Phosphorylation of the acetylcholine receptor by protein kinase C and identification of the phosphorylation site within the receptor delta subunit

Purified acetylcholine receptor is rapidly and specifically phosphorylated by partially purified protein kinase C, the Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme. The receptor delta subunit is the major target for phosphorylation and is phosphorylated on serine residues to a final stoichiometry of 0.4 mol of phosphate/mol of subunit. Phosphorylation is dose-dependent with a Km value of 0.2 microM. Proteolytic digestion of the delta subunit phosphorylated by either protein kinase C or the cAMP-dependent protein kinase yielded a similar pattern of phosphorylated fragments. The amino acids phosphorylated by either kinase co-localized within a 15-kDa proteolytic fragment of the delta subunit. This fragment was visualized by immunoblotting with antibodies against a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 354-367 of the receptor delta subunit. This sequence, which contains 3 consecutive serine residues, was recently shown to include the cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site (Souroujon, M. C., Neumann, D., Pizzighella, S., Fridkin, M., and Fuchs, S. (1986) EMBO J. 5, 543-546). Concomitantly, the synthetic peptide 354-367 was specifically phosphorylated in a Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent manner by protein kinase C. Furthermore, antibodies directed against this peptide inhibited phosphorylation of the intact receptor by protein kinase C. We thus conclude that both the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C phosphorylation sites reside in very close proximity within the 3 adjacent serine residues at positions 360, 361, and 362 of the delta subunit of the acetylcholine receptor.     

Phosphorylation of the 165-kDa dihydropyridine/phenylalkylamine receptor from skeletal muscle by protein kinase C

Dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels exist in many different types of cells and are believed to be regulated by various protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions. The present study concerns the phosphorylation of a putative component of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels by the calcium and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C. A skeletal muscle peptide of 165 kDa, which is known to contain receptors for dihydropyridines, phenylalkylamines, and other Ca2+ channel effectors, was found to be an efficient substrate for protein kinase C when the peptide was phosphorylated in its membrane-bound state. Protein kinase C incorporated 1.5-2.0 mol of phosphate/mol of peptide within 2 min into the 165-kDa peptide in incubations carried out at 37 degrees C. In contrast to the membrane-bound peptide, the purified 165-kDa peptide in detergent solution was phosphorylated to a markedly less extent than its membrane-bound counterpart; less than 0.1 mol of phosphate/mol of peptide was incorporated. Preincubation of the membranes with several types of drugs known to be Ca2+ channel activators or inhibitors had no specific effects on the rate and/or extent of phosphorylation of the 165-kDa peptide by protein kinase C. The phosphorylation of the membrane-bound 165-kDa peptide by protein kinase C was compared to that catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and was found to be not additive. Prior phosphorylation of the 165-kDa peptide by cAMP-dependent protein kinase prevented subsequent phosphorylation of the peptide by protein kinase C. Phosphoamino acid analysis indicated that protein kinase C phosphorylated the 165-kDa peptide at both serine and threonine residues. Phosphopeptide mapping experiments showed that protein kinase C phosphorylated one unique site in the 165-kDa peptide, and, in addition, other sites that were phosphorylated by either cAMP-dependent protein kinase or a multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. The results suggest that the 165-kDa dihydropyridine/phenylalkylamine receptor could serve as a physiological substrate of protein kinase C in intact cells. It is therefore possible that the regulation of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels by activators of protein kinase C may occur at the level of this peptide.     

Implication of brain cdc2 and MAP2 kinases in the phosphorylation of tau protein in Alzheimer's disease.

Brain tau protein is phosphorylated in vitro by cdc2 and MAP2 kinases, obtained through immunoaffinity purification from rat brain extracts. The phosphorylation sites are located on the tau molecule both upstream and downstream of the tubulin-binding motifs. A synthetic peptide comprising residues 194-213 of the tau sequence, which contains the epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody tau-1, is also efficiently phosphorylated in vitro by cdc2 and MAP2 kinases. Phosphorylation of this peptide markedly reduces its interaction with the antibody tau-1, as it has been described for tau protein in Alzheimer's disease. Both cdc2 and MAP2 kinases are present in brain extracts obtained from Alzheimer's disease patients. Interestingly, the level of cdc2 kinase may be increased in patient brains as compared with non-demented controls. These results suggest a role for cdc2 and MAP2 kinases in phosphorylating tau protein at the tau-1 epitope in Alzheimer's disease.     

