Activation of protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase in hormone-dependent mammary gland tumors during stimulation of their growth with progesterone and estrone

GR mouse mammary tumour growth is stimulated by simultaneous administration of progesterone and estrone. These hormones strongly activate cAMP-dependent protein kinases both in the cytosol and in humour cell nuclei by causing the elevation of PK-1 and PK-2 activities. Ovarian hormone action on the proliferation is similar to that of growth factors, i.e., the hormones significantly stimulate the calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C. Protein kinase C has been discovered is growing tumour cell nuclei. In early periods after ovarian hormone administration protein kinase C is activated in a greater degree as compared to cAMP-dependent protein kinases. A hypothesis on the feasibility of simultaneous activation by steroid hormones of both second messenger systems, namely the cAMP system and the system of production of diacylglycerol from phosphtidylinositol diphosphate is proposed.     

Parietal cell protein kinases. Selective activation of type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase by histamine

cAMP-dependent protein kinases have been characterized in parietal cells isolated from rabbit gastric mucosa. Both Type I and Type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes are present in these cells. Type II isozymes were detected in 900, 14,000, and 100,000 X g particulate fractions as well as 100,000 X g cytosolic fractions; Type I isozymes were found predominately in the cytosolic fraction. When parietal cells were stimulated with histamine, an agent that elevates intracellular cAMP content and initiates parietal cell HCl secretion, cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity was increased in homogenates of these cells as measured by an increase in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio. Histamine activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was correlated with parietal cell acid secretory responses which were measured indirectly as increased cellular uptake of the weak base, [14C]aminopyrine. These results suggest that cAMP-dependent protein kinase(s) is involved in the control of parietal cell HCl secretion. The parietal cell response to histamine may be compartmentalized because histamine appears to activate only a cytosolic Type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase isozyme, as determined by three different techniques including 1) ion exchange chromatography; 2) Sephadex G-25 to remove cAMP and allow rapid reassociation of the Type II but not the Type I isozyme; and 3) 8-azido-[32P]cAMP photoaffinity labeling. Forskolin, an agent that directly stimulates adenylate cyclases, was found to activate both the Type I and Type II isozymes. Several cAMP-dependent protein kinases were also detected in parietal cell homogenates, including a Ca2+-phospholipid-sensitive or C kinase and two casein kinases which were tentatively identified as casein kinase I and II. At least two additional protein kinases with a preference for serine or lysine-rich histones, respectively, were also detected. The function of these enzymes in parietal cells remains to be shown.     

cAMP-dependent protein kinase in sea urchin embryos

cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the supernatant fraction of the homogenate of sea urchin eggs and embryos obtained by centrifugation at 105,000g was investigated in the present study. In the previous report, the dissociation constant between cAMP-binding proteins and cAMP changed during the development. This suggests that the nature of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which has been well established to be the major cAMP receptor, changes during the development. In the present study, four protein kinases were separated through DEAE-cellulose column from the supernatant of unfertilized egg homogenate. One of them was cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The others were cAMP-independent ones. One among them was phosvitin kinase, and the others were not identified at present. The activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase gradually increased during a period from fertilization to the swimming blastula stage. During this period, cleavages occurred at a high rate, and the rate decreased after hatching out. Thus, it is supposed that cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the supernatant may take a part in the mechanism of cleavage. The activity, however, became very low at the mesenchyme blastula, the gastrula, and the pluteus stages. cAMP-binding capacity was observed in the sedimentable fraction and the supernatant fraction, respectively, obtained by 105,000g centrifugation at all stages examined. If the structure-bound cAMP-binding protein is also cAMP-dependent protein kinase, it may play different roles in the mechanism of development.     

Nuclear proteins--substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase

The phosphorylation of nuclear proteins of porcine brain cAMP-dependent protein kinase was studied. Some nuclear proteins after extraction from the nuclei served as substrates for protein kinase. Lysine-rich histones H1, H2a and H2b were found to accept phosphate during chromatin phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation of intact nuclei revealed that in such a system only histone H1 is a substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In the presence of DNA the histones are phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase in a different manner. It was concluded that DNA can determine the accessibility of protein substrates for the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Increased level of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in aging human lung fibroblasts

