Topography of the rhodopsin molecule. Identification of the domain phosphorylated.

Studies on the light-stimulated phosphorylation of rod outer segments by [gamma-32P]ATP showed that although nearly 1 mol of [32P]phosphate was incorporated/mol of total opsin, only a small fraction of the molecules were phosphorylated, and these contained at least 2-3 mol of phosphate/mol. Rod outer segments containing the phosphorylated opsin were incubated with 11-cis-retinal to generate phosphorylated rhodopsin and then digested with papain to produce a cleaved complex comprising three fragments, heavy (H), medium (M) and light (L). It was shown that L-fragment of apparent mol.wt. 6000 contained all the phosphorylation sites. This suggests that one specific domain of rhodopsin is susceptible to multiple phosphorylation.     

Phosphorylation of an actin.tropomyosin.troponin complex from human skeletal muscle.

A human skeletal actin.tropomyosin.troponin complex was phosphorylated in the presence of [gamma-32 P]ATP, Mg2+, adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase). Phosphorylation was not observed when the actin complex was incubated in the absence of protein kinase or 1 microM cyclic AMP. In the presence of 10(-7) M Ca2+ and protein kinase 0.1 mole of [32P]phosphate per 196 000 g of protein was incorporated. This was two-fold higher than the [32P]phosphate content of a rabbit skeletal actin complex but two-fold lower than that of a bovine cardiac actin complex. At high Ca2+, 5.10(-5) M, little change in the phosphorylation of a human skeletal actin complex occurred. Phosphoserine and phosphothreonine were identified in the [32P]phosphorylated actin complex. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate showed that 60% of the label was associated with the tropomyosin binding component of troponin. The inhibitory component of troponin contained 16% of the bound [32P]phosphate. Increasing the Ca2+ concentration did not significantly decrease the [32P]phosphate content of the phosphorylated proteins in the actin complex. No change in the distribution of phosphoserine or phosphothreonine was observed. Half maximal calcium activation of the ATPase activity of reconstitute human skeletal actomyosin made with the [32P] phosphorylated human skeletal actin complex was the same as a reconstituted actomyosin made with an actin complex incubated in the absence of protein kinase at low or high Ca2+.     

Amino acid sequences around the sites of phosphorylation in the pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

1. When pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was phosphorylated to completion with [gamma-32P]ATP by its intrinsic kinase, three phosphorylation sites were observed. The amino acid sequences around these sites were: sequence 1, Tyr-Gly-Met-Gly-Thr-Ser(P)-Val-Glu-Arg; and sequence 2, Tyr-His-Gly-His-Ser(P)-Met-Ser-Asp-Pro-Gly-Val-Ser(P)-Tyr-Arg. 2. When phosphorylated to inactivation by repetitive additions of limiting quantities of [gamma-32P]ATP, phosphate was incorporated mainly (more than 90%) into Ser-5 of sequence 2. Phosphorylation of this site thus results in activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase. 3. If Ser-5 is phosphorylated with ATP and the enzyme then incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP, phosphorylation of the remaining sites occurred. Ser-12 of sequence 2 is phosphorylated about twice as rapidly as Ser-6 of sequence 1. 4. Incubation of pyruvate dehydrogenase with excess [gamma-32P]ATP with termination of phosphorylation at about 50% complete inactivation showed that Ser-5 of sequence 2 was phosphorylated most rapidly, but also that Ser-12 of sequence 2 was significantly (15% of total) phosphorylated. Ser-6 sequence 1 contained about 1% total P. 5. These results suggest that addition of limiting amounts of ATP produces primarily phosphorylation of Ser-5 of sequence 2 (inactivating site). This also occurs during incubation with excess ATP before complete inactivation occurs, but a greater occupancy of other sites also occurs during this treatment.     