Comparison of the phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau by non-proline dependent protein kinases

Microtubule-associated protein tau from Alzheimer brain has been shown to be phosphorylated at several ser/thr-pro and ser/thr-X sites (Hasegawa, M. et al., J. Biol. Chem, 267, 17047–17054, 1992). Several proline-dependent protein kinases (PDPKs) (MAP kinase, cdc2 kinase, glycogen synthase kinase-3, tubulin-activated protein kinase, and 40 kDa neurofilament kinase) are implicated in the phosphorylation of the ser-thr-pro sites. The identity of the kinase(s) that phosphorylate that ser/thr-X sites are unknown. To identify the latter kinase(s) we have compared the phosphorylation of bovine tau by several brain protein kinases. Stoichiometric phosphorylation of tau was achieved by casein kinase-1, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, Gr kinase, protein kinase C and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, but not with casein kinase-2 or phosphorylase kinase. Casein kinase-1 and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II were the best tau kinases, with greater than 4 mol and 3 mol³²P incorporated, respectively, into each mol of tau. With the sequential addition of these two kinases,³²P incorporation approached 6 mol. Peptide mapping revealed that the different kinases largely phosphorylate different sites on tau. After phosphorylation by casein kinase-1, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, Gr kinase, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and casein kinase-2, the mobility of tau isoforms as detected by SDS-PAGE was decreased. Protein kinase C phosphorylation did not produce such a mobility shift. Our results suggest that one or more of the kinases studied here may participate in the hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer disease. Such phosphorylation may serve to modulate the activaties of other tau kinases such as the PDPKs.Abbreviations PHF paired helical filaments - A-kinase cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase - CaM kinase II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II - C-kinase calcium-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase - CK-1 casein kinase-1 - CK-2 casein kinase-2 - Gr kinase calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase from rat cerebellum - GSK-3 glycogen synthase kinase-3 - MAP kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Characterization of a fluorescent substrate for the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase

A synthetic tetradecapeptide derived from the phosphorylation site of the beta-subunit of phosphorylase kinase (Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg-Ser-Gly-Ser-Val-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Leu-Lys-Ile) is a highly efficient substrate for the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, exhibiting a 36% decrease in the intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence on phosphorylation. The fluorescence changes in continuous assays were monitored to demonstrate the roles of protein kinase effectors (cAMP, the type II regulatory subunit, and the 8000-Da heat-stable inhibitor) in the regulation of the enzyme and to determine Km and Vmax. The phosphorylation reaction requires 1 mol ATP/mol peptide. Amino acid analysis demonstrates the presence of phosphoserine in the phosphorylated peptide. Auxiliary experiments show that tyrosine phosphorylation can also be detected fluorometrically and distinguished from serine or threonine phosphorylation.     

Phosphorylation-dependent binding of a synthetic MARCKS peptide to calmodulin

A 25-amino acid peptide, containing the four protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation sites and the calmodulin (CaM) binding domain of the myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) protein, has been synthesized and used to determine the effects of phosphorylation on its binding and regulation of CaM. PKC phosphorylation of this peptide (3.0 mol of Pi/mol of peptide) produced a 200-fold decrease in its affinity for CaM. PKC phosphorylation of the peptide resulted in its dissociation from CaM over a time course that paralleled the phosphorylation of 1 mol of serine/mol of peptide. The peptide inhibited CaM's binding to myosin light chain kinase and CaM's stimulation of phosphodiesterase and calcineurin. PKC phosphorylation of the peptide resulted in a rapid release of bound CaM, allowing its subsequent binding to myosin light chain kinase (t1/2 = 1.6 min), stimulation of phosphodiesterase (t1/2 = 1.2 min) and calcineurin (t1/2 = 1.7 min). Partially purified MARCKS protein produced a similar inhibition of CaM-phosphodiesterase which was reversed by PKC phosphorylation. PKC phosphorylation of the peptide occurred primarily at serine 8 and serine 12, and phosphorylation of serine 12 regulated peptide affinity for CaM. Thus, PKC phosphorylation of the peptide and the MARCKS protein results in the rapid release of CaM and the subsequent activation of CaM-dependent enzymes. This process might allow for interplay between PKC and CaM-dependent signal transduction pathways.     

