Glucagon and the Ca2+-linked hormones angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and vasopressin stimulate the phosphorylation of distinct substrates in intact hepatocytes

Recent studies have demonstrated that angiotensin II, catecholamines, and vasopressin can stimulate the phosphorylation of hepatic cytosolic proteins via a Ca2+-linked cyclic AMP-independent mechanism. The present study used high resolution, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to determine if the proteins phosphorylated in response to the Ca2+-linked hormones were distinct from those affected by glucagon acting via the cyclic AMP-dependent pathway. Intact hepatocytes labeled with [32P]PO4(3-) were stimulated with glucagon, angiotensin II, l-norepinephrine, and vasopressin and over 100 phosphorylated proteins resolved by two-dimensional electrophoresis and autoradiography. Six important enzymes known to be regulated through covalent modification were positively identified, including phosphorylase, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, fructose-6-phosphate, 2-kinase, phenylalanine hydroxylase, and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Computer analysis of the autoradiograms from control and hormone-treated cells demonstrated that glucagon increased the phosphorylation state of 12 phosphoproteins and reduced the phosphorylation of one protein with a Mr = 21,000 and a pI = 5.9. The Ca2+-linked hormones stimulated the phosphorylation of 7 phosphoproteins and also reduced the phosphorylation state of the 21,000-dalton protein. Angiotensin II, l-norepinephrine, and vasopressin had equivalent effects on protein phosphorylation. There were six protein substrates uniquely affected by glucagon and one phosphoprotein uniquely stimulated by the Ca2+-linked hormones. Seven substrates were affected by stimulation of the cell with either glucagon or the Ca2+-linked hormones. These results demonstrate that, while there is overlap in the substrates affected by glucagon and the Ca2+-linked hormones, each pathway is able to affect the phosphorylation of unique substrates. This finding suggests that the two types of hormones may have some distinct effects on hepatic function.U     

On the role of calcium as second messenger in liver for the hormonally induced activation of glycogen phosphorylase.

We have studied the mode of action of three hormones (angiotensin, vasopressin and phenylephrine, an alpha-adrenergic agent) which promote liver glycogenolysis in a cyclic AMP-independent way, in comparison with that of glucagon, which is known to act essentially via cyclic AMP. The following observations were made using isolated rat hepatocytes: (a) In the normal Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate medium, the hormones activated glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) to about the same degree. In contrast to glucagon, the cyclic AMP-independent hormones did not activate either protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37) or phosphorylase b kinase (EC 2.7.1.38). (b) The absence of Ca2+ from the incubation medium prevented the activation of glycogen phosphorylase by the cyclic AMP-independent agents and slowed down that induced by glucagon. (c) The ionophore A 23187 produced the same degree of activation of glycogen phosphorylase, provided that Ca2+ was present in the incubation medium. (d) Glucagon, cyclic AMP and three cyclic AMP-dependent hormones caused an enhanced uptake of 45Ca; it was verified that concentrations of angiotensin and of vasopressin known to occur in haemorrhagic conditions were able to produce phosphorylase activation and stimulate 45Ca uptake. (e) Appropriate antagonists (i.e. phentolamine against phenylephrine and an angiotensin analogue against angiotensin) prevented both the enhanced 45Ca uptake and the phosphorylase activation. We interpret our data in favour of a role of calcium (1) as the second messenger in liver for the three cyclic AMP-independent glycogenolytic hormones and (2) as an additional messenger for glucagon which, via cyclic AMP, will make calcium available to the cytoplasm either from extracellular or from intracellular pools. The target enzyme for Ca2+ is most probably phosphorylase b kinase.     

Hormonal regulation of L-type pyruvate kinase in hepatocytes from phosphorylase kinase-deficient (gsd/gsd) rats.

The hormonal regulation of L-type pyruvate kinase in hepatocytes from phosphorylase b kinase-deficient (gsd/gsd) rats was investigated. Adrenaline (10 microM) and glucagon (10 nM) each led to an inactivation and phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase. Dose-response curves for adrenaline-mediated inactivation of pyruvate kinase, phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase and the stimulation of gluconeogenesis from 1.8 mM-lactate were similar for hepatocytes from control and gsd/gsd rats. Time-course studies indicated that adrenaline-mediated inactivation and phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase proceeded more slowly in phosphorylase kinase-deficient hepatocytes than in control hepatocytes. The age-dependent change in the adrenergic control of pyruvate kinase was similar between control and phosphorylase kinase-deficient hepatocytes. Adrenaline, glucagon and noradrenaline activated the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and inhibited pyruvate kinase in phosphorylase kinase-deficient hepatocytes. Vasopressin (0.2-2 nM), angiotensin (10nM) and A23187 (10 microM) had no effect on the activity ratio of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or pyruvate kinase in these cells. It is concluded that phosphorylase kinase plays no significant role in the hormonal control of pyruvate kinase and that phosphorylation and inactivation of this enzyme results predominantly from the action of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

