified protein A-Sepharose adsorbed GR lacks intrinsic kinase activity but can be conveniently used for the characterization of the phosphorylation reaction in the presence of an exogenous kinase.Abbreviations BUGR2 anti-GR monoclonal antibody - cAMP-PK cAMP-dependent protein kinase - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - EDTA ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid - GR glucocorticoid receptor - H-8 Isoquinoline sulfonamide derivative - hsp-90 90 kDa heat-shock protein - PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - PR progesterone receptor - NaF sodium fluoride - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - SDS-PAGE SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - SR steroid receptor - TA triamcinolone acetonide     

ZK98299, a novel antiprogesterone that does not interact with chicken oviduct progesterone receptor

Steroid antagonists, at receptor level, are valuable tools for elucidating the mechanism of steroid hormone action. We have examined and compared the interaction of avian and mammalian progesterone receptors with progestins; progesterone and R5020, and a newly synthesized antiprogesterone ZK98299. In the chicken oviduct cytosol, [3H]R5020 binding to macromolecule(s) could be eliminated with prior incubation of cytosol with excess radioinert steroids progesterone or R5020 but not ZK98299. Alternatively, [3H]ZK98299 binding in the chicken oviduct was not abolished in the presence of excess progesterone, R5020, or ZK98299. In the calf uterine cytosol, [3H]R5020 or [3H]ZK98299 binding was competeable with progesterone, R5020 and ZK98299 but not estradiol, DHT or cortisol. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation and protein A-Sepharose adsorption analysis revealed that in the calf uterine cytosol, the [3H]R5020-receptor complexes were recognized by anti-progesterone receptor monoclonal antibody PR6. This antibody, however, did not recognize [3H]ZK98299-receptor complexes. When phosphorylation of progesterone receptor was attempted in the chicken oviduct mince, presence of progesterone resulted in an increased phosphorylation of the known components A (79 kDa) and B (110 kDa) receptor proteins. Presence of ZK98299 neither enhanced the extent of phosphorylation of A and B proteins nor did it reverse the progesterone-dependent increase in the phosphorylation. The avian progesterone receptor, therefore, has unique steroid binding site(s) that exclude(s) interaction with ZK98299. The lack of immunorecognition of calf uterine [3H]ZK98299-receptor complexes, suggests that ZK98299 is either interacting with macromolecule(s) other than the progesterone receptor or with another site on the same protein. Alternatively, the antisteroid binds to the R5020 binding site but the complex adopts a conformation that is not recognized by the PRG antibodies.     

Spectral tuning of a circadian photopigment in a subterranean 'blind' mammal (Spalax ehrenbergi)

Through major research advances in the study of cytoskeletal organization, an integrated view of the complexity of this system has emerged. Recent findings on the microtubule-interacting protein Mip-90, which associates with microtubules and actin filaments in different cell domains, have shed light on its roles in cytoskeletal regulation. In order to study structural features of Mip-90, we sequenced several peptide fragments. A comparative sequence analysis revealed a high degree of similarity between the primary structure of this protein and the human heat shock protein of 90 kDa (hsp-90). Taken together, the present studies indicate the identity between Mip-90 and the the beta-isoform of hsp-90 (hsp-90beta). Western blot assays with an anti-hsp-90 monoclonal antibody showed cross-reactivity of hsp-90 and Mip-90 affinity purified from HeLa cells. Furthermore, the observed structural identity of Mip-90 with the hsp-90beta was sustained by immunoblot assays using monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize the alpha- and beta-forms of hsp-90. Comparative fingerprinting analysis, along with the evidence of a remarkably similar biochemical behavior of both hsp-90 and Mip-90 in different affinity chromatographic systems, supported these observations. These studies, along with previous investigations, provide new data to elucidate the functional significance of these interesting cellular components and its relationships with other proteins linked to the cell architecture.     