Evidence of histidine phosphorylation in isocitrate lyase from Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli isocitrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.1.) can be phosphorylated in vitro by an ATP-dependent reaction. The enzyme becomes phosphorylated by an endogenous kinase when partially purified sonic extracts are incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP. Treatment of isocitrate lyase with diethyl pyrocarbonate, a histidine-modifying reagent, blocked incorporation of [32P]phosphate from [gamma-32P]ATP. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was altered by treatment with phosphoramidate, a histidine phosphorylating agent, which suggests that isocitrate lyase can be phosphorylated at a histidine residue(s). Immunoprecipitated 32P-labeled isocitrate lyase was subjected to alkaline hydrolysis, mixed with chemically synthesized phosphohistidine standards, and analyzed by anion exchange chromatography. Characterization of the phosphoamino acid was based on the demonstration that the 32P-labeled product from alkali-hydrolyzed isocitrate lyase comigrated with synthetic 1-phosphohistidine. In addition, loss of catalytic activity after treatment with potato acid phosphatase indicates that catalytically active isocitrate lyase is the phosphorylated form of the enzyme.     

The VirA protein of Agrobacterium tumefaciens is autophosphorylated and is essential for vir gene regulation.

The virA and virG gene products are required for the regulation of the vir regulon on the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. VirA is a membrane-associated protein which is homologous to the sensor molecules of other two-component regulatory systems. We overproduced truncated VirA proteins in Escherichia coli by deleting different lengths of the 5'-coding region of the virA gene and placing these genes under lacZ control. These proteins were purified from polyacrylamide gels and renatured. The renatured proteins became radiolabeled when they were incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP but not with [gamma-32P]GTP or [alpha-32P]ATP, which suggests an ATP gamma-phosphate-specific autophosphorylation. The smallest VirA protein, which retained only the C-terminal half of the protein, gave the strongest autophosphorylation signal, which demonstrates that the C-terminal domain has the autophosphorylation site. The phosphorylated amino acid was identified as phosphohistidine, and a highly conserved histidine was found in all of the VirA homologs. When this histidine was changed to glutamine, which cannot be phosphorylated, the resulting VirA protein lost both its ability to autophosphorylate and its biological function as a vir gene regulator. Results of this study indicate that VirA autophosphorylation is required for the induction of the vir regulon and subsequent tumor induction on plants by A. tumefaciens.     

Comparison of the protein kinase and acid phosphatase activities of five species of Leishmania

Promastigotes from log phase and stationary phase cultures of Leishmania donovani, L. braziliensis panamensis, L. tropica, L. major, and L. mexicana amazonensis were analyzed for their content of protein kinase and acid phosphatase activities. Cell surface, histone-specific protein kinase activity was 1.3- to 2.8-fold higher in stationary phase cells of all species except for L. tropica in which the activities of stationary and log phase cells were equal; L. mexicana amazonensis had the highest histone-specific protein kinase activity and L. donovani the lowest. When viable, motile promastigotes of all five species were incubated for 10 min with [gamma-32P]ATP and Mg2+ (10 mM) in the absence of exogenous histone acceptor; about one dozen proteins were phosphorylated in each case. Both log phase and stationary phase promastigotes of all five species extensively phosphorylated a 50-kDa protein that had the mobility of tubulin. Incubation of pure calf brain tubulin with [gamma-32P]ATP and purified L. donovani protein kinase resulted in extensive phosphorylation of the former. Highly infective metacyclic forms (PNA-) of L. major, isolated from a stationary culture using the peanut agglutinin (PNA), contained eight times more histone-specific protein kinase activity than noninfective log phase cells (PNA+). The PNA- and PNA+ forms of L. major both phosphorylated a 50-kDa protein when incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP and magnesium or manganese ions (10 mM); the 50-kDa protein was precipitated by anti-tubulin rabbit antibodies. Extracts of all five species contained large amounts of acid phosphatase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Amplification of signaling activity of the arc two-component system of Escherichia coli by anaerobic metabolites. An in vitro study with different protein modules