On the role of calcium as second messenger in liver for the hormonally induced activation of glycogen phosphorylase

We have studied the mode of action of three hormones (angiotensin, vasopressin and phenylephrine, an α-adrenergic agent) which promote liver glycogenolysis in a cyclic AMP-independent way, in comparison with that of glucagon, which is known to act essentially via cyclic AMP. The following observations were made using isolated rat hepatocytes: (a) In the normal Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate medium, the hormones activated glycogen phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) to about the same degree. In contrast to glucagon, the cyclic AMP-independent hormones did not activate either protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37) or phosphorylase $\text{b}$ kinase (EC 2.7.1.38). (b) The absence of Ca²⁺ from the incubation medium prevented the activation of glycogen phosphorylase by the cyclic AMP-independent agents and slowed down that induced by glucagon. (c) The ionophore A 23187 produced the same degree of activation of glycogen phosphorylase, provided that Ca²⁺ was present in the incubation medium (d) Glucagon, cyclic AMP and three cyclic AMP-independent hormones caused an enhanced uptake of ⁴⁵Ca; it was verified that concentrations of angiotensin and of vasopressin known to occur in haemorrhagic conditions were able to produce phosphorylase activation and stimulate ⁴⁵Ca uptake. (e) Appropriate antagonists (i.e. phentolamine against phenylephrine and an angiotensin analogue against angiotensin) prevented both the enhanced ⁴⁵Ca uptake and the phosphorylase activation.We interpret our data in favour of a role of calcium (1) as the second messenger in liver for the three cyclic AMP-independent glycogenolytic hormones and (2) as an additional messenger for glucagon which, via cyclic AMP, will make calcium available to the cytoplasm either from extracellular or from intracellular pools. The target enzyme for Ca²⁺ is most probably phosphorylase $\text{b}$ kinase.     

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

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

Control of glycogen synthase phosphorylation in isolated rat hepatocytes by epinephrine, vasopressin and glucagon

Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated in a medium containing 0.1 mM [32P]phosphate (0.1 mCi/ml) before exposure to epinephrine, glucagon or vasopressin. 32P-labeled glycogen synthase was purified from extracts of control or hormone-treated cells by the use of specific antibodies raised to rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase. Analysis of the immunoprecipitates by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that a single 32P-labeled polypeptide, apparent Mr 88000, was removed specifically by the antibodies and corresponded to glycogen synthase. Similar electrophoretic analysis of CNBr fragments prepared from the immunoprecipitate revealed that 32P was distributed between two fragments, of apparent Mr 14000 (CB-1) and 28000 (CB-2). Epinephrine, vasopressin or glucagon increased the 32P content of the glycogen synthase subunit. CB-2 phosphorylation was increased by all three hormones while CB-1 was most affected by epinephrine and vasopressin. These effects correlated with a decrease in glycogen synthase activity. From studies using rat liver glycogen synthase, purified by conventional methods and phosphorylated in vitro by individual protein kinases, it was found that electrophoretically similar CNBr fragments could be obtained. However, neither cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase nor three different Ca2+-dependent enzymes (phosphorylase kinase, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, and protein kinase C) were effective in phosphorylating CB-2. The protein kinases most effective towards CB-2 were the Ca2+ and cyclic-nucleotide-independent enzymes casein kinase II (PC0.7) and FA/GSK-3. The results demonstrate that rat liver glycogen synthase undergoes multiple phosphorylation in whole cells and that stimulation of cells by glycogenolytic hormones can modify the phosphorylation of at least two distinct sites in the enzyme. The specificity of the hormones, however, cannot be explained simply by the direct action of any known protein kinase dependent on cyclic nucleotide or Ca2+. Therefore, either control of other protein kinases, such as FA/GSK-3, is involved or phosphatase activity is regulated, or both.     

Differential activation of type-I and type-II adenosine 3'':5''-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinases in liver of glucagon-treated rats.