Regulation of the expression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in cellular aging was studied using the IMR-90 diploid human lung fibroblasts. The level of cAMP-dependent protein kinase present in cell extracts was monitored by 1) photoactivated incorporation of 8-N3-[32P]cAMP into the 47,000- and 54,000-dalton regulatory subunits of the type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases, respectively; 2) cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of histone II AS catalyzed by the catalytic subunit of the kinase; and 3) fractionation and analysis of the type I and type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase by DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography. Our results showed an approximately two- to threefold increase in the level of the type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase and a somewhat smaller increase in the type II kinase in extracts of the "old" IMR-90 cells (population doubling greater than 48) as compared to that of the "young" cells (PDL 22-27). The timing of the increase in cAMP-dependent protein kinase coincided with a significant decrease in the proliferative potential of the cells. This result together with previously demonstrated effects of cAMP in the control of cell growth and differentiation and the increased expression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase during terminal differentiation of the murine preadipocytes (3T3-L1) and myoblast (L-5, L-6, and C2C13) suggests that regulation of the levels of cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase plays a significant role in the control of cell growth and differentiation.     

ATP analog specificity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, cGMP-dependent protein kinase, and phosphorylase kinase

The ATP analog specificities of the homogeneous cGMP-dependent protein kinase and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase have been compared by the ability of 27 analogs to compete with ATP in the protein kinase reaction. Although the data suggest general similarities between the ATP sites of the two homologous cyclic-nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, specific differences especially in the adenine binding pocket are indicated. These differences in affinity suggest potentially useful ATP analog inhibitors of each kinase. For example, apparent autophosphorylation of the purified regulatory subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase is blocked by nebularin triphosphate, suggesting that the phosphorylation is catalyzed by trace contamination of cGMP-dependent protein kinase. Some of the ATP analogs have also been tested using phosphorylase b kinase in order to compare this enzyme with the cyclic-nucleotide-dependent enzymes. All three protein kinases have high specificity for the purine moiety of ATP, and lower specificity for the ribose or triphosphate. The similarity between the ATP site of phosphorylase b kinase to that of the cyclic-nucleotide-dependent protein kinases suggests that it is related to them. The ATP analog specificities of enzymes examined in this study are different from those reported for several unrelated ATP-utilizing enzymes.     

Evidence that cAMP-dependent protein kinase and a protein factor are involved in reactivation of triton X-100 models of sea urchin and starfish spermatozoa

A fraction obtained from detergent-extract of sea urchin or starfish spermatozoa using DEAE-cellulose chromatography reactivated Triton X-100 models of the spermatozoa in a cAMP-dependent manner. The DEAE fraction contained cAMP-dependent protein kinase with a high level of specific activity. Rabbit muscle inhibitor protein highly specific for cAMP-dependent protein kinases inhibited the ability of the deae fraction to induce reactivation of Triton X-100 models.l This inhibition paralleled inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity of the DEAE fraction, suggesting participation of the enzyme in the cAMP-dependent reactivation of Triton X-100 models. However, cAMP-dependent protein kinase further purified from the DEAE fraction was incapable of reactivating these models by itself. A protein factor which was separated from the protein kinase in the course of purification of the enzyme was found to also be necessary for the reactivation. When cAMP-dependent protein kinase was pretreated with protein kinase inhibitor before addition of the protein factor, the reactivation of Triton X-100 models was no longer detected. However, after the protein factor had been incubated with cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase inhibitor did not repress reactivation of Triton X-100 models. We propose that the reactivation needs phosphorylation of the protein factor by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Control of cell division in Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants defective in adenylate cyclase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Examination of the proportion of unbudded cells, terminal nuclear phenotype and DNA content of nuclei indicated that cyr1 mutants of yeast defective in adenylate cyclase activity were arrested at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The step of G1 arrest due to the cyr1 mutation preceded the step sensitive to the mating pheromone. The temperature-sensitive cyr1 cells did not continue growth, nor retain the capacity to conjugate at a restrictive temperature. The phenotypes of the cyr1 mutant mimicked those of nutritionally limited cells. The G1 arrest caused by the cyr1 mutation was overcome by the presence of a suppressor mutation, bcy1, that resulted in deficiency of a regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and production of high level of cAMP-independent protein kinase. The bcy1 mutation suppressed G1 arrest caused by nutritional limitation, and continued bud emergence for multiple cycles without further nuclear division. The data suggest that cAMP works as a positive effector at the start of a yeast cell cycle via activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Synthetic segments of the mammalian beta AR are preferentially recognized by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C

Desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor has been correlated in some cell systems with receptor phosphorylation. Various kinases have been implicated in these phosphorylation processes, including both cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C. In the present study, we have utilized the protein sequence information obtained from the cloning of the mammalian beta-adrenergic receptor to prepare synthetic peptides corresponding to regions of the receptor which would be predicted to act as possible substrates for these kinases in vivo. Two of these receptor-derived peptides were found to serve as substrates for these protein kinases. A peptide corresponding to amino acids 257-264 of the beta-receptor is the preferred substrate for the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, while protein kinase C showed a marked preference for phosphorylation of a peptide corresponding to residues 341-351 of the beta-adrenergic receptor.     