In Escherichia coli, changes in redox condition of growth are sensed and signaled by the Arc two-component system. This system consists of ArcB as the membrane-associated sensor kinase and ArcA as the cytoplasmic response regulator. ArcB is a tripartite kinase, possessing a primary transmitter, a receiver, and a secondary transmitter domain that catalyzes the phosphorylation of ArcA via a His --> Asp --> His --> Asp phosphorelay, as well as the dephosphorylation of ArcA-P by a reverse phosphorelay. When ArcA and ArcB were incubated with ATP, the peak levels of phosphorylated proteins increased in the presence of the fermentation metabolites D-lactate, acetate, or pyruvate. In this study, we report that these effectors accelerate the autophosphorylation activity of ArcB and enhance the transphosphorylation of ArcA, but have no effect on the dephosphorylation of ArcA-P. Moreover, the presence of the receiver domain of ArcB is essential for the effectors to influence the autophosphorylation rate of the primary transmitter domain of ArcB.     

The in vitro phosphorylation of actin from rat cerebral cortex

Actin was phosphorylated by a cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase in a lysed synaptosomal fraction incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP, while calcium had no effect on endogenous labeling of the protein. Incubation of an intact synaptosomal fraction with 32P-inorganic phosphate did not lead to any detectable phosphorylation of actin in the presence or absence of dibutyryl-cyclic AMP, or chemical depolarization. It is suggested that actin is not phosphorylated in the physiologically relevant intact synaptosomes but gains access to protein kinases on lysis.     

Studies on a rat-liver cell-sap protein yielding 3-[32P]-phosphohistidine after incubation with [32P]ATP and alkaline hydrolysis. Identification of the protein as ATP citrate lyase

1. The rat-liver cell-sap material from which 3-[32P]phosphohistidine was previously isolated after incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP and alkaline hydrolysis, was shown to increase about 6-fold on a high-carbohydrate diet. This increase in 32P labelling corresponded to the increase in ATP citrate lyase activity of livers of rats fed on a high-carbohydrate diet, as reported by others. 2. ATP citrate lyase [ATP:citrate oxaloacetate-lyase (CoA-acetylating and ATP-dephopshorylating), EC 4.1.3.8] was purified from rat liver essentially according to the method of Plowman and Cleland (J. Biol. Chem., 242 (1967) 4239). The purified enzyme was incubated for a short time at 0 degree with [gamma-32P]ATP in the presence of 20 mM magnesium acetate. The phosphorylated protein was hydrolysed in alkali and the main part of the radioactivity was identified as 3-[32P]phosphohistidine. The identity of the phosphorylated amino acid was established by Dowex-1 chromatography, paper electrophoresis, paper chromatography and by analysis of the stability to acid. 3. It is concluded from these and previous results from this laboratory that ATP citrate lyase and nucleoside diphosphate kinase (ATP:nucleoside diphosphate phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.6) account for most of the normal rat-liver cell-sap protein which is rapidly phosphorylated by ATP.     

Protein phosphorylation during 1-methyladenine-induced maturation of Asterias oocytes

Maturation was induced in Asterias oocytes with 1-methyladenine (1-MA) at a final concentration of 2 microM. At 5, 10, and 30 min of treatment, oocytes were homogenized and the cytosolic fraction was prepared. The cytosol was incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP and [gamma-32P]GTP. The phosphorylated proteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the radioactivity in the gels was determined by autoradiography. The cytosol prepared from 1-MA-treated oocytes incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP showed a marked increase in the radiolabeling of proteins with estimated molecular weights of 70,000 and 62,000 Da. With [gamma-32P]GTP a 56,000-Da protein showed increased radiolabeling. The present finding suggests that an early biochemical event of 1-MA-induced oocyte maturation in Asterias is the stimulation of phosphorylation of specific proteins.     