Phosphorylation of myelin basic protein and peptides by ganglioside-stimulated protein kinase

Rabbit myelin basic protein (MBP) was phosphorylated by a ganglioside-stimulated protein kinase to a stoichiometry of 1.4 and 2.1 mol phosphate/mol MBP in the presence and absence of GTlb, respectively. Two-dimensional peptide mapping analyses revealed that two of the sites of phosphorylation were distinct from those catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase C. Phosphorylation of one of these sites by ganglioside-stimulated protein kinase was inhibited by GTlb, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of gangliosides on MBP phosphorylation may be substrate-directed. Although ganglioside-stimulated protein kinase did not phosphorylate MBP at a domain containing residues 82-117, a synthetic peptide Arg-Phe-Ser-Trp-Gly-Ala-Glu-Gly-Gln-Lys corresponding to residues 111-120 was phosphorylated by the kinase in a ganglioside-stimulated manner. These findings suggest that the conformation of MBP may be important in determining its phosphorylatability.     

Comparison of the substrate specificity of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate- and guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinases. Kinetic studies using synthetic peptides corresponding to phosphorylation sites in histone H2B.

The substrate specificities of cyclic GMP-dependent and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases have been compared by kinetic analysis using synthetic peptides as substrates. Both enzymes catalyzed the transfer of phosphate from ATP to calf thymus histone H2B, as well as to two synthetic peptides, Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser32-Arg-Lys-Glu and Arg-Lys-Glu-Ser36-Tyr-Ser-Val, corresponding to the amino acid sequences around serine 32 and serine 36 in histone H2B. Serine 38 in the latter peptide was not phosphorylated by either enzyme. Cyclic GMP-dependent kinase and cyclic AMP-dependent kinase catalyzed the incorporation of 1.1 and 2.0 mol of phosphate/mol of histone H2B, respectively. The phosphorylation of histone H2B, respectively. The phosphorylation of histone H2B by cyclic GMP-dependent kinase showed two distinct optima as the magnesium concentration was increased. However, the phosphorylation of either synthetic peptide by this enzyme was depressed at high magnesium concentrations. As the pH of reaction mixtures was elevated from pH 6 to pH 9, the rate of phosphorylation of Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser32-Arg-Lys-Glu by cyclic GMP-dependent kinase continually increased. Acetylation of the NH2 terminus of the peptide did not qualitatively affect this pH profile, but did increase the Vmax value of the enzyme 3-fold. The apparent Km and Vmax values for the phosphorylation of Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser32-Arg-Lys-Glu by cyclic GMP-dependent kinase were 21 microM and 4.4 mumol/min/mg, respectively. The synthetic peptide Arg-Lys-Glu-Ser36-Tyr-Ser-Val was a relatively poor substrate for cyclic GMP-dependent kinase, exhibiting a Km value of 732 microM, although the Vmax was 12 micromol/min/mg. With histone H2B as substrate for the cyclic GMP-dependent kinase, two different Km values were apparent. The Km values for cyclic AMP-dependent kinase for either synthetic peptide were approximately 100 microM, but the Vmax for Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser32-Arg-Lys-Glu was 1.1 mumol/min/mg, while the Vmax for Arg-Lys-Glu-Ser36-Tyr-Ser-Val was 16.5 mumol/min/mg. These data suggest that although the two cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases have similar substrate specificities, the determinants dictated by the primary sequence around the two phosphorylation sites in histone H2B are different for the two enzymes.     

Phosphorylation of the 48-kDa subunit of the glycine receptor by protein kinase C.

The postsynaptic glycine receptor purified from rat spinal cord is rapidly and specifically phosphorylated by protein kinase C. The target for phosphorylation is the strychnine-binding subunit of the receptor (molecular mass of approximately 48 kDa), which is phosphorylated on serine residues to a final stoichiometry of approximately 0.8 mol of phosphate/mol of subunit. The 48-kDa phosphoprotein was analyzed by proteolytic cleavage and peptide mapping in order to localize the site of phosphorylation within the receptor molecule. Examination of the 32P-labeled receptor fragments generated by digestion with N-chlorosuccinimide, cyanogen bromide, and endoproteinase lysine C and of the deduced amino acid sequence of the 48-kDa protein (Grenningloh, G., Rienitz, A., Schmitt, B., Methfessel, C., Zensen, M., Beyreuther, K., Gundelfinger, E. D., and Betz, H. (1987) Nature 328, 215-220) indicates that the phosphorylation site is located in a region corresponding to the major intracellular loop of the predicted structure of the glycine receptor subunit and suggests serine 391 as the phosphorylated residue. In fact, a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 384-392 of the 48-kDa subunit was specifically phosphorylated by protein kinase C. Moreover, tryptic digests of this phosphopeptide and of the phosphorylated 48-kDa subunit of the glycine receptor migrated to the same position in two-dimensional peptide mapping. Furthermore, antibodies elicited against peptide 384-392 were shown to inhibit the protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of the 48-kDa polypeptide. Interestingly, the relative position of the phosphorylated domain is similar to those known or proposed to be phosphorylated in other ligand-gated ion channel receptor subunits, thus suggesting further the existence of a homologous regulatory region in these receptor proteins.     