Coelution of the type II holoenzyme form of cAMP-dependent protein kinase with regulatory subunits of the type I form of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

The types and subunit composition of cAMP-dependent protein kinases in soluble rat ovarian extracts were investigated. Results demonstrated that three peaks of cAMP-dependent kinase activity could be resolved using DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Based on the sedimentation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and regulatory subunits using sucrose density gradient centrifugation, identification of 8-N3[32P]cAMP labeled RI and RII in DEAE-cellulose column and sucrose gradient fractions by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and Scatchard analysis of the cAMP-stimulated activation of the eluted peaks of kinase activity, the following conclusions were drawn regarding the composition of the three peaks of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity: peak 1, eluting with less than or equal to 0.05 M potassium phosphate, consisted of the type I form of cAMP-dependent protein kinase; peak 2, eluting with 0.065-0.11 M potassium phosphate, consisted of free RI and a type II tetrameric holoenzyme; peak 3, eluting with 0.125 M potassium phosphate, consisted of an apparent RIIC trimer, followed by the elution with 0.15 M potassium phosphate of free RII. The regulatory subunits were confirmed as authentic RI and RII based upon their molecular weights and autophosphorylation characteristics. The more basic elution of the type II holoenzyme with free RI was not attributable to the ionic properties of the regulatory subunits, based upon the isoelectric points of photolabeled RI and RII and upon the elution location from DEAE-cellulose of RI and RII on dissociation from their respective holoenzymes by cAMP. This is the first report of a type II holoenzyme eluting in low salt fractions with free RI, and of the presence of an apparent RIIC trimer in a soluble tissue extract.     

Translocation of protein kinase C from cytosol into cell membranes after treatment with estradiol and enzyme activation in target cells

The effect of 17 beta-estradiol on protein kinase C in target cells was studied. It was shown that 10-15 min after injection of ovariectomized animals with estradiol (10 micrograms intraperitoneally) protein kinase C is translocated from the cytosol into the cell membranes of estradiol-dependent mammary gland tumours. A similar effect of estradiol on protein kinase C is observed in uterine tissue. On the contrast, in hormone-independent rat mammary gland tumours estradiol causes no redistribution of protein kinase C between the cytosol and cell membranes. No protein kinase C accumulation in the membranes of hormone-dependent mammary gland tumours is observed 30 min after estradiol injection. However, this period is characterized by the appearance of protein kinase whose activity is not stimulated by Ca2+ or phosphatidylserine and which is eluted from DEAE-cellulose with 0.2 M NaCl. This protein kinase presumably corresponds to the M-fragment, i.e., the catalytic part of protein kinase C formed as a result of protein kinase C proteolysis on the membranes. It seems likely that estradiol, similar to growth factor peptides, realizes its stimulating effect on cell division primarily at the expense of coupling of its membrane receptors with the protein kinase C activation system.     

Modulation of red cell band 4.1 function by cAMP-dependent kinase and protein kinase C phosphorylation

Human erythrocyte protein 4.1 is phosphorylated in vivo by several protein kinases including protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent kinase. We have used cAMP-dependent kinase purified from red cells and protein kinase C purified from brain to test the effects of phosphorylation on band 4.1 function. In solution, each kinase catalyzed the incorporation of 1-4 mol of PO4/mol of band 4.1. Phosphorylation of band 4.1 by each kinase resulted in a significant (50-80%) reduction in the ability of band 4.1 to promote spectrin binding to F-actin. Direct measurement of spectrin-band 4.1 binding showed that phosphorylation by each kinase also caused dramatic reduction in this association. Phosphorylation of band 4.1 by each kinase for increasing time periods enabled us to demonstrate an approximately linear inverse relationship between PO4 incorporation into band 4.1 and spectrin binding. These results show that phosphorylation of band 4.1 by cAMP-dependent kinase and protein kinase C may be central to the regulation of red cell cytoskeletal organization and membrane mechanical properties.     

