盐胁迫对玉米根尖质膜上受钙激活的蛋白激酶的影响

以02mal／L的NaCl对玉米根尖进行盐胁迫,导致质膜上一种受钙激活的蛋白激酶（该激酶表现为钙依赖蛋白激酶的特性）的活性迅速增加。盐胁迫至15min时激酶的活性达到最大,较对照高30％,以后逐渐降低,盐胁迫至切50min时激酶活性仍略高于对照。10％PEG6000处理玉米很尖也可诱导质膜上受钙激活的蛋白激酶活性增加。用外源ABA处理玉米根尖,未导致上述蛋白激酶活性的变化。放射自显影显示质膜上33kD和58kD两种蛋白可能是质膜受钙激活的蛋白激酶的内源底物。     

牛脑Ca~(2+)/CaM依赖性蛋白激酶Ⅱ的纯化和鉴定

通过一系列层析法,首次从牛脑纯化得到胶凝电泳匀一的Ca~(2+)/CaM PKⅡ。凝胶过滤法测定全酶分子量为550kD,SDS-PAGE法测定亚基分子量为55kD,推测牛脑Ca~(2+)/CaM PK Ⅱ由十个相同的亚基组成。该酶活性绝对依赖于Ca~(2+)和CaM,以63kD PDE同工酶为底物,其AC_(50)分别为0.85μmol/L和0.18μmol/L;以酪蛋白为底物,其AC_(50)分别为0.22μmol/L和0.06μmol/L。牛脑Ca~(2+)/CaM PK Ⅱ旣能催化63kD PDE同工酶等多种蛋白或酶磷酸化,又能进行自身磷酸化。该酶催化63kD PDE同工酶最大磷酸参入量为1mol/mol亚基。磷酸化型63kD PDE同工酶的Ca~(2+)的AC_(50)高于非磷酸化型。     

玉米根尖细胞液泡膜结合的蛋白激酶的存在及其性质

为了解液泡膜蛋白在植物细胞信号途径中的功能,用新型的非放射性同位素方法从玉米根细胞的高纯度液泡膜上鉴定出一种膜内在的蛋白激酶.这种蛋白激酶具有Ca2+依赖、CaM和磷脂酰丝氨酸不依赖等特性,与已在多种植物中报道的含有类似钙调素结构域的蛋白激酶CDPK相似.离体实验表明其活性的最适pH值为6.5,最适Ca2+浓度为10 μmol/L.从最适pH值和去污剂的影响可以推测出其活性位点朝向胞质一侧.Zn2+对其活性没有明显的抑制作用,说明该激酶缺少某些哺乳动物的蛋白激酶常含有的锌指结构.当液泡膜蛋白在Ca2+和ATP存在的条件下被预磷酸化后,液泡膜H+-ATPase的ATP水解和质子转运过程均被激活.激活的活性可以被碱性磷酸酶逆转.以上结果说明玉米根尖细胞的液泡膜中存在一种可能是CDPK的蛋白激酶.由它造成的Ca2+依赖的磷酸化作用激活了液泡膜H+-ATPase的活性.这些结果将有助于深入研究CDPK在植物细胞信号转导中的功能.     

胆囊收缩素8对大鼠大脑皮质细胞钙调素和蛋白激酶C活性的影响

 为阐明中枢神经系统中胆囊收缩素 8(CCK8)受体的信号传递机制 ,以分离的大鼠大脑皮质神经细胞为材料 ,观察了CCK8对细胞内钙调素 (CaM)、3′ ,5′ 环腺苷酸 (cAMP)、蛋白激酶C(PKC)活性的影响 研究结果表明 ,CCK8可刺激大脑皮质细胞CaM、PKC活性的增加 ,并有剂量依赖关系 但CCK8在 10 -12 ～ 10 -6mol L范围内 ,细胞内cAMP含量无显著变化 利用受体亚型L 364,718和L 365,2 60的研究表明 ,两种拮抗剂均可抑制CCK8引起的CaM和PKC活性变化 ,但两者IC50 不同 对于CaM ,CCKB 受体拮抗剂L 365,2 60的IC50 比CCKA 受体拮抗剂L 364,718低 4 0倍 ;而对于PKC ,L 365,2 60的IC50 比L 364,718低 60倍 因此认为 ,CCK8主要是通过CCKB 受体介导了CaM和PKC活性的变化     