Antibody used to identify penicillin-binding protein 2' in methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

We found that tau, one of the major microtubule-associated proteins, is a good substrate for protein kinase C. The phosphorylation occurred mainly on serine residues and the sites phosphorylated by protein kinase C were largely different from those phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase as analyzed by phosphopeptide mapping. The protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of tau reduced its abilities to promote tubulin polymerization and to cross-link actin filaments. The reduction in its abilities was in proportion to the number of phosphates incorporated into tau.     

Identification of the phosphoserine residue in histone H1 phosphorylated by protein kinase C

The site-specific phosphorylation of bovine histone H1 by protein kinase C was investigated in order to further elucidate the substrate specificity of protein kinase C. Protein kinase C was found to phosphorylate histone H1 to 1 mol per mol. Using N-bromosuccinimide and thrombin digestions, the phosphorylation site was localized to the globular region of the protein, containing residues 71-122. A tryptic peptide containing the phosphorylation site was purified. Modification of the phosphoserine followed by amino acid sequence analysis demonstrated that protein kinase C phosphorylated histone H1 on serine 103. This sequence, Gly97-Thr-Gly-Ala-Ser-Gly-Ser(PO4)-Phe-Lys105, supports the contention that basic amino acid residues C-terminal to the phosphorylation site are sufficient determinants for phosphorylation by protein kinase C.     

Substrate specificity of rat brain calcium-activated and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase

A synthetic peptide ArgThrProProProSerGly with sequence similar to the threonine sites of phosphorylation in both myelin basic protein and simian virus 40 T antigen could be phosphorylated in vitro by a purified rat brain Ca2+-activated and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C. The apparent Km and Vm values of this heptapeptide for the enzyme were determined to be 240 microM and 60 nmol/min/mg, respectively. Up to 0.8 mol 32P could be incorporated into the peptide, mainly at the threonine residue. Substitution of the L-threonine residue in the heptapeptide by its D-enantiomer abolished the phosphorylatability of the peptide by protein kinase C. However, this (D)Thr-containing peptide could act as a competitive inhibitor for the kinase with an apparent Ki value of approximately 320 microM. These findings suggest that a triprolyl sequence may act as a recognition site for protein kinase C.     

Phosphorylation of the human interleukin-2 receptor and a synthetic peptide identical to its C-terminal, cytoplasmic domain

The recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor was expressed in mouse mammary epithelial cells following the transfection of these cells with an expression vector containing the human IL-2 receptor cDNA. The recombinant IL-2 receptor in these cells was rapidly phosphorylated in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), but its phosphorylation could not be detected in the absence of PMA or upon addition of human IL-2. The C-terminal, cytoplasmic peptide domain of the IL-2 receptor, Gln-Arg-Arg-Gln-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Thr-Ile, was synthesized and used as a substrate for protein kinase C. The Km for phosphorylation of the peptide by protein kinase C was 23 microM. The stoichiometry of phosphorylation was 1 mol of phosphate/mol of peptide and serine was the predominant amino acid phosphorylated. Because this peptide was a good substrate for protein kinase C in vitro, it was possible that the same serine (serine 247) was also phosphorylated in the receptor in the cell. The IL-2 receptor gene in the expression vector was therefore altered by site-directed mutagenesis to code for an IL-2 receptor containing an alanine in the place of serine 247. The IL-2 receptor expressed by these cells was not phosphorylated in the presence of PMA. These data suggest that protein kinase C, in response to PMA, phosphorylates the C-terminal serine residue (serine 247) in the human IL-2 receptor.     

