Studies on phosphorylase b kinase from neutral tissues

Abstract— Phosphorylase b kinase (ATP: phosphorylase phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.38), the enzyme which converts phosphorylase b to phosphorylase a (α-1,4-glucan: orthophosphate glucosyltransferase; EC2.4.1.1) was examined in nerve tissue. Both phosphorylase and phosphorylase kinase were present in all nerve tissues tested, with central tissues about ten times as active as peripheral nerve. Exceptions were the superior cervical and stellate ganglia, tissues rich in synapses, which displayed activity similar to brain. Phosphorylase kinase in brain had properties similar to those of the enzyme in skeletal and cardiac muscle; it was activated in vitro by ATP and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and by Ca²⁺. Subconvulsive doses of insulin or of amphetamine administered to mice produced some activation of the enzyme. It is concluded that the mechanism for activation of phosphorylase in nerve tissue is similar to that in muscle.     

The phosphorylation of troponin B by phosphorylase b kinase in skeletal muscle of mice carrying the phosphorylase b kinase deficiency gene

In skeletal muscle of animals with the phosphorylase $\text{b}$ kinase deficiency gene there is < 1% of the normal activity to convert phosphorylase $\text{b}$ to $\text{a}$ in the presence of Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, and ATP (1). Correspondingly, there is < 1% of the normal activity to phosphorylate phosphorylase $\text{b}$. Nevertheless, under the same conditions, these extracts catalyze the phosphorylation of troponin at a rate 57% of normal. Phosphorylase $\text{b}$ converting activity can be sedimented from skeletal muscle of control mice by centrifugation. This fraction isolated from I strain skeletal muscle extracts phosphorylates troponin at a rate 29–39% of the control. EGTA¹ (15 mM) inhibits troponin phosphorylation by 50–60% in this fraction from both strains. The EGTA inhibition is reversed by 15 mM Ca⁺⁺. Thus the phosphorylase $\text{b}$ kinase in skeletal muscle of animals with the phosphorylase $\text{b}$ kinase deficiency gene can phosphorylate troponin B, although it shows little or no activity with phosphorylase as a substrate. This observation is consistent with the normal muscle contractility of I strain animals.     

Activating enzyme of phosphorylase b in the fat body of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Larval fat body of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was shown to contain phosphorylase a and b activity. The relative activity of phosphorylase a in crude extracts increased by the addition of both ATP and magnesium to the reaction mixture, but the total phosphorylase activity did not change. Among the two forms of phosphorylase (a and b), only phosphorylase b activity was inhibited by the addition of either EDTA or sodium fluoride.Phosphorylase b kinase was demonstrated in this tissue directly. The enzyme was partially purified by acid precipitation and its specific activity, calculated as phosphorylase a, found to be 2 nmol/min per mg of protein. Its activity is dependent on both ATP and magnesium (optimal concentrations of 0.4 and 4 mM, respectively), but not on inorganic phosphate.     

Control of platelet glycogenolysis activation of phosporylase kinase by calcium

An apparent enigma during platelet aggregation is that increased glycogenolysis occurs despite a fall in cyclic AMP levels. Activation by a classical cascade is therefore unlikely, and an alternative stimulus for phosphorylase a formation was sought. It was found that low levels of Ca²⁺ markedly activate phosphorylase b kinase from human platelets, with a K_a of 0.89 μM Ca²⁺, which is similar to that for the skeletal muscle enzyme. The kinase activity is unstable, and on enzyme ageing there is a 50% loss in activity with the K_a decreasing to 0.33 μM Ca²⁺.In unstimulated platelets, phosphorylase a was 13.3% of total measured activity, and glycogen synthetase I was 32.3%. Aggregation induced by ADP did not change the percentage of I synthetase, while increasing that for phosphorylase a. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP did, as expected, increase the percentage of both phosphorylated enzymes.These findings suggest that the natural activator of platelet glycogenolysis during aggregation is Ca²⁺, which directly stimulates phosphorylase b kinase without altering glycogen synthetase activity. The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase does not appear to be involved.     