钙调素参与玉米线粒体琥珀酸脱氢酶活性的调节

经DEAE C-32柱纯化的玉米(Zea mays L.)线粒体琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH),用NAD激酶(NADK)法测定时,无钙调素(CaM)活性,说明不存在游离CaM;而用ELISA法测定总CaM时,却可检测到CaM。纯化的SDH加热处理后,能激活NADK,可能加热释放出游离CaM。纯化SDH的电泳分析表明,天然聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)只显示1条主带;而SDS-PAGE则出现67.0kD、30.0kD、16.7kD 3条带,前两条带与SDH的大、小亚基分子量一致,第三条带与CaM电泳迁移率一致。上述结果说明CaM可能与SDH处于结合状态,而且其活性受CaM调节。     

大豆叶片衰老过程中质膜蛋白激酶自磷酸化状态和催化活性的变化

以大豆幼苗初生叶为材料研究了衰老过程中质膜蛋白激酶自磷酸化状态和催化活性的变化。结果发现质膜上一个57kD的蛋白激酶分子上有多个自磷酸化位点,而且自磷酸化反应能提高该酶催化组蛋白H1磷酸化的激酶活力。进一步的研究表明诱导衰老处理造成的57kD蛋白激酶自磷酸化状态的变化,可能对调节它在衰老过程中催化活性的变化起重要作用;而外源6-BA预处理则能够维持57kD蛋白激酶体内高自磷酸化状态,保持该激酶在衰老过程中的催化活力。对衰老和6-BA处理过程中质膜上39和47kD蛋白激酶自磷酸化状态变化的研究表明,这两种激酶可能参与大豆叶片对6-BA刺激信号的传导和/或应答反应过程。     

人钙调素在大肠杆菌中的表达、纯化及其活性研究

利用基因重组技术,将经PCR扩增获得的人钙调素基因(hCaMcDNA)插入质粒pBV220,构建重组表达载体hCaM/pBV220,用酶切、DNA测序、PCR扩增鉴定阳性克隆.阳性重组子在大肠杆菌DH5α中经温度诱导可高效表达CaM蛋白,经15%SDS-PAGE分析,可观察到一与CaM分子量相符(约17kD)的诱导表达条带,其表达量占菌体蛋白总量20%,并主要以可溶性形式表达.Westernblot结果证实,17kD的表达条带可与标准鼠抗人CaM单克隆抗体起特异反应.用Pheny1-SepharoseCL-4B疏水亲和层析法纯化重组菌超声上清表达产物,每1L菌液可获CaM纯品3～4mg.重组人CaM(rhCaM)与牛脑CaM的氨基酸组成基本一致.生物活性测定结果提示,rhCaM具有激活NAD激酶的活性,其激活程度与标准人脑CaM几乎一致.     

Impact of external calcium and calcium sensors on ginsenoside Rb1 biosynthesis by Panax notoginseng cells

The effects of external calcium concentrations on biosynthesis of ginsenoside Rb1 and several calcium signal sensors were quantitatively investigated in suspension cultures of Panax notoginseng cells. It was observed that the synthesis of intracellular ginsenoside Rb1 in 3-day incubation was dependent on the medium Ca2+ concentration (0-13 mM). At an optimal Ca2+ concentration of 8 mM, a maximal ginsenoside Rb1 content of 1.88 +/- 0.03 mg g(-1) dry weight was reached, which was about 60% and 25% higher than that at Ca2+ concentrations of 0 and 3 mM, respectively. Ca2+ feeding experiments confirmed the Ca2+ concentration-dependent Rb1 biosynthesis. In order to understand the mechanism of the signal transduction from external Ca2+ to ginsenoside biosynthesis, the intracellular content of calcium and calmodulin (CaM), activities of calcium/calmodulin-dependent NAD kinase (CCDNK) and calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK), and activity of a new biosynthetic enzyme of ginsenoside Rb1, i.e., UDPG:ginsenoside Rd glucosyltransferase (UGRdGT), in the cultured cells were all analyzed. The intracellular calcium content and CCDNK activity were increased with an increase of external Ca2+ concentration within 0-13 mM. In contrast, the CaM content and activities of CDPK and UGRdGT reached their highest levels at 8 mM of initial Ca2+ concentration, which was also optimal to the ginsenoside Rb1 synthesis. A similar Ca2+ concentration-dependency of the intracellular contents of calcium and CaM and activities of CCDNK, CDPK, and UGRdGT was confirmed in Ca2+ feeding experiments. Finally, a possible model on the effect of external calcium on ginsenoside Rb1 biosynthesis via the signal transduction pathway of CaM, CDPK, and UGRdGT is proposed. Regulation of external Ca2+ concentration is considered a useful strategy for manipulating ginsenoside Rb1 biosynthesis by P. notoginseng cells.     