Phosphorylation of the yeast choline kinase by protein kinase C. Identification of Ser25 and Ser30 as major sites of phosphorylation

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae CKI1-encoded choline kinase catalyzes the committed step in phosphatidylcholine synthesis via the Kennedy pathway. The enzyme is phosphorylated on multiple serine residues, and some of this phosphorylation is mediated by protein kinase A. In this work we examined the hypothesis that choline kinase is also phosphorylated by protein kinase C. Using choline kinase as a substrate, protein kinase C activity was dose- and time-dependent and dependent on the concentrations of choline kinase (K(m) = 27 microg/ml) and ATP (K(m) = 15 microM). This phosphorylation, which occurred on a serine residue, was accompanied by a 1.6-fold stimulation of choline kinase activity. The synthetic peptide SRSSSQRRHS (V5max/K(m) = 17.5 mm(-1) micromol min(-1) mg(-1)) that contains the protein kinase C motif for Ser25 was a substrate for protein kinase C. A Ser25 to Ala (S25A) mutation in choline kinase resulted in a 60% decrease in protein kinase C phosphorylation of the enzyme. Phosphopeptide mapping analysis of the S25A mutant enzyme confirmed that Ser25 was a protein kinase C target site. In vivo the S25A mutation correlated with a decrease (55%) in phosphatidylcholine synthesis via the Kennedy pathway, whereas an S25D phosphorylation site mimic correlated with an increase (44%) in phosphatidylcholine synthesis. Although the S25A (protein kinase C site) mutation did not affect the phosphorylation of choline kinase by protein kinase A, the S30A (protein kinase A site) mutation caused a 46% reduction in enzyme phosphorylation by protein kinase C. A choline kinase synthetic peptide (SQRRHSLTRQ) containing Ser30 was a substrate (V(max)/K(m) = 3.0 mm(-1) micromol min(-1) mg(-1)) for protein kinase C. Comparison of phosphopeptide maps of the wild type and S30A mutant choline kinase enzymes phosphorylated by protein kinase C confirmed that Ser30 was also a target site for protein kinase C.     

Phosphorylation of liver gap junction protein by protein kinase C

The 27 kDa protein, a major component of rat liver gap junctions, was shown to be phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C. The stoichiometry of the phosphorylation indicated that approx. 0.33 mol phosphate was incorporated per mol 27 kDa protein. Phosphorylation was entirely dependent on the presence of calcium and was virtually specific for serine residues. For comparison, the gap junction protein was also examined for its phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, the extent of phosphorylation being one-tenth that exerted by protein kinase C.     

Phosphorylation of purified rat brain Na+ channel reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles by protein kinase C.

Phosphorylation of voltage-sensitive Na+ channels in neurons by protein kinase C slows Na+ channel inactivation and reduces peak Na+ currents. Na+ channels purified from rat brain and reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles under conditions that restore Na+ channel function were rapidly phosphorylated by protein kinase C on their 260-kDa alpha subunit. The phosphorylation reaction required Ca2+, diolein, and phosphatidylserine for activation of protein kinase C, and the rate of phosphorylation of reconstituted Na+ channels was 3- to 4-fold faster than for Na+ channels in detergent solution. Phosphorylation was on serine residues in three distinct tryptic phosphopeptides designated A, B, and C. Up to 2.5 mol of phosphate were incorporated per mol of Na+ channel. Following maximum phosphorylation by protein kinase C, cAMP-dependent protein kinase was able to incorporate more than 2.25 mol of phosphate per mol of Na+ channel indicating that these two kinases phosphorylate distinct sites. However, prior phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase prevented phosphorylation of phosphopeptide B indicating that both kinases phosphorylate the site in this peptide. Phosphopeptide B shown here to be phosphorylated by protein kinase C and phosphopeptide 7 previously shown to be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase co-migrate on two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps and evidently are identical. The reduction in peak Na+ currents caused by both protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase may result from phosphorylation of this single common site.     

Phosphorylation of RII subunit and attenuation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity by proline-directed protein kinase.