Human progesterone receptor transformation and nuclear down-regulation are independent of phosphorylation

We have studied the phosphorylation of progesterone receptors (PR) in T47Dco human breast cancer cells using a monoclonal antibody directed against human PR called AB-52. This antibody recognizes both the A- (Mr approximately 94,000) and B- (Mr approximately 120,000) hormone binding proteins of PR, and was used to immunoprecipitate phosphorylated receptors isolated from cells incubated in vivo with [32P]orthophosphate. The specific activity, or phosphorylation levels, relative to protein levels was quantified by combined immunoblotting and autoradiography followed by densitometry. We find that immunopurified untransformed hormone-free receptors, which have a characteristic triplet B, singlet A structure, are phosphoproteins with similar levels of phosphate incorporation in all protein bands. If PR are first transformed to the nuclear binding form by treatment of cells with progesterone, and then labeled with [32P]orthophosphate, the receptor proteins are additionally phosphorylated. These chromatin-bound hormone occupied receptors incorporate five to 10 times more labeled phosphate per total receptor protein than do PR from untreated cells during the same [32P]incubation time. The second round of phosphorylation may also account for mobility shifts of transformed A- and B-receptors observed in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Both untransformed and transformed species of A- and B-receptors are phosphorylated only on serine residues, and neither the extent of phosphorylation, nor the phosphoamino acids, are affected by treatment of the cells with epidermal growth factor or insulin. We previously reported that after hormone binding and transformation of receptors to the tight chromatin binding state, PR undergo processing, or nuclear down-regulation. AB-52 was used to compare PR protein and phosphorylation levels when cells were treated for 0.5-48 h with progesterone or the synthetic progestin R5020. Both agonists lead to hyperphosphorylation of nuclear PR before phosphorylation levels decrease, in parallel with the drop in protein levels as receptors down-regulate. Treatment of cells with RU 486, an antiprogestin, leads to PR transformation as determined by immunoblotting, but subsequent down-regulation does not occur. After transformation, chromatin-bound RU 486-occupied receptors become intensely phosphorylated however, with specific activities 15 times greater than those of untransformed PR. Since these receptors are phosphorylated but not processed, the hormone-induced nuclear phosphorylation of PR is unlikely to be a signal for receptor processing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Phosphorylation of connexin 32, a hepatocyte gap-junction protein, by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II

Phosphorylation of connexin 32, the major liver gap-junction protein, was studied in purified liver gap junctions and in hepatocytes. In isolated gap junctions, connexin 32 was phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK), by protein kinase C (PKC) and by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca2+/CaM-PK II). Connexin 26 was not phosphorylated by these three protein kinases. Phosphopeptide mapping of connexin 32 demonstrated that cAMP-PK and PKC primarily phosphorylated a seryl residue in a peptide termed peptide 1. PKC also phosphorylated seryl residues in additional peptides. CA2+/CaM-PK II phosphorylated serine and to a lesser extent, threonine, at sites different from those phosphorylated by the other two protein kinases. A synthetic peptide PSRKGSGFGHRL-amine (residues 228-239 based on the deduced amino acid sequence of rat connexin 32) was phosphorylated by cAMP-PK and by PKC, with kinetic properties being similar to those for other physiological substrates phosphorylated by these enzymes. Ca2+/CaM-PK II did not phosphorylate the peptide. Phosphopeptide mapping and amino acid sequencing of the phosphorylated synthetic peptide indicated that Ser233 of connexin 32 was present in peptide 1 and was phosphorylated by cAMP-PK or by PKC. In hepatocytes labeled with [32P]orthophosphoric acid, treatment with forskolin or 20-deoxy-20-oxophorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBt) resulted in increased 32P-incorporation into connexin 32. Phosphopeptide mapping and phosphoamino acid analysis showed that a seryl residue in peptide 1 was most prominently phosphorylated under basal conditions. Treatment with forskolin or PDBt stimulated the phosphorylation of peptide 1. PDBt treatment also increased the phosphorylation of seryl residues in several other peptides. PDBt did not affect the cAMP-PK activity in hepatocytes. It has previously been shown that phorbol ester reduces dye coupling in several cell types, however in rat hepatocytes, dye coupling was not reduced by treatment with PDBt. Thus, activation of PKC may have differential effects on junctional permeability in different cell types; one source of this variability may be differences in the sites of phosphorylation in different gap-junction proteins.     

Synthesis of human progesterone receptors in T47D cells. Nascent A- and B-receptors are active without a phosphorylation-dependent post-translational maturation step

Human progesterone receptors (PR) are structurally complex. At basal states there are two forms: A-receptors of approximately 94 kDa and B-receptors which are triplets of approximately 114, 117, and 120 kDa. All the proteins bind hormone and are phosphorylated. By using PR-rich T47Dco human breast cancer cells, pulse-labeling with [35S]methionine, and receptor immunopurification with anti-PR monoclonal antibodies, we show that PR are synthesized as single B-proteins of 114 kDa and single A-proteins of 94 kDa. The mature B-triplets form 6-10 h later by post-translational phosphorylation at sites restricted to the B-proteins. This slow maturation is not required for PR activation to hormone binding states, however, since A- and B-receptors that are less than 15 min old respond to progestins by undergoing transformation and nuclear binding accompanied by a rapid secondary phosphorylation common to both proteins. These studies explain the complex structure of the mature human B-receptors and the transformed A- and B-receptors, and address issues dealing with A- and B-proreceptor synthesis and receptor activation rates.     