甲硫氨酸脑啡肽和抗δ阿片受体抗体对小鼠骨髓瘤细胞信号传递系统的作用

为了探讨阿片肽与细胞表面受体结合后所产生的生物效应及其机制 ,用不同浓度甲硫氨酸脑啡肽 ( MENK)及抗 δ阿片受体单克隆抗体处理小鼠的骨髓瘤细胞 ( NS- 1 ) ,然后测定蛋白激酶A( PKA) ,蛋白激酶 C( PKC)活性及三磷酸肌醇 ( IP3 )含量 .研究结果表明 ,NENK可升高细胞胞浆及胞膜 PKA的活性 ,且这一作用可被抗δ阿片受体抗体所拮抗 .MENK对 PKC影响呈双向反应 ,0 .1 μmol/L MENK可以升高胞浆 PKC活性 ,但却明显降低胞膜 PKC活性 ;在 MENK浓度为 1 0μmol/L时则情况刚好相反 .1 μmol/L的 MENK可明显降低胞浆及胞膜 PKC活性 ,抗体可拮抗这种下调作用 .MENK可降低细胞内 IP3 的含量 ,且这一作用可被抗δ阿片受体抗体所拮抗 .由此可以推论 :MENK在与 δ阿片受体结合后 ,可以经过多种信号传导系统来调节细胞功能 ,从而产生不同的生物效应 .     

Involvement of Calcium-dependent Protein Kinases in ABA regulation of Stomatal Movement

Patch-clamp techniques were employed to investigate if calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) be involved in the signal transduction pathways of stomatal movement regulation by the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) in Vicia faba. Stomatal opening was completely inhibited by external application of 1 μmol/L ABA, and such ABA inhibition was significantly reversed by the addition of CDPK inhibitor trifluoper- azine (TFP). The inward whole-cell K+-currents were inhibited by 60% in the presence of 1 μmoL/L intracellular ABA, and this inhibition was completely abolished by the addition of CDPK competitive substrate histone Ⅲ-S. The results suggest that CDPKs may be involved in the signal transduction cascades of ABA-regulated stomatal movements.     

Resistance gene-dependent activation of a calcium-dependent protein kinase in the plant defense response

In the Cf-9/Avr9 gene-for-gene interaction, the Cf-9 resistance gene from tomato confers resistance to the fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum, which expresses the corresponding pathogen-derived avirulence product Avr9. To understand R gene function and dissect the signaling mechanisms involved in the induction of plant defenses, we studied Cf-9/Avr9-dependent activation of protein kinases in transgenic Cf9 tobacco cell cultures. Using a modified in-gel kinase assay with histone as substrate, we identified a membrane-bound, calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) that showed a shift in electrophoretic mobility from 68 to 70 kD within 5 min after Avr9 elicitor was added. This transition from the nonelicited to the elicited CDPK form was caused by a phosphorylation event and was verified when antibodies to CDPK were used for protein gel blot analysis. In addition, the interconversion of the corresponding CDPK forms could be induced in vitro in both directions by treatment with either phosphatase or ATP. In vitro protein kinase activity toward syntide-2 or histone with membrane extracts or gel-purified enzyme was dependent on Ca(2)+ content and was compromised by the calmodulin antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) but not by its inactive isoform N-(6-aminohexyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide. In these assays, the CDPK activity in elicited samples, reflecting predominantly the phosphorylated 70-kD CDPK form, was greater than in nonelicited samples. Thus, Avr9/Cf-9-dependent phosphorylation and subsequent transition from the nonelicited to the elicited form correlate with the activation of a CDPK isoform after in vivo stimulation. Because that transition was not inhibited by W-7, the in vivo CDPK activation probably is not the result of autophosphorylation. Studies with pharmacological inhibitors indicated that the identified CDPK is independent of or is located upstream from a signaling pathway that is required for the Avr9-induced active oxygen species.     