Ca2+-dependent protein phosphorylation associated with microsomal fraction of rat pancreas

Microsomes isolated from cat pancreas were incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP in the presence or absence of Ca2+. Following fractionation of phosphoproteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis a single microsomal protein with an apparent molecular mass of 77,000 dalton (77K) was found to be phosphorylated in a Ca2+-dependent mechanism. Maximal phosphate incorporation into the 77K protein was observed at 10(-6) mol/l [Ca2+] and was 4-fold higher than in the absence of Ca2+. The 77K phosphoprotein showed characteristic of a stable phosphoester rather than an acyl phosphate. Measurable phosphate incorporation into the 77K protein was noted 5 s following addition of [gamma-32P]ATP and reached maximum at 9-10th min. The lack of effect of exogenous cyclic AMP, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, calmodulin, the calmodulin antagonist trifluoperazine, leupeptin and the suppression of phosphorylation by some phospholipid-interacting drugs suggested that the 77K protein is a substrate for cyclic AMP- and calmodulin-independent, Ca2+-activated phospholipid-sensitive kinase activity. Centrifugation of the pancreatic homogenate in a ficoll-sucrose density gradient indicated that both the 77K protein and enzyme were associated in a fraction enriched in rough endoplasmic reticulum.     

Lipid phosphorylation in chloroplast envelopes. Evidence for galactolipid CTP-dependent kinase activities

Lipid phosphorylation takes place within the chloroplast envelope. In addition to phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol phosphate, and their corresponding lyso-derivatives, we found that two novel lipids underwent phosphorylation in envelopes, particularly in the presence of carrier-free [gamma-(32)P]ATP. These two lipids incorporated radioactive phosphate in chloroplasts in the presence of [gamma-(32)P]ATP or [(32)P]P(i) and light. Interestingly, these two lipids were preferentially phosphorylated in envelope membranes in the presence [gamma-(32)P]CTP, as the phosphoryl donor, or [gamma-(32)P]ATP, when supplemented with CDP and nucleoside diphosphate kinase II. The lipid kinase activity involved in this reaction was specifically inhibited in the presence of cytosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (CTPgammaS) and sensitive to CTP chase, thereby showing that both lipids are phosphorylated by an envelope CTP-dependent lipid kinase. The lipids were identified as phosphorylated galactolipids by using an acid hydrolysis procedure that generated galactose 6-phosphate. CTPgammaS did not affect the import of the small ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase subunit into chloroplasts, the possible physiological role of this novel CTP-dependent galactolipid kinase activity in the chloroplast envelope is discussed.     

Purification and characterization of the Myxococcus xanthus FrzE protein shows that it has autophosphorylation activity.

Myxococcus xanthus exhibits multicellular interactions during vegetative growth and fruiting body formation. Gliding motility is needed for these interactions. The frizzy (frz) genes are required to control directed motility. FrzE is homologous to both CheA and CheY from Salmonella typhimurium. We used polyclonal antiserum raised against a fusion protein to detect FrzE in M. xanthus extracts by Western immunoblot analysis. FrzE was clearly present during vegetative growth and at much lower levels during development. A recombinant FrzE protein was overproduced in Escherichia coli, purified from inclusion bodies, and renatured. FrzE was autophosphorylated when it was incubated in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP and MnCl2. Chemical analyses of the phosphorylated FrzE protein indicated that it contained an acylphosphate; probably phosphoaspartate. FrzE was phosphorylated in an intramolecular reaction. Based on these observations, we propose a model of the mechanism of FrzE phosphorylation in which autophosphorylation initially occurs at a conserved histidine residue within the "CheA" domain and then, via an intramolecular transphosphorylation, is transferred to a conserved aspartate residue within the "CheY" domain.     