Purification by affinity chromatography and immunological characterization of a 110kDa component of the chick oviduct progesterone receptor.

A 110kDa component of the chick oviduct progesterone receptor (PR) has been purified to homogeneity according to electrophoretic criteria and specific activity (assuming one progestagen-binding site/110kDa). The procedure involved affinity chromatography of 0.3 M-KCl-prepared cytosol, followed by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography (elution at 0.2 M-KCl). The final yield was about 12% in terms of binding activity. Properties of the 110kDa component indicate that it is identical with the 'B' subunit described previously [Stokes radius approximately 6.1 nm; sedimentation coefficient, (S20, w) approximately 4S; frictional ratio approximately 1.77]. It reacted with the IgG-G3 polyclonal antibody, but not with BF4 monoclonal antibody raised against the 8S molybdate-stabilized chick oviduct PR and reacting with its 90kDa component. Another progesterone-binding component, corresponding to the 'A' subunit, also previously described, was eluted from the DEAE-Sephacel column at approximately 0.08 M-KCl, and contained a peptide of molecular mass approx. 75-80kDa, which had S20, w approximately 4S in a sucrose gradient. This component was also recognized by IgG-G3, but not by BF4; it was very unstable in terms of hormone-binding activity.     

Phosphotryptic peptide analysis of human progesterone receptor. New phosphorylated sites formed in nuclei after hormone treatment

Human progesterone receptors (PR) exist as two independent naturally occurring steroid-binding forms of approximately 120 kDa (B-receptors) and 94 kDa (A-receptors). Both are phosphorylated in hormone-untreated T47Dco breast cancer cells. Hormone treatment leads to receptor transformation and an increased phosphorylation state: the 32P-labeling intensity is 3-5 times higher after progestin treatment and 8-10 times higher after RU 486 treatment. Only serine residues are phosphorylated. To determine whether there are unique phosphorylation sites in transformed nuclear PR, we analyzed the phosphopeptides of untransformed and transformed A- and B-receptors by tryptic cleavage and reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography. Untransformed A- and B-receptors share at least five common phosphopeptides, and a sixth is unique to B. Following transformation by either R5020 or RU 486, A-receptors generate at least six and B-receptors seven phosphopeptides. Compared with untransformed PR, there are at least two different phosphopeptides in transformed nuclear PR. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of transformed nuclear A-receptors, which lack the proximal 165 amino-terminal residues of the 933 amino acid B-receptors, produces two large fragments of approximately 43 and 19 kDa. These fragments contain all of the 32P label and comprise amino acids 165-595. Cleavage of transformed B-receptors also produces peptides of 43 and 19 kDa plus an additional 36-kDa fragment corresponding to residues 1-165. No 32P-labeled low molecular mass peptides are detected. Thus, all the hormone-dependent phosphoserine residues produced in nuclei are located in the first 595 amino acids of human PR, representing the amino terminus and 28 residues of the DNA-binding domain.     

Immunoreactivity of proteolytic degradation products of human prostatic acid phosphatase

Prostatic acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) was fragmented by trypsin and papain in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. Trypsin-catalysed cleavage gave a peptide of 33 kDa which was subsequently trimmed to 18 kDa, 15 kDa and 13 kDa peptides. Even the small tryptic fragments reacted with antiphosphatase antibodies from rabbit serum and with monoclonal antibody mAb-14. Papain treatment under these conditions resulted in the release of a 40 kDa peptide which was gradually reduced to a 18 kDa peptide. The monoclonal antibody mAb-14 to the prostatic phosphatase was bound exclusively to the 50 kDa subunit of the phosphatase and to the 40 kDa peptide. The results suggest that the monoclonal antibody mAb-14 binding site represents a "local" sequence rather than a "conformational" one and does not require an extensive tertiary folding of the antigen molecule.     