组蛋白激活拟南芥CDPK催化CaMBP10的体外磷酸化反应

植物转脂蛋白 (plant lipid transfer proteins, LTPs) 是高等植物中广泛存在的多基因编码的小分子碱性蛋白. 本研究室已经证明白菜和豌豆LTPs可分别被内源胞浆可溶性和膜结合钙依赖性蛋白激酶 (calcium-dependent protein kinase, CDPK) 磷酸化. 为深入研究CDPK对白菜钙调素结合蛋白10 (calmodulin-binding protein-10, CaMBP10) 的磷酸化性质及特征, 本文从拟南芥可溶性蛋白粗提物中检测到1个分子量约为54 kD的CDPK对CaMBP10有磷酸化作用. 研究表明, 组蛋白可增强 CDPK对CaMBP10的磷酸化活性, 促进磷酸化进程. 而且组蛋白和Ca2+对CDPK具有协同调节效应, 二者共同作用时比Ca2+单独作用时, 激酶的活力增强约12倍. 此外, 不同组蛋白对CDPK的激活能力不同, 组蛋白1对该激酶活性的激活能力要比组蛋白3高约8倍.     

钙调素拮抗剂对人肺癌细胞增殖抑制及与cAMP信号系统相关性之初探

对钙调素（ＣａＭ）拮抗剂—三氟拉嗪（ｔｒｉｆｌｕｏｐｅｒａｚｉｎｅ,ＴＦＰ）在人肺癌细胞ＰＬＡ８０１的增殖抑制中的作用和ＣａＭ与ｃＡＭＰ信号系统水平的变化进行了研究．用５、１０、１５和２０μｍｏｌ／ＬＴＦＰ处理人肺癌细胞时观察到ＴＦＰ在抑制细胞内ＣａＭ活性的同时,抑制了细胞的增殖．药物处理的细胞在软琼脂中形成的集落数减少且明显小于对照组细胞．使用流式细胞光度术分析细胞周期的结果表明：１０μｍｏｌ／ＬＴＦＰ处理抑制了Ｇ１期细胞向Ｓ期的转移．当用１０μｍｏｌ／ＬＴＦＰ作用细胞５ｍｉｎ时,细胞内ｃＡＭＰ水平达到正常水平的１．８倍,直到３ｈ仍明显高于正常水平．同时,ｃＡＭＰ依赖的ＰＫＡ的活性在加药后１５ｍｉｎ上升到正常水平的２．８倍,直到加药３ｈ．活性仍保持较高水平,结果表明：钙调素功能的抑制,提高了ＰＬＡ－８０１细胞内ｃＡＭＰ系统的水平,Ｃａ２＋－ＣａＭ和ｃＡＭＰ－ＰＫＡ两个信号系统的协调作用,抑制了细胞的增殖     

Characterization of Protein Kinases in Apple and Grape During Fruit Development

The protein kinases were identified at different developmental stages of apple (Malus domestica L. Borth. cv. Red Starking) and grape (Vitis vinifera L. × V.lubrusca L. cv. Kyoho) fruit, and these protein kinases were found to be greatly activated by Ca2+. This demonstrated that calcium-dependent protein kinase plays an important role in apple and grape fruits. The results also showed that calmodulin (CaM) had no stimulation effect, but the CaM antagonists, such as calmidazolium, W7 and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), had some inhibitory effects on the activities of this kind of protein kinase in both fruits, indicating that the detected protein kinases may be a kind of calmodulin-like domain protein kinase or calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK). There were distinct differences between apple and grape fruits, both in the characteristics and in the activity evolution patterns of the protein kinases during fruit development. The activity of calcium-dependent protein kinase was little changed in the three stages of apple fruit development, while in grape fruit the activity of this protein kinase was much higher in stage Ⅱ than those in stage Ⅰ and stage Ⅲ. The calcium-dependent protein kinase in apple fruits was strongly activated by Mn2+, and it was sensitive to heat treatment, but in grape fruits it was neither stimulated by Mn2+ nor sensitive to high temperature. Besides, phosphatidyl-serine (PS) had little effect on the activities of calcium-dependent protein kinase in grape fruits, but had stimulative effects in apple fruits. It was thus proposed that there might be a kind of calcium- and phosphatide-activated protein kinase, i.e., PKC, in apple fruits. The differences among the kinds, characteristics and the activity evolution patterns of protein kinases during apple and grape fruit development, suggest that the protein kinases may be involved in the process of fruit development.     