The protein-bound cyclic AMP and the activity of cytosolic protein kinases in the presence and absence of cyclic AMP were determined in rat liver up to 2h after injection of glucagon. On the basis of the different salt-sensitivities of the activated cyclic AMP-dependent proteinkinases I and II, an activation of protein kinase II restricted to the high cyclic AMP concentrations present in the first 30 min after hormone injection was found. Essentially the same result was obtained by chromatographic analysis on DEAE-cellulose of liver cytosol from untreated rats and from rats killed at 2 and 60 min after glucagon injection. Protein kinase II activation was only detected at 2 min after injection. In contrast, the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase I was found to be nearly totally activated at 2 min and to be still almost as active at 60 min after the hormone stimulus, whereas the amount of bound cyclic AMP and the activation of total cytosolic protein kinases had fallen to two-thirds of their maximal values during this time period. A third cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase, which co-chromatographed with protein kinase type II, could be clearly distinguished from the two cyclic AMP-dependent kinases by use of the heat-stable inhibitor from bovine muscle, which totally inhibited the cyclic AMP-dependent enzymes, but stimulated the cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase.     

Studies on the hepatic calcium-mobilizing activity of aluminum fluoride and glucagon. Modulation by cAMP and phorbol myristate acetate

The effects of submaximal doses of AlF4- to mobilize hepatocyte Ca2+ were potentiated by glucagon (0.1-1 nM) and 8-p-chlorophenylthio-cAMP. A similar potentiation by glucagon of submaximal doses of vasopressin, angiotensin II, and alpha 1-adrenergic agonists has been previously shown (Morgan, N. G., Charest, R., Blackmore, P. F., and Exton, J. H. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 81, 4208-4212). When hepatocytes were pretreated with the protein kinase C activator 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA), the effects of AlF4- to mobilize Ca2+, increase myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), and activate phosphorylase were attenuated. Treatment of hepatocytes with PMA likewise inhibits the ability of vasopressin, angiotensin II, and alpha 1-adrenergic agonists to increase IP3 and mobilize Ca2+ (Lynch, C. J., Charest, R., Bocckino, S. B., Exton, J. H., and Blackmore, P. F. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2844-2851). In contrast, the ability of AlF4- or angiotensin II to lower cAMP or inhibit glucagon-mediated increases in cAMP was unaffected by PMA. The ability of AlF4- to lower cAMP was attenuated in hepatocytes from animals treated with islet-activating protein, whereas Ca2+ mobilization was not modified. These results suggest that the lowering of cAMP induced by AlF4- and angiotensin II was mediated by the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein of adenylate cyclase, whereas Ca2+ mobilization was not. Addition of glucagon, forskolin, or 8CPT-cAMP to hepatocytes raised IP3 and mobilized Ca2+. Both effects were blocked by PMA pretreatment, whereas cAMP and phosphorylase a levels were only minimally affected by PMA. The mobilization of Ca2+ induced by cAMP in hepatocytes incubated in low Ca2+ media was not additive with that induced by maximally effective doses of vasopressin, angiotensin II, or alpha 1-adrenergic agonists, indicating that the Ca2+ pool(s) affected by agents which increase cAMP is the same as that affected by Ca2+-mobilizing hormones which do not increase cAMP. These findings support the proposal that AlF4- mimics the effects of the Ca2+-mobilizing hormones in hepatocytes by activating a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (Np) which couples the hormone receptors to a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2)-specific phosphodiesterase. They also suggest that Np, PIP2 phosphodiesterase, or a factor involved in their interaction is activated following phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and inhibited after phosphorylation by protein kinase C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Hormonal control of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The ability of glucagon and of adrenaline to affect the concentration of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in isolated hepatocytes was re-investigated because of important discrepancies existing in the literature. We were unable to detect a significant difference in the sensitivity of the hepatocytes with regard to the effect of glucagon to initiate the interconversion of phosphorylase, pyruvate kinase, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase, and also to cause the disappearance of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. In contrast, we have observed differences in the time-course of these various changes, since the interconversions of phosphorylase and of pyruvate kinase were at least twice as fast as those of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and of fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase. When measured in a cell-free system in the presence of MgATP, the cyclic AMP-dependent interconversion of pyruvate kinase was 5-10-fold more rapid than those of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and of fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase. These data indicate that 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase are relatively poor substrates for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase; they also support the hypothesis that the two catalytic activities belong to a single protein. Adrenaline had only a slight effect on the several parameters under investigation, except for the activation of phosphorylase. In the absence of Ca2+ ions from the incubation medium, however, adrenaline had an effect similar to that of glucagon.     