Evaluation of the calcium mobilizing action of acetaminophen and bromobenzene in rat hepatocyte cultures

Acetaminophen (APAP) and bromobenzene (BrB) are reported to selectively inhibit plasma membrane (PM) but not endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺ transport in rat liver (1). The ability of these hepatotoxicants to increase cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ levels as a result of disrupted Ca²⁺ pumping was determined in cultured rat hepatocytes by monitoring the activity of glycogen phosphorylase a, a Ca²⁺ -sensitive (via phosphorylase kinase) enzyme. Following exposure to 2.5 to 10 mM APAP for five minutes, dose-dependent increases in phosphorylase a activity were observed (58 to 190 U/g protein). Endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump activity was not inhibited after any dose of APAP (56 nmol Ca²⁺ per milligram protein per 30 minutes). Phosphorylase a activity remained elevated for 60 minutes after exposure to APAP (124 μl/g protein). Following exposure to 0.5 to 2 mM BrB for five minutes, phosphorylase a activity also increased (58 to 229 U/g protein) in a dose-related manner. Endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump activity was inhibited after BrB exposure (from 58 to 16 nmol Ca²⁺ per milligram protein per 30 minutes). Phosphorylase a activity remained elevated for 60 minutes after exposure to BrB (147 U/g protein). Evidence of elevated cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ is consistent with the inhibition of Ca²⁺ -extruding/sequestering mechanisms at hepatocyte PM and/or ER. Prolonged elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels could overstimulate Ca²⁺ -sensitive processes within liver cells and thus initiate or contribute to hepatotoxic injury.     

Cyclic AMP stimulation of membrane phosphorylation and Ca2+-activated,Mg2+-dependent ATPase in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

Ca²⁺-activated ATPase (EC 3.6.1.15) in canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum was stimulated 50–80% by cyclic adenosine 3′ : 5′-monophosphate. The relationship of this stimulation to cyclic AMP-dependent membrane phosphorylation with phosphoester bands was studied. Cyclic AMP stimulation of ATPase activity was specific for Ca²⁺-activated ATPase and was half-maximal at about 0.1 μM which is similar to the concentration required for half-maximal stimulation of membrane phosphorylation by endogenous cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37). Cyclic AMP stimulation of Ca²⁺-activated ATPase was calcium dependent and maximal at calculated Ca²⁺ concentrations of 2.0 μM. Cyclic AMP-dependent Ca²⁺-activated ATPase correlated well with the cyclic AMP-dependent membrane phosphorylation of which 80% was 20 000 molecular weight protein identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In trypsin-treated microsomes, cyclic AMP did not stimulate Ca²⁺-activated ATPase or phosphorylation of the 20 000 molecular weight membrane protein. An endogenous calcium-stimulated protein kinase (probably phosphorylase b kinase) with an apparent K_m for ATP of 0.21–0.32 mM was present and appeared to be involved in the cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the 20 000 molecular weight protein which was calcium dependent. Cyclic guanosine 3′ : 5′-monophosphate did not inhibit any of the stimulatory effects of cyclic AMP. These data suggest that the cyclic AMP stimulation of Ca²⁺-activated ATPase in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is mediated by the 20 000 molecular weight phosphoprotein product of a series of kinase reactions similar to those activating phosphorylase b.     

The effects of α- and β-adrenergic agents,Ca2+ and insulin on 2-deoxyglucose uptake and phosphorylation in perfused rat heart

Insulin (0.1 μM) and 1 μM epinephrine each increased the uptake and phosphorylation of 2-deoxyglucose by the perfused rat heart by increasing the apparent V_max without altering the K_m. Isoproterenol (10 μM), 50 μM methoxamine and 10 mM CaCl₂ also increased uptake. Lowering of the perfusate Ca²⁺ concentration from 1.27 to 0.1 mM Ca²⁺, addition of the Ca²⁺ channel blocker nifedipine (1 μM) or addition of 1.7 mM EGTA decreased the basal rate of uptake of 2-deoxyglucose and prevented the stimulation due to 1 μM epinephrine. Stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake by 0.1 μM insulin was only partly inhibited by Ca²⁺ omission, nifedipine or 1 mM EGTA. Half-maximal stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake by insulin occurred at 2 nM and 0.4 nM for medium containing 1.27 and 0.1 mM Ca²⁺, respectively. Maximal concentrations of insulin (0.1 μM) and epinephrine (1 μM) were additive for glucose uptake and lactate output but were not additive for uptake of 2-deoxyglucose. Half-maximal stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake by epinephrine occurred at 0.2 μM but maximal concentrations of epinephrine (e.g., 1 μM) gave lower rates of 2-deoxyglucose uptake than that attained by maximal concentrations of insulin. The addition of insulin increased uptake of 2-deoxyglucose at all concentrations of epinephrine but epinephrine only increased uptake at sub-maximal concentrations of insulin. The role of Ca²⁺ in signal reversal was also studied. Removal of 1 μM epinephrine after a 10 min exposure period resulted in a rapid return of contractility to basal values but the rate of 2-deoxyglucose uptake increased further and remained elevated at 20 min unless the Ca²⁺ concentration was lowered to 0.1 mM or nifedipine (1 μM) was added. Similarly, removal of 0.1 μM insulin after a 10 min exposure period did not affect the rate of 2-deoxyglucose uptake, which did not return to basal values within 20 min unless the concentration of Ca²⁺ was decreased to 0.1 mM. Insulin-mediated increase in 2-deoxyglucose uptake at 0.1 mM Ca²⁺ reversed upon hormone removal. It is concluded that catecholamines mediate a Ca²⁺-dependent increase in 2-deoxyglucose transport from either α or β receptors. Insulin has both a Ca²⁺-dependent and a Ca²⁺-independent component. Reversal studies suggest an additional role for Ca²⁺ in maintaining the activated transport state when activated by either epinephrine or insulin.     