Phosphorylation of rat liver mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase by casein kinase 2

We have previously shown rat liver mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (mtGAT), which catalyzes the first step in de novo glycerolipid biosynthesis, is stimulated by casein kinase 2 (CK2) and that a phosphorylated protein of approximately 85 kDa is present in CK2-treated mitochondria. In this paper, we have identified the (32)P-labeled 85-kDa protein as mtGAT. We have also investigated whether the phosphorylation of mtGAT is because of CK2. Mitochondria were treated with CK2 and [gamma-(32)P]GTP as the phosphate donor. Autoradiography, Western blot, and immunoprecipitation results showed mtGAT was phosphorylated by CK2. Next, we incubated mitochondria with CK2 and either ATP or GTP, in the presence of heparin, a known inhibitor of CK2. Heparin inhibited CK2-induced stimulation of mtGAT activity; this inhibition resulted in decreased (32)P-labeling of mtGAT. Additionally, mitochondria were treated with CK2 and [gamma-(32)P]ATP in the presence of staurosporine (a serine/threonine protein kinase inhibitor), genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor), and 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB, a CK2 inhibitor). Only DRB, the CK2 inhibitor, greatly reduced the amount of (32)P-incorporation into mtGAT by CK2. Finally, isolated mitochondrial outer membrane was incubated with cytosol in the presence of [gamma-(32)P]GTP; (32)P-labeled mtGAT was detected. Collectively, these data suggest that CK2 phosphorylates mtGAT. The impact of our results in the regulation of mtGAT and other anabolic processes is discussed.     

A 57-kilodalton protein associated with Spiroplasma melliferum fibrils undergoes reversible phosphorylation.

Phosphorylation of a major 57-kilodalton protein substrate was observed in cell lysates of Spiroplasma melliferum BC3 incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP. Only serine phosphates have been isolated from the acid hydrolysate of the phosphorylated protein. The 57-kilodalton protein substrate was found, to a large extent, in the cytosolic fraction and, to a lesser extent, associated with cell membranes and was detected in the Triton X-100-insoluble fraction that contained fibrils.     

Occurrence of a coupled-enzyme system on the intact-sperm outer surface that phosphorylates and dephosphorylates ecto-proteins

Goat cauda-epididymal intact sperm ecto [32P] proteins phosphorylated in presence of exogenous [gamma-32P]ATP by an endogenous ecto-cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase (CIK), have been found to lose 32P when the labelled cells are incubated at 37 degrees C in a modified Ringer's solution. Analysis of the 32P-labelled products of the turnover of the ecto-phosphoproteins show that 32Pi rather than 32P-labelled peptides, is released from the cell-surface phosphoproteins indicating that the turnover of the ecto-phosphoproteins is mediated by an endogenous sperm outer-surface phosphoprotein phosphatase (ecto-PPase). The ecto-PPase is not a non-specific phosphatase since unlabelled p-nitrophenyl phosphate, beta-glycerophosphate or ATP at a relatively high concentration (1 mM each) has no appreciable effect on the dephosphorylation of the cell-surface proteins. The intact-sperm ecto-proteins phosphorylated and then dephosphorylated by the endogenous ecto-CIK and PPase respectively, undergo rephosphorylation by the cell-surface CIK. The data are consistent with the view that sperm external surface possesses a novel coupled-ecto-CIK and PPase enzyme system that regulates the phosphorylated states of the intact-sperm ecto-proteins by a cyclic mechanism of protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.     

An electrophoretic study of endogenous phosphorylation in vitro of the polypeptides of microsomal membrane fractions of mouse liver

1. The patterns of phosphopolypeptides produced by endogenous phosphorylation in vitro of rough- and smooth-membrane fractions of the microsomal fraction of mouse liver were studied by radioautographic analysis of sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoretograms. 2. A minimum of 17 polypeptides of both rough- and smooth-microsomal-membrane fractions were phosphorylated by using [gamma-(32)P]-ATP as the phosphate donor; only minor differences in phosphorylation pattern between the two membrane fractions were detected. 3. Phosphorylation in vitro by [gamma-(32)P]ATP was markedly stimulated by Mg(2+), but not by cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP or Ca(2+). The phosphorylation of certain polypeptides was preferentially stimulated by Mg(2+). Addition of cyclic AMP resulted in a decrease in the amount of (32)P detected in one polypeptide of mol.wt. approx. 56000, present in both the rough- and smooth-membrane fractions. 4. [gamma-(32)P]GTP was found to be a relatively poor donor of (32)P as compared with [gamma-(32)P]ATP. However, incubation of rough- and smooth-membrane fractions with this compound resulted in the phosphorylation of one polypeptide of mol.wt. approx. 96000 that was scarcely or not at all phosphorylated by [gamma-(32)P]ATP. 5. Under the conditions of incubation used, appreciable incorporation of (32)P from [gamma-(32)P]ATP occurred into products migrating at the front of the electrophoretograms; these products were identified as being principally comprised of 1-phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate. Incorporation of (32)P into this lipid was also markedly stimulated by Mg(2+). 6. The overall results show that a considerable number of polypeptides of the rough- and smooth-microsomal-membrane fractions of mouse liver may be phosphorylated in vitro and indicate that the enzymes responsible are principally non-cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases.     