Previous studies identified proline-directed protein kinase (PDPK) as a growth factor-sensitive serine/threonine protein kinase that is active in the cytosol of proliferative cells and tissues during interphase. In this communication, we report that the regulatory subunit (RII) of bovine cardiac muscle cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is a putative substrate for the multifunctional PDPK. Purified RII is readily phosphorylated by PDPK in vitro in a time-dependent, enzyme-dependent manner to a stoichiometry approaching 0.7 mol phosphate/mol RII subunit protein. The major RII phosphorylation site is identified as a threonine residue located within a large hydrophobic tryptic peptide that is predicted to contain the cAMP binding domains. In contrast to the reported effects of RII autophosphorylation, kinetic analysis of RII function following phosphorylation by PDPK indicates that the inhibitory potency of RII toward the catalytic subunit of PKA in a reassociation assay is increased in proportion to the degree of phosphorylation. Further studies indicate that the cAMP-dependent activation of the RII2C2 holoenzyme is inhibited by PDPK phosphorylation. Taken together, the results of these studies indicate that phosphorylation of RII by PDPK attenuates the activity of PKA. This antagonistic interaction suggests a biochemical mechanism by which a growth factor-activated signaling system may function to modulate cAMP-dependent cellular responses.     

A peptide, ALTTE, within the fimbrial subunit protein from Porphyromonas gingivalis, induces production of interleukin 6, gene expression and protein phosphorylation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Abstract Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 fimbriae and a synthetic peptide composed of residues 69–73 (ALTTE) of the fimbrial subunit protein, FP381(69–73), function in the induction of interleukin 6 (IL-6) production, IL-6 mRNA expression, and tyrosine and serine/threonine phosphorylation of several proteins in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Herbimycin A and H-7, inhibitors of tyrosine kinases and protein kinase C (PKC), markedly inhibited IL-6 production, gene expression, and tyrosine and serine/threonine phosphorylation of proteins. An inactive analog of synthetic peptide replaced alanine to glycine at position 69 in FP381(69–73), GLTTE, exhibited an antagonistic effect on the IL-6 production induced by the fimbriae. These results suggest that the peptide ALTTE functions as an agent in inflammatory reactions and immune responses in the inflamed gingival and periodontal tissues, in which the participation of protein phosphorylation by tyrosine kinases and PKC in signal transduction may be considered.     

Protein kinase C phosphorylates pp60src at a novel site

The transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus (pp60v-src) and its normal cellular homolog (pp60c-src) are demonstrated to be phosphorylated at serine 12 in vivo under certain conditions. We propose that protein kinase C is responsible for this modification based on the following evidence. First, the tumor promoters, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and teleocidin, and synthetic diacylglycerol, known activators of protein kinase C in vivo, cause nearly complete phosphorylation of pp60src at serine 12. Second, among five purified serine/threonine-specific protein kinases tested, only protein kinase C phosphorylates pp60c-src and pp60v-src in vitro at serine 12. Third, purified protein kinase C phosphorylates a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal 20 amino acids of pp60c-src at serine 12. The physiological significance of this novel phosphorylation is discussed.     

Antigen-induced secretion of histamine and the phosphorylation of myosin by protein kinase C in rat basophilic leukemia cells

IgE-mediated stimulation of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells results in the secretion of histamine. Myosin immunoprecipitated from these cells shows an increase in the amount of radioactive phosphate incorporated into its heavy (200 kDa) and light (20 kDa) chains. In unstimulated cells two-dimensional mapping of tryptic peptides of the myosin light chain reveals one phosphopeptide containing the serine residue phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase. Following stimulation a second phosphopeptide appears containing a serine residue phosphorylated by protein kinase C. Tryptic phosphopeptide maps derived from myosin heavy chains show that unstimulated cells contain three major phosphopeptides. Following stimulation a new tryptic phosphopeptide appears containing a serine site phosphorylated by protein kinase C. The stoichiometry of phosphorylation of the myosin light and heavy chains was determined before and after antigenic stimulation. Before stimulation, myosin light chains contained 0.4 mol of phosphate/mol of light chain all confined to a serine not phosphorylated by protein kinase C. Cells that secreted 44% of their total histamine in 10 min exhibited an increase in phosphate content at sites phosphorylated by protein kinase C from 0 mol of phosphate/mol of myosin subunit to 0.7 mol of phosphate/mol of light chain and to 1 mol of phosphate/mol of heavy chain. When RBL-2H3 cells were made permeable with streptolysin O they still showed a qualitatively similar pattern of secretion and phosphorylation. Our results show that the time course of histamine secretion from stimulated RBL-2H3 cells parallels that of myosin heavy and light chain phosphorylation by protein kinase C.