Effect of Mg2+ concentrations on phosphorylation/activation of phosphorylase b kinase by cAMP/Ca2+-independent,autophosphorylation-dependent protein kinase

In a previous report (Yu and Yang,Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 207, 140–147 (1995)], phosphorylase b kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle was found to be phosphorylated and activated by a cyclic nucleotide- and Ca²⁺-independent protein kinase previously identified as an autophosphorylation-dependent multifunctional protein kinase (autokinase) from brain and liver (Yanget al, J. Biol. Chem. 262, 7034–7040, 9421–9427 (1987)]. In this report, the effect of Mg²⁺ ion concentration on the auto-kinase-catalyzed activation of phosphorylase b kinase is investigated. The levels of phosphorylation and activation of phosphorylase b kinase catalyzed by auto-kinase are found to be dependent on the concentration of Mg²⁺ ion used. Phosphorylation of phosphorylase b kinase at high Mg²⁺ ion (>9 mM) is 2–3 times higher than that observed at low Mg²⁺ ion (1 mM) and this results in a further 2- to 3-fold activation of the enzyme activity at high Mg²⁺ ion. Analysis of the phosphorylation stoichiometry ofα andβ subunits of phosphorylase b kinase at different Mg²⁺ ion concentrations further reveals that the phosphorylation level of theβ subunit remains almost unchanged, whereas the phosphorylation level of theα subunit increases dramatically and correlates with the increased enzyme activity. In similarity with theβ subunit, phosphorylations of myelin basic protein and histone 2A by auto-kinase are also unaffected by Mg²⁺ ion. Taken together, the results provide initial evidence that Mg²⁺ ion may specifically render thea subunit a better substrate for auto-kinase to cause further phosphorylation/activation of phosphorylase b kinase, representing a new mode of control mechanism for the regulation of auto-kinase involved in the phosphorylation and concurrent activation of phosphorylase b kinase.     

Inhibitory effect of calcium-binding protein regucalcin on protein kinase activity in the nuclei of regenerating rat liver

The effect of Ca²⁺-binding protein regucalcin on protein kinase activity in the nuclei of normal and regenerating rat livers was investigated. Protein kinase activity in the nuclei isolated from normal rat liver was significantly increased by addition of Ca²⁺ (500 μM) and calmodulin (10 μg/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture. Nuclear protein kinase activity was significantly decreased in the presence of EGTA (1.0 mM), trifluoperazine (TFP; 20 μM), dibucaine (10⁻⁴ M), or staurosporine (10⁻⁷ M), indicating that Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinases are present in the nuclei. Protein kinase activity was significantly elevated in the liver nuclei obtained at 6 to 48 h after a partial hepatectomy. Hepatectomy-increased nuclear protein kinase activity was significantly decreased in the presence of EGTA (1.0 mM), TFP (20 μM), or staurosporine (10⁻⁷ M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. The presence of regucalcin (0.1–0.5 μM) caused a significant decrease in protein kinase activity in the nuclei obtained from normal and regenerating rat livers. Meanwhile, the nuclear protein kinase activity from normal and regenerating livers was significantly elevated in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (50–200 ng/ml). The present study suggests that regucalcin plays a role in the regulation of protein kinase activity in the nuclei of proliferative liver cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 71:569–576, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The association of phosphorylase kinase with rabbit muscle T-tubules