Calcitonin-induced phosphorylation of rat liver cytosolic proteins

Calcitonin (CT) stimulated phosphorylation of two liver cytosolic proteins whose molecular weights are 67,000 and 93,000. Stimulation of 67,000-Mr protein phosphorylation began shortly after subcutaneous injection of CT, reaching a maximum at 5 min and decreasing to below the control level at 30 min. The reaction was independent of cyclic AMP or Ca2+, and was not influenced by a calmodulin antagonist, W7. Stimulation of 93,000-Mr protein phosphorylation became evident by 30 min. This reaction was also stimulated by administration of vasopressin or epinephrine, which is known to cause increased phosphorylation of glycogen phosphorylase having the same molecular weight. The phosphorylation of 93,000-Mr protein, stimulated by CT, was dependent on Ca2+ but not on cyclic AMP, and appeared to be inhibited by W7. In addition, CT did not influence the phosphorylation of 61,000-Mr protein, a major protein phosphorylated in a cyclic AMP-dependent manner. These results suggest that CT may exert its effect on liver cells through protein phosphorylation, most probably in a cyclic AMP-independent manner.     

Characterization of Cyclic AMP-Dependent Phosphorylation of Neuronal Membrane Proteins

We examined the patterns of cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation in membranes prepared from rat cortical synaptosomes following gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. We determined the optimum pH (6.2), time (20 s), Mg2+ concentration (10 mM) and cyclic AMP concentration (5 microM) for the reaction. We also found that the detergents Triton X-100 and gramicidin S enhanced cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation. Inhibitors of the Na+, K+ ATPase (ouabain, NaF, vanadate) enhanced protein phosphorylation. This effect occurred in the presence but not in the absence of detergent. The addition of purified bovine brain cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit enhanced membrane protein phosphorylation. The addition of homogeneous neural (bovine brain) and non-neural (bovine skeletal muscle) cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type II regulatory subunit partially inhibited protein phosphorylation. Both neural and non-neural regulatory subunits behaved similarly. In addition to cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation, the alpha-subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (Mr = 41,000) is phosphorylated in a cyclic AMP-independent fashion. We also examined the phosphorylation pattern of membranes prepared from rat heart and found that the number of acceptor substrates was much less than that from the nervous system.     

Evidence for the activation of the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in response to hormones that increase intracellular Ca2+

The phosphorylation state of six cytoplasmic proteins is increased following treatment of isolated rat hepatocytes with hormones that elevate free intracellular Ca2+ levels (Garrison, J. C. and Wagner, J. D. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 13135-13143). Tryptic 32P-phosphopeptide maps of two of the substrates, pyruvate kinase and a 49,000-dalton protein, the major 32P-labeled protein in hepatocytes, were prepared following stimulation of cells with vasopressin, a Ca2+-linked hormone. Peptide maps of the 49,000-dalton protein phosphorylated in vitro with the recently identified multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase contained phosphopeptides identical to those observed in the intact cell, suggesting that this kinase is activated in response to Ca2+-mobilizing hormones. Similar in vitro phosphorylation experiments with pyruvate kinase suggested that the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase can phosphorylate not only the serine residues observed following vasopressin stimulation of the intact cell but also additional threonine residues. Both pyruvate kinase and the 49,000-dalton protein are also phosphorylated in the hepatocyte in response to glucagon and in vitro by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Both vasopressin and glucagon appear to stimulate the phosphorylation of identical serine residues in pyruvate kinase but only vasopressin enhances the phosphorylation of certain sites in the 49,000-dalton protein. Comparison of the tryptic phosphopeptide maps of these substrates phosphorylated in vitro with either the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase or the cAMP-dependent protein kinase suggests that the Ca2+-dependent kinase can phosphorylate unique sites in both substrates. It appears to share specificity at other sites with the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Overall, the results suggest that the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase plays an important role in the response of the hepatocyte to a Ca2+ signal.     

Ca2+-stimulated phosphorylation of muscle glycogen synthase by phosphorylase b kinase.