A tandem chromatographic column method for assaying cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C with synthetic peptide substrates

A method was devised for assaying protein kinases that phosphorylate either Kemptide, such as cAMP-dependent protein kinase, or a glycogen synthase peptide, which is an excellent substrate for protein kinase C. Upon sequential processing of reaction mixtures through tandem columns of cation and anion exchange resins, radioactivity in background samples is nearly nil and the yield of phosphorylated peptides is high. This method reduces labor, radioactivity, enzyme requirements, and costs of assaying protein kinases.     

Protein inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase: production and characterization of antibodies and intracellular localization

Multiple forms of protein kinase inhibitor exist in mammalian testis. Specific antibodies to testicular protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) have been raised in sheep. The antibody to the smallest of the inhibitors (9300 daltons) has been purified by antigen-affinity chromatography and shown to give a precipitin band with the inhibitor by double immunodiffusion. The antibody does not recognize any of the subunits of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, namely cGMP-dependent protein kinase or the catalytic or regulatory subunits from type I or type II cAMP-dependent protein kinases. The biological activity of the 9300 dalton PKI is blocked completely by a 5 fold molar excess of antibody. Furthermore, the antibody can also block the activity of all other forms of testicular PKI. Using the antibody in indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, PKI localization was examined during interphase and mitosis in a variety of cell types. Our observations indicate that PKI is localized on microtubules in the cytoplasmic microtubule complex during interphase and in the spindle apparatus during mitosis. We suggest that PKI may play a role in the cAMP-dependent regulation of microtubule structure and/or function.     

Distribution of cAMP-dependent protein kinase during development in Dictyostelium discoideum

During the developmental cycle of Dictyostelium discoideum cyclic AMP functions as both a chemotactic signal for aggregation and a regulatory molecule during later events of differentiation. Morphological and biochemical data suggest that cAMP may direct cells during morphogenesis and differentiation. We utilized microtechniques to determine the stage- and cell-specific levels of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, the probable intracellular cAMP receptor. Kinase activity was low and non-cAMP-dependent in amoebae and early aggregates but increased and became cAMP-dependent in aggregates after the formation of tight cell contacts. Maximum kinase activity and cAMP dependency occurred during the slug and culmination stages. The only differential distribution of the kinase within a single stage occurred during culmination when the activity in the stalks was approximately one-fourth of that in the prespore mass. Preliminary evidence indicates that this difference is not due to an inhibitor. In all other stages tested cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity was equal in prespore and prestalk cells.     

Effect of acidosis on heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

The effect of acidosis on cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in perfused hearts from normal and reserpinized rats has been investigated. The results were compared to the effect of acidosis on myocardial contractility under the same conditions. The results showed that acidosis increases the cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in normal hearts. This increase was abolished when the hearts were depleted of norepinephrine by previous treatment with reserpine. As regards myocardial contractility, there was a similar decrease by acidosis either in normal hearts with increased cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity or in reserpinized hearts in which the increase in protein kinase activity was prevented. Two alternative hypotheses are suggested: (1) a dissociation between contractility and cAMP levels, or (2) a "blockade" by acidosis of the mechanical effect of increasing cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity.     

Nuclear translocation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

A study was made of nuclear translocation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and its subunits, as well as of the binding of these proteins to metaphase chromosomes. The CHO cell cultures were treated with ³H-labelled protein kinase and its subunits. The results indicate that cAMP-dependent protein kinase became translocated into the nucleus in a dissociated state and that the subunits have specific binding sites on chromatin. Transformation of normal mouse fibroblasts by virus SV40 interferes with the nuclear translocation of the regulatory subunit. The process is restored when the level of cAMP in the system is increased. Binding of the regulatory subunit to metaphase chromosomes of cells transformed by virus SV40 does not change. In the case of spontaneous cancer (KB cells) translocation of the regulatory subunit remains unaffected, whereas acceptance of the protein by the metaphase chromosomes is impeded. The results of this work suggest that compartmentalization of cAMP-dependent protein kinase—and particularly of its regulatory subunit—in the cell is highly significant for cellular processes. Disorders arising as a result of neoplastic transformation involve changes in nuclear translocation of the regulatory subunit and in its binding to the structural elements of the genome.