Purification and functional characterization of bovine RP-A in an<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> SV40 DNA replication system

The single-stranded DNA binding protein RP-A is required in SV40 DNAin vitro replication. The RP-A purified from calf thymus contains 4 polypeptides with molecular weights 70kDa, 53kDa, 32kDa, and 14kDa. The p70 subunit and its proteolysed form p53 are recognized by the monoclonal antibody 70C (Kenny et al. (1990)) and bind to ssDNA. The p70 and p32 subunits of bovine RP-A are phosphorylated by CDC2-cyclin B kinase. Bovine RP-A supports the origin dependent unwinding of SV40 DNA by T antigen. Furthermore, bovine RP-A can efficiently substitute for human RP-A in SV40 DNA replicationin vitro. A modified blotting technique revealed that RP-A interacts specifically and directly with the p48 subunit of DNA polymerase α-primase complex.     

Immunological characterization of the Prochlorothrix hollandica and Prochloron sp. chlorophyll a/b antenna proteins

Polyclonal antibodies were prepared against the major antenna chlorophyll (Chl) a/b-binding protein from the prokaryote Prochlorothrix hollandica (Burger-Wiersma et al. (1986) Nature (Lond.) 320, 262-264). Immunoblotting experiments on Triton X-114 phase-partitioned P. hollandica thylakoids revealed that the antibody recognizes intrinsic membrane polypeptides of 33 and 30 kDa, and immunocytochemistry of P. hollandica thin sections showed that the antibody preferentially decorates the thylakoid. The antibody was immunopurified against a LacZ fusion protein produced in Escherichia coli by an immunopositive phage clone retrieved from a lambda ZAP expression library. This purified antibody crossreacted to both the 33 and 30 kDa polypeptides, indicating that these proteins are either structurally related products of different genes, or modified forms of the same gene product. Whereas immunological crossreactivity of Prochlorothrix antibody to the major LHC-II Chl a/b antenna of maize could not be detected, the immunopurified antibody reacted strongly to the major 34 kDa Chl a/b antenna protein from the prokaryote Prochloron sp. (Lewin (1975) Phycologia 14, 153-160). These data confirm the structural similarity of the prochlorophyte photosynthetic antenna systems.     

Rap1-B is phosphorylated by protein kinase A in intact human platelets.

Agonists that increase cAMP levels in platelets promote the phosphorylation of a 24 kDa GTP-binding protein that is immunoreactive with a monoclonal antibody (M90) to the H-ras p21 protein. Evidence is presented which indicates that this protein is rap-1b, not rap1-a as previously suggested (Ohmori, T., Kikuchi, A., Yamamoto, K., Kawata, M., Kondo, J. and Takai, Y. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 157, 670-676). The amino acid sequence of labeled peptides obtained by proteolytic cleavage of the purified phosphorylated protein was identical with that of rap-1b. Furthermore, a comparison of the kinetics of phosphorylation of synthetic peptides corresponding to the C-terminal region of rap-1a and rap-1b proteins indicated that rap-1b is the preferred substrate for phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Assembly of progesterone receptor with heat shock proteins and receptor activation are ATP mediated events.

To better understand assembly mechanisms of progesterone receptor (PR) complexes, we have developed a cell-free system for studying PR interactions with the 90- and 70-kDa heat shock proteins (hsp90 and hsp70), and we have used this system to examine requirements for hsp90 binding to PR. Purified chick PR, free of hsp90 and immobilized on an antibody affinity resin, will rebind hsp90 in rabbit reticulocyte lysate when several conditions are met. These include: 1) absence of progesterone, 2) elevated temperature (30 degrees C), 3) presence of ATP, and 4) presence of Mg2+. We have obtained maximal hsp90 binding to receptor when lysate is supplemented with 3 mM MgCl2 and an ATP-regenerating system. ATP depletion of lysate by dialysis or by enzymatic means blocks hsp90 binding to PR; likewise, addition of EDTA to lysate blocks hsp90 binding, but binding is restored by the addition of excess Mg2+. Addition to lysate of monoclonal antibody against hsp70 inhibits hsp90 binding to PR and destabilizes preformed complexes. Stabilization of hsp90-receptor complexes also requires ATP, indicating that ATP and hsp70 are needed to form and to maintain hsp90 complexes. Hormone-dependent activation of reconstituted receptor complexes was also examined. The addition of progesterone to the reticulocyte lysate promotes dissociation of hsp90 and hsp70 from the receptor. This also appears to require ATP and dissociation is most efficient in the presence of an ATP-regenerating system. In conclusion, these studies indicate that PR-hsp90 complexes do not self-assemble; instead, assembly is probably a multistep process requiring ATP and other cellular factors.     