Phosphorylase b kinase from rabbit muscle phosphorylates glycogen synthase purified from the same tissue. The reaction is markedly stimulated by Ca2+ and results in a decrease in the synthase %I activity. Phosphorylase b kinase action leads to the incorporation of phosphate (0.6 to 0.8 mol/mol of subunit) preferentially into a single cyanogen bromide fragment of synthase (fragment III). Cyclic AMP-independent synthase kinase also shows a specificity for the site(s) contained in fragment III whereas the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase exerts a preference for the site(s) located in a distinct cyanogen bromide fragment (fragment II). A Ca2+-stimulated endogenous kinase also results in the phosphorylation of fragment III and can be attributed to the presence of phosphorylase b kinase. The finding of a Ca2+-stimulated phosphorylation of glycogen synthase has important implications for the regulation of glycogen metabolism and particularly those processes thought to be controlled by cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration.     

Phosphorylation of a 100 000 dalton component and its relationship to calcium transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit skeletal muscle

Sarcomplasmic reticulum from rabbit fast skeletal muscle contains intrinsic protein kinase activity (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) and a substrate. The protein kinase activity was Mg2+ dependent and could also phosphorylate exogenous protein substrates. Autophosphorylation of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles was not stimulated by cyclic AMP, neither was it inhibited by the heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor protein. The phosphorylated membranes had the characteristics of a protein with a phosphoester bond. An average of 73 pmol Pi/mg protein were incorporated in 10 min at 30 degrees C. Addition of exogenous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase increased the endogenous level of phosphorylation by 25-100%. Sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane phosphorylation, mediated by either endogenous cyclic AMP-independent or exogenous cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, occurred on a 100 000 dalton protein and both enzyme activities resulted in enhanced calcium uptake and Ca2+-dependent ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3), in a manner similar to cardiac microsomal preparations. Regulation of Ca2+ transport in skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum may be mediated by phosphorylation of a 100 000 dalton component of these membranes.     

Purification and characterization of two cyclic AMP-independent casein/glycogen synthase kinases from rat liver cytosol

Two cyclic AMP-independent protein kinases (ATP: protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) (casein kinase 1 and 2) have been purified from rat liver cytosol by a method involving chromatography on phosphocellulose and casein-Sepharose 4B. Both kinases were essentially free of endogeneous protein substrates and capable of phosphorylating casein, phosvitin and I-form glycogen synthase, but were inactive on histone IIA, protamine and phosphorylase b. They were neither stimulated by cyclic AMP, Ca2+ and calmodulin, nor inhibited by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor protein. The casein and glycogen synthase kinase activities of each enzyme decreased at the same rate when incubated at 50 degrees C. Casein kinase 1 and casein kinase 2 showed differences in molecular weight, sensitivity to KCl, Km for casein and phosvitin and Ka for Mg2+, whereas their Km values for ATP and I-form glycogen synthase were similar. The phosphorylation of glycogen synthase by these kinases correlated with a decrease in the +/- glucose 6-phosphate activity ratio (independence ratio). However, casein kinase 1 catalyzed the incorporation of about 3.6 mol of 32P/85000 dalton subunit, decreasing the independence ratio from 83 to about 15, whereas the phosphorylation achieved by casein kinase 2 was only about 1.9 mol of 32P/850000 dalton subunit, decreasing the independence ratio to about 23. The independence ratio decrease was prevented by the presence of casein but was unaffected by phosphorylase b. These data indicate that casein/glycogen synthase kinases 1 and 2 are different from cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphorylase kinase.     

The role of phosphorylation in the alpha-adrenergic-mediated inhibition of rat hepatic pyruvate kinase

Phenylephrine in the presence of 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine and propanolol caused a 40-50% inhibition of pyruvate kinase (type L) activity in isolated hepatocytes, which was accompanied by a 2-3-fold increase in the phosphate content of the enzyme. These changes were blocked by the alpha-adrenergic antagonist dihydroergocryptine and could not be accounted for by the slight increase in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity generated by the alpha-adrenergic agonist. It is concluded that a significant component of the inhibition of hepatic pyruvate kinase mediated by alpha-adrenergic agonists can be attributed to a cyclic AMP-independent alteration in the phosphorylation state of the enzyme.     

The role of phosphorylation in the α-adrenergic-mediated inhibition of rat hepatic pyruvate kinase

Phenylephrine in the presence of 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine and propanolol caused a 40–50% inhibition of pyruvate kinase (type L) activity in isolated hepatocytes, which was accompanied by a 2–3-fold increase in the phosphate content of the enzyme. These changes were blocked by the α-adrenergic antagonist dihydroergocryptine and could not be accounted for by the slight increase in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity generated by the α-adrenergic agonist. It is concluded that a significant component of the inhibition of hepatic pyruvate kinase mediated by α-adrenergic agonists can be attributed to a cyclic AMP-independent alteration in the phosphorylation state of the enzyme.     