层粘连蛋白对晚G1期人胃癌BGC-823细胞生长的促进作用

为研究层粘连蛋白（laminin,LN）促进肿瘤细胞生长作用,采用脉冲标记计数有丝分裂百分率(percentage labeling mitosis,PLM)法测得体外培养人胃癌 (BGC 823) 细胞周期时间为41 h,其中G1期时间为24.5 h. 分裂细胞脱离法获取分裂期细胞,继续培养23 h,在细胞运行进入G1晚期时,将其置于LN 0、0.11、0.55、1.10 μmol/L基质上孵育4 h; 细胞荧光光度计检测晚G1期细胞内Ca2+浓度、钙调蛋白、DNA含量. 结果显示,LN与其膜上受体结合后引起细胞内Ca2+浓度、钙调蛋白、DNA含量增加,尤以在0.55 μmol/L LN作用显著（P<0. 001）.蛋白质免疫印迹分析证明,cPKC α呈现表达,提示 LN与其受体结合可增强其细胞cPKC-α的活性;分析G1期细胞周期蛋白E(cyclinE)、细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶CDK2表达水平,呈现逐渐增强的趋势; LN可诱导c-Myc蛋白呈现高表达,提示 LN与其受体结合增强与细胞增殖密切相关的基因表达;在LN作用前后的BGC 823细胞均未检测到Bax蛋白表达.结果提示,在人胃癌 (BGC 823)细胞G1/S期交界处,层粘连蛋白与其膜上受体结合引起细胞内Ca2+浓度升高,诱导钙调蛋白的释放,其含量增加,增强蛋白激酶C的活化,导致细胞内DNA含量增加、G1/S期细胞周期蛋白与CDK表达增强、诱导原癌基因c-Myc呈持续表达状态,而凋亡基因Bax不表达.     

A Genome-wide Functional Characterization of Arabidopsis Regulatory Calcium Sensors in Pollen Tubes

Calcium, an ubiquitous second messenger, plays an essential and versatile role in cellular signaling. The diverse function of calcium signals is achieved by an excess of calcium sensors. Plants possess large numbers of calcium sensors, most of which have not been functionally characterized. To identify physiologically relevant calcium sensors in a specific cell type, we conducted a genome-wide functional survey in pollen tubes, for which spatiotemporal calcium signals are well-characterized and required for polarized tip growth. Pollen-specific members of calmodulin (CaM), CaM-like (CML), calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) and calcineurin B-like protein (CBL) families were tagged with green fluorescence protein (GFP) and their localization patterns and overexpression phenotypes were characterized in tobacco pollen tubes. We found that several fusion proteins showed distinct overexpression phenotypes and subcellular localization patterns. CDPK24-GFP was localized to the vegetative nucleus and the generative cell/sperms. CDPK32-GFP caused severe growth depolarization. CBL2-GFP and CBL3-GFP exhibited dynamic patterns of subcellular localization, including several endomembrane compartments, the apical plasma membrane (PM), and cytoskeleton-like structures in pollen tubes. Their overexpression also inhibited pollen tube elongation and induced growth depolarization. These putative calcium sensors are excellent candidates for the calcium sensors responsible for the regulation of calcium homeostasis and calcium-dependent tip growth and growth oscillation in pollen tubes.     

JNK、ERK信号通路在NaAsO_2诱导骨髓间充质干细胞增殖中的作用

目的：研究c-jnk氨基末端激酶（JNK）、细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK）在亚砷酸钠（NaAs02）诱导骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSC）增殖中的作用。方法：体外培养骨髓间充质干细胞,四甲基偶氮唑盐比色法（MTT法）检测细胞增殖,Western-blot检测磷酸化JNK、ERK表达水平。结果：低浓度1、2μmol/LNaAs02对BMSC有明显的促进增殖作用;高浓度16、32μmol/LNaAs02则对细胞生长产生抑制作用,具有一定剂量-效应关系;2、4、8μmol/LNaAs02处理BMSC24h后,JNK磷酸化表达水平明显增加,ERK磷酸化表达水平明显降低;JNK抑制剂SP600125可明显降低高浓度16、32μmol/LNaAs02的生长抑制作用;ERK抑制剂PD98059可抑制低浓度1、2μmol/LNaAs02对BMSC的促增殖作用。结论：低浓度NaAs02激活ERK信号通路,提高细胞增殖率,可被抑制剂PD98059阻断;高浓度NaAs02激活JNK信号通路,提高细胞凋亡率,可被抑制剂SP600125阻断。NaAs02致癌机制可能与JNK、ERK信号通路作用相关。     

A rice membrane calcium-dependent protein kinase is induced by gibberellin.