Radiation Inactivation Analysis of Progesterone Receptor in Human Uterine Cytosol

It is believed that human progesterone receptor (PR) contains a ligand binding subunit A (83 kDa) or subunit B (120 kDa) and 2 copies of heat shock proteins (hsp90) of molecular weight 90 kDa. To elucidate the mechanism of hormone binding, we employed radiation inactivation to determine its functional size. The functional masses determined in the presence of glycerol, molybdate and potassium chloride were 120 \pm 14, 124 \pm 13 and 130 \pm 20 kDa, respectively. From scatchard plot analysis, the radiation decreased the binding sites and increased the binding affinity of PR with ligand. The functional masses of PR dissolved in the three variant buffers were similar to the molecular weight of PR subunit B. The results implied that PR subunit B could bind with ligand despite hsp90 and hsp90 was not involved in the PR binding to progesterone.     

The 90-kDa heat shock protein (hsp-90) possesses an ATP binding site and autophosphorylating activity

The 90-kDa heat shock protein (hsp-90) is an abundant cytosolic protein believed to play a role in maintenance of protein trafficking and closely associated with several steroid hormone receptors. Incubation of highly purified hsp-90 with [gamma-32P]ATP results in its autophosphorylation on serine residues. There are several lines of evidence which suggest that this activity is due to a kinase intrinsic to hsp-90 rather than some closely associated protein kinases: 1) the phosphorylation persists after the removal of casein kinase II by heparin chromatography and after immunoprecipitation of hsp-90 with anti-hsp-90 antibodies. 2) The approximate kM for ATP of the reaction is 0.16 mM, higher than that of many other protein kinases. 3) Phosphorylation is not affected by a number of activators and inhibitors of other known kinases which might associate with hsp-90. 4) The phosphorylation displays a unique cation dependence being most active in the presence of Ca2+ and practically inactive with Mg2+, although the autophosphorylation in the presence of Mg2+ is activated by histones and polyamines. 5) The activity is remarkably heat-stable; incubation of hsp-90 for 20 min at 95 degrees C results in only a 60% decrease in autophosphorylation. 6) Finally, and most importantly, purified hsp-90 can be labeled with azido-ATP and it is able to bind to ATP-agarose. The binding shows similar cation dependence to the autophosphorylation. These data are in agreement with the presence of a consensus sequence for ATP binding sites in the primary structure of the protein similar to that observed in the 70-kDa heat-shock proteins. Our data suggest the 90-kDa heat shock protein possesses an enzymatic activity analogous in many respects to the similar activity of the 70-kDa heat shock proteins. This may represent an important, previously unrecognized function of hsp-90.     

A site-directed antibody that inhibits phosphorylation of the rat-brain sodium channel by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Antibodies were raised against three peptides corresponding to the potential protein phosphorylation sites of rat-brain sodium channels by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). One of the antibody against sequence (C561-575) reacted to the channel molecule. This immunoreaction occurred in a sequence-specific manner, as it was inhibited by the antigen peptide itself but not inhibited by two other peptides. Although PKA phosphorylates two synthetic peptides, C561-575 and C681-689, of the three, anti-(C561-575) antibody can only inhibit the phosphorylation of peptide (C561-575). PKA catalyzed the incorporation of 3.1-3.5 mol of phosphates into the alpha subunit of the purified sodium channel. The anti-(C561-575) antibody inhibited the channel phosphorylation by 40%. Digestion of the phosphorylated sodium channel with lysyl endoproteinase yielded four major phosphorylated fragments of 3.5, 5.0, 7.0, and 10 kDa. However, similar digestion of the channel that was phosphorylated in the presence of anti-(C561-575) antibody did not yield the phosphorylated fragment of 3.5 kDa and gave the 7.0 kDa fragment in reducing yield. Inspection of these phosphorylated fragments by the predicted sizes of the peptide fragments containing the five potential phosphorylation sites gives a conclusion that anti-(C561-575) antibody inhibits the phosphorylation on Ser-573 completely, and on either Ser-610 or Ser-623 partially, probably due to their proximity orientation in the tertiary structure.     

Novel antiprogestins Org 31806 and 31710: interaction with mammalian progesterone receptor and DNA binding of antisteroid receptor complexes.