Polyamine-stimulated phosphorylation of prostatic spermine-binding protein is mediated only by cyclic AMP-independent protein kinases.

Spermine-binding protein (a rat ventral prostatic protein with high affinity for spermine) was phosphorylated in situ through the action of intrinsic cellular protein kinase(s), suggesting it to be a phosphoprotein in vivo. The purified protein served as a substrate in a number of cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase reactions in vitro, but not for cyclic AMP-dependent, Ca2+ + calmodulin-dependent or Ca2+ + phospholipid-dependent protein kinases. Available data indicate that at least one of the cyclic AMP-independent protein kinases (cytosolic protein kinase C2) may be physiologically relevant in mediating the phosphorylation of this protein. The phosphorylation reaction was stimulated several-fold in the presence of spermine. Spermidine was somewhat less effective, whereas putrescine, cadaverine and 1,6-hexanediamine were minimally active. Phospho amino acid analysis of 32P-labelled spermine-binding protein indicated that phosphoserine was the only labelled phospho amino acid. Spermine-binding protein did not undergo autophosphorylation, or modify the stimulative effect of spermine on the phosphorylation of other substrates such as non-histone proteins. In situ the phosphorylation of spermine-binding protein in tissue from castrated rats was markedly diminished as compared with the normal. Since the phosphorylation of spermine-binding protein appears to be mediated by cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase(s) whose activity in the prostate is under androgenic control, it is suggested that androgen-dependent modulation of the protein kinase(s) exerts a regulatory control (via phosphorylation-dephosphorylation) on the spermine-binding activity and stability of this protein in vivo. Further, since this protein is a substrate for only the cyclic AMP-independent protein kinases, it could serve as a tool for the investigation of such kinases.     

Hormonal stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation and glycogen phosphorylase activity in calcium-depleted hepatocytes from euthyroid and hypothyroid rats.

Activation of glycogen phosphorylase by hormones was examined in hepatocytes isolated from euthyroid and hypothyroid female rats and incubated by Ca2+-free buffer containing 1 mM-EGTA. Basal glycogen phosphorylase activity was decreased in Ca2+-free buffer. However, the activation of hepatocyte glycogen phosphorylase, in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, in response to adrenaline, glucagon or phenylephrine was slightly lower, whereas that by vasopressin was abolished. The activation of glycogen phosphorylase by phenylephrine, adrenaline or isoproterenol (isoprenaline) in hepatocytes from euthyroid rats incubated in the absence of Ca2+ was not accompanied by any detectable increase in total cyclic AMP. The log-dose/response curves for activation of phosphorylase by phenylephrine or low concentrations of adrenaline were the same in hepatocytes from hypothyroid as compared wit euthyroid rats, whereas the response to isoproterenol was greater in hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats. However, the increases in total cyclic AMP accumulation caused by adrenaline or isoproterenol were greater in hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats than in hepatocytes from euthyroid rats. The increases in cyclic AMP accumulation caused by adrenaline or isoproterenol in Ca2+-depleted hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats were blocked by propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist. In contrast, propranolol was only partially effective asan inhibitor of the activation of glycogen phosphorylase by phenylephrine or adrenaline in hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats and ineffective on phosphorylase activation in cells from euthyroid rats. These data indicate that the alpha-adrenergic activation of glycogen phosphorylase is not affected by the absence of extracellular Ca2+, and the extent to which total cyclic AMP was increased by adrenergic amines did not correlate with glycogen phosphorylase activation.     

Subcellular localization of LH-dependent phosphoproteins and their possible role in regulation of steroidogenesis in rat tumour Leydig cells

Yeast phosphorylase is phosphorylated and activated by a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase (called phosphorylase kinase) and a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Only in the presence of both kinases is phosphorylase fully activated and phosphorylated. No evidence was found for the presence of two phosphorylation sites as an identical phosphopeptide pattern of phosphorylase is obtained after phosphorylation by either one or both kinases. The kinases probably phosphorylate identical sites but recognize different subunits of phosphorylase. Phosphorylase kinase phosphorylates the high-Mr subunit while cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates the low-Mr subunit.