A rice (Oryza sativa) seed plasma-membrane calcium-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase (CDPK) has been partially purified. Comparing results in seeds that were treated with and without the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) for 10 min showed that rice CDPK was highly induced by GA. After separating solubilized membrane proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, followed by renaturation, a radiolabeled phosphoprotein band of approximately 58 kD was detected, and it was apparently produced by autophosphorylation. There are five aspects of the rice CDPK that show similarity to mammalian protein kinase C (PKC) and to other plant CDPKs: (a) Histone IIIS and PKC peptide-ser25 (19-31) are phosphorylated by rice CDPK. (b) The phosphorylation reaction is strictly dependent on calcium. (c) The activity of the rice CDPK is inhibited by either staurosporine or the PKC inhibitory peptide (19-36). (d) Addition of calmodulin has no effect on the activity of the enzyme; however, the CDPK is inhibited by the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine and W-7. (e) The rice CDPK reacts with a mammalian anti-PKC antibody in immunoblotting analysis. However, there is one major difference between the rice CDPK and other CDPKs: the rice CDPK is induced by GA, whereas no mammalian PKC or other plant CDPKs are known to be induced by any hormone.     

重组人钙调素的制备及对细胞增殖作用影响的研究

The gene coding for human CaM was amplified by PCR in which pUC/hCaM3 cDNA was usd as template. After inserting the hCaM III cDNA into the expression plasmid pBV220, we constructed the hCaM3 cDNA-recombinant expression vector(hCaM3/pBV220). The recombinant plasmid was then transformed into E. coli DH5 alpha. After heat induction, a high level expression of CaM protein was obtained. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the recombinant E. coli could express a 17 kD protein which accounted for about 20% of the total cellular protein. Western blot analysis showed that anti-CaM monoclonal antibody(McAb) specifically bound to the 17 kD band of expression product. rhCaM was purified by Phenyl-sepharose CL-4B affinity chromatography from recombinant bacterial lysate. 3-4 mg of the purified protein were obtained from 1 liter of bacterial culture. The rhCaM was able to activate NAD kinase to the same extent as the standard human brain CaM (Sigma). K562 cells and SP2/0 cells were seeded in 24-well or 96-well plate and cultured for 48 h with rhCaM and CaM-antagonist trifluoperazine(TFP). Cell proliferation rates was determined by MTT assay. There was a significant positive correlation between the concentrations of rhCaM and the cell proliferation rates. CaM-antagonist TFP had an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation rate. The inhibition could be corrected by the addition of extracellular rhCaM.     

Membrane-associated protein kinase activities in developing apple fruit

Fruit development is a process involving various signals and gene expression. Protein phosphorylation catalysed by protein kinases is known to play a key role in eukaryotic cell signalling and so may be involved in the regulation of fruit development. Using the method of exogenous substrate phosphorylation, the activity of calcium-dependent and calmodulin-independent protein kinase (CDPK) that was stimulated by phosphatidylserine, and the myelin basic protein (MBP)-phosphorylating activity that could be due to a calcium-independent mitogen-activated protein kinase-like (MAPK-like) activity in the developing apple fruits were identified. The CDPK activity was shown to be predominantly localized in the plasma membrane, whereas in the presence of phosphatidylserine, the high activity of CDPK was detected in both plasma membrane and endomembranes. The MAPK-like activity was predominantly associated with endomembranes. The assays of bivalent cation requirement showed that Mn²⁺ could replace Mg²⁺ in the incubation system for the protein kinase activities and stimulate CDPK activity more than Mg²⁺. Heat treatment abolished CDPK but stimulated MAPK-like activity. The activities of the phosphatidylserine-stimulated CDPK and of the MAPK-like were fruit developmental stage-specific with higher activities of both enzymes in the early and middle developmental stages in comparison with the late developmental stage. These data suggest that the detected protein kinases may play an important role in the fruit development.