Mechanism of endogenous phosphorylation of microtubule proteins during GTP-induced microtubule assembly and implications for stability of the assembled structures

Cycle-purified microtubule protein from mammalian brain incorporated [32P]Pi upon incubation with [gamma-32P]GTP under the conditions used to promote assembly. This phosphorylation also occurred in the same proteins when phosphorylated with [gamma-32P]ATP and was only slightly stimulated by cAMP. GTP was a much less effective substrate than ATP. The transfer of phosphoryl groups from [gamma-32P]GTP to endogenous proteins followed a linear time-course and was stimulated by low concentrations of ATP and, more efficiently, by ADP. These data are in agreement with the predictions derived from a mechanism of phosphorylation by which [gamma-32P]GTP does not act as a phosphoryl donor for the protein kinase activity but, instead, only as a repository of high group transfer potential phosphoryl groups used to make [gamma-32P]ATP, from contaminating ADP, by means of the nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity. Using 100 mM fluoride, which suppressed protein phosphorylation without inhibiting the nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity, formation of [gamma-32P]ATP was detected. Fluoride was also able to protect microtubules from a slow depolymerization which was found to occur during long-term incubation of microtubules. This indicates that the phosphorylation observed in the presence of GTP is sufficient to destabilize microtubules.     

Autophosphorylation and autoactivation of spleen protein tyrosine kinase

Incubation of a highly purified bovine spleen protein tyrosine kinase with [gamma-32P]ATP and Mg2+ resulted in a gradual radioactive labeling of the protein kinase (50 kDa) with no change in the protein kinase activity toward angiotensin II. On the other hand, treatment of the protein tyrosine kinase with an immobilized alkaline phosphatase caused essentially complete loss in the kinase activity, which could be restored by incubation of the enzyme with ATP and Mg2+. By using the alkaline phosphatase-treated kinase, time courses of the protein phosphorylation and the enzyme activation were demonstrated to correlate closely. These results indicate that this protein tyrosine kinase relies on autophosphorylation for activity and that the purified enzyme usually exists in a fully phosphorylated state. The radioactive labeling of the purified kinase during incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP resulted from a phosphate exchange reaction: the exchange of [gamma-32P]phosphate of ATP with the protein bound phosphate as previously suggested (Kong, S.K., and Wang, J.H. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 2597-2603). It could be shown that the autophosphorylation of phosphatase-treated tyrosine kinase was strongly inhibited by the substrate angiotensin II, whereas the exchange reaction carried out with untreated tyrosine kinase was not. Autophosphorylation is suggested to be an intermolecular reaction since its initial rate is proportional to the square of the protein concentration.     

Phosphorylation of glucokinase from rat liver in vitro by protein kinase A with a concomitant decrease of its activity

Glucokinase, purified from rat liver, was phosphorylated to an extent of 1 mol [32P]-phosphate/mol of enzyme when incubated with [32P]ATP and protein kinase A from pig or rabbit muscle. The phosphate was bound to serine residues. K0.5 increased and Vmax decreased upon phosphorylation. The phosphate group was removed during incubation of the phosphorylated glucokinase with alkaline phosphatase. Enzymatically inactive glucokinase was not phosphorylated by the protein kinase.