We have examined steroid binding parameters and transformation of calf uterine progesterone receptor (PR) liganded with progestins (progesterone and R5020) and the newly synthesized antiprogestins (Org 31806 and 31710). Species specificity analysis indicated that [3H]R5020 binding in the chicken oviduct cytosol could be eliminated in the presence of 100-fold excess radioinert progesterone and R5020 but not Org 31806 and 31710. In the calf uterine cytosol, the progestins and the antiprogestins appeared to interact with the same PR as revealed by the displacement of [3H]R5020 by all of the above steroids. When the extent of [3H]R5020 binding was examined in the presence of different concentrations of radioinert steroids, the relative affinity with which these compounds interacted with the uterine PR was found to be comparable. A 23 degrees C incubation of cytosol transformed the progestin-bound PR complexes increasing their binding to DNA-cellulose from 5 (0 degrees C, nontransformed) to 35%. Under these conditions, 20% Org 31710- and RU486-occupied PR complexes bound to DNA-cellulose whereas only 10% Org 31806-receptor complexes were retained by the resin. Transformation (23 degrees C) of cytosol receptor caused a loss of the larger 8 S form and an increase in the smaller 4 S form. In its unliganded state or when it was complexed with R5020 or the antiprogestins, incubation of PR at 23 degrees C led to dissociation of the receptor-associated 90 kDa heat-shock protein (hsp90). The PR-hsp90 association was stabilized in the presence of 10 mM iodoacetamide when the ligand binding site was occupied by Org 31806 and 31710. The R5020-receptor complexes, however, allowed release of hsp90 under the above transforming conditions. Our results indicate that although Org 31806 and 31710 show no affinity for the avian PR, these steroids interact with the mammalian PR. We propose that the reported antiprogestational effects of Org 31806 and 31710 are mediated via their interaction with PR which appears similar to one that exists between PR and RU486.     

Presence in many mammalian tissues of an identical major cytosolic substrate (Mr 100 000) for calmodulin-dependent protein kinase

Incubation of cytosol fractions from a variety of mammalian tissues (heart, liver, lung, adrenal, spleen and skeletal muscle) with Ca2+ (0.5 mM) in the presence of gamma-[32P]ATP resulted in the phosphorylation of a prominent substrate of Mr approximately 100 000 (100 kDa). One-dimensional peptide maps and two-dimensional tryptic fingerprints of the phosphoprotein from these sources were identical. A single major phosphopeptide was generated by trypsin and was determined to contain exclusively phosphothreonine. The 100 kDa substrate could be distinguished from glycogen phosphorylase (Mr approximately 97 000) by a number of criteria including phosphopeptide mapping and by its failure to bind either to glycogen or to a specific antiphosphorylase antibody. The Ca2+-dependent protein kinase responsible for phosphorylation of the 100 kDa protein appeared to be a calmodulin (CaM)-requiring enzyme in that it could be inhibited in cytosol extracts by trifluoperazine (IC50 6-16 microM) and that exogenous CaM was necessary for 100 kDa phosphorylation in CaM-depleted cytosol. These results suggest that a rise in intracellular Ca2+ resulting in an activation of CaM-dependent protein kinase leads to the phosphorylation of a common 100 kDa substrate in many tissues.     

Phosphorylable proteins and alkaline phosphatase of brush border membranes from different parts of the rat small intestine

1. The distribution along the small intestine of phosphorylable proteins from the brush border has been studied by gel electrophoresis. 2. Four proteins, with apparent Mr of 190, 160, 140 and 120 kDa were distributed unequally along the gut, which incorporated 32P from gamma 32P (ATP) to different degrees. 3. Alkaline phosphatase activity has been shown to follow the same distribution. 4. Under denaturing conditions 90, 85 and 65 kDa proteins were observed, whilst the proteins of 190, 160, 140 and 120 kDa had disappeared. 5. All these proteins, with the exception of the 190 kDa protein, had also been labelled with 32Pi. Furthermore, a difference in the phosphorylation of the 65 kDa and the 90-85 kDa proteins was observed. 6. The 65 kDa protein like commercial calf alkaline phosphatase had a ratio of phosphorylation from ATP to phosphorylation from Pi less than the 90 and 85 kDa proteins. 7. Mg2+ (2.5-10 mM) decreased phosphorylation of only the 65 kDa protein whilst beta-glycerophosphate inhibited phosphorylation of all forms of alkaline phosphatase. 8. Incorporation of gamma 32P (ATP) into the proteins was enhanced in the presence of 5 mM theophylline or EDTA. 9. The nature of the phosphorylation of these different proteins is discussed.