Evidence is presented for the association of a phosphorylase kinase activity with transverse tubules as well as terminal cisternae in triads isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. This activity remained associated with T-tubules throughout the purification of triad junctions by one cycle of dissociation and reassociation. The possibility that the presence of phosphorylase kinase in these highly purified membrane vesicle preparations was due to its association with glycogen was eliminated by digestion of the latter with α-amylase. The phosphorylase kinase activity associated with the T-tubule membranes was similar to that reported for other membrane-bound phosphorylase kinases. The enzyme had a high $\text{pH}\text{6.8}\text{pH}\text{8.2}$ activity ratio (0.4 – 0.7) and a high level of Ca²⁺ independent activity $\text{(EGTA}\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{= 0.3?0.5)}$. The kinase activated and phosphorylated exogenous phosphorylase b with identical time courses. When mechanically disrupted triads were centrifuged on continuous sucrose gradients, the distribution of phosphorylase kinase activity was correlated with the distribution of a M_r 128,000 polypeptide in the gradients. This polypeptide and a M_r 143,000 polypeptide were labeled with ³²P by endogenous and exogenous protein kinases. These findings suggest that the membrane-associated phosphorylase kinase may be similar to the cytosolic enzyme. Markers employed for the isolated organelles included a M_r 102,000 membrane polypeptide which followed the distribution of Ca²⁺-stimulated 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase activity, which is specific for the sarcoplasmic reticulum. A M_r 72,000 polypeptide was confirmed to be a T-tubule-specific protein. Several proteins of the triad component organelle were phosphorylated by the endogenous kinase in a Ca²⁺/calmodulin-stimulated manner, including a M_r ca. 72,000 polypeptide found only in the transverse tubule.     

Adenosine 5'-O(3-thiotriphosphate) in the control of phosphorylase activity

Rabbit muscle phosphorylase b (EC 2.4.1.1) is converted to a thio-analog of phosphorylase a by phosphorylase kinase, Mg²⁺ and adenosine 5′-O(3-thiotriphosphate)(ATPγS). Conversion proceeds at one-fifth the rate obtained with ATP though the extent of reaction and final level of activation of the enzyme are the same. However, the thiophosphorylase a produced is resistant to phosphorylase phosphatase and, therefore, behaves as a competitive inhibitor with a K_I of 3 μM, similar to the K_M obtained with normal phosphorylase a. ATPγS can also be utilized by protein kinase in the activation of phosphorylase kinase at a rate similar to that obtained with ATP. It is hydrolyzed at 5 to 10 times the normal rate by the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase. When added to a muscle glycogen-particulate complex in the presence of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, ATPγS triggers an activation of phosphorylase with simultaneous inhibition of phosphorylase phosphatase as previously observed with ATP.     

The autosomal form of phosphorylase kinase defficiency in man: Reduced activity of the muscle enzyme

A muscle biopsy from a boy with the autosomal form of phosphorylase kinase deficiency has been analysed. The glycogen content was higher than normal; phosphorylase was mostly in the b form, and the activity of phosphorylase kinase was undetectable at pH 6.8 and reached about 15 % of the mean control value at pH 8.3. The residual activity could be enhanced by trypsin and inhibited by EGTA. Cyclic AMP-dependent and independent protein kinases were normally active.     

Involvement of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase on the phosphorylase kinase inhibition by glucose-6-phosphate in adipose tissue extracts

In order to achieve further clarification of the regulation of glycogenolysis in adipose tissue, we studied the effect of glucose-6-phosphate on phosphorylase activation in Sephadex G-25 filtrate of adipose tissue. The activity of phosphorylase kinase was decreased by 50% and by 75% in the presence of 0.5 mM and 2 mM of glucose-6-phosphate, respectively. This inhibition could be partially prevented by 0.5 mM AMP. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of glucose-6-phosphate on the effect of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase on the activation of phosphorylase. The addition of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase caused a decrease in the inhibition of the phosphorylase activation by glucose-6-phosphate. Also, the glucose-6-phosphate at physiological concentration, decreased adipose tissue cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase activity.     

The binding of phosphorylase kinase to immobilized calmodulin

The binding of phosphorylase kinase to calmodulin-Sepharose 4B was studied by column and batch methods. It was found that the Ca²⁺ dependence of the interaction strongly depended strongly depended on the degree of substitution of agarose with calmodulin. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms (i.e., bulk ligand binding functions and lattice site binding functions) of phosphorylase kinase were measured on calmodulin-Sepharose. Sigmoidal bulk ligand binding functions (bulk adsorption coefficients: 1.5–5.8) were found which indicate intermolecular attraction during binding. Hyperbolic lattice site binding functions (lattice adsorption coefficients: 1.0) were obtained thus excluding the existence of a critical surface concentration of immobilized calmodulin and indicating single independent binding sites on the gel surface and on phosphorylase kinase. These findings were combined to optimize the adsorption of phosphorylase kinase on calmodulin-Sepharose, for purification procedures at low Ca²⁺ concentrations (5–10 μM ) minimizing proteolysis by calpains. With this novel method phosphorylase kinase from rabbit and frog skeletal muscle could be purified ca 100- and 200-fold, respectively, in two steps.     

Isolation of brain Ca2+-calmodulin tubulin kinase containing calmodulin binding proteins

Ca²⁺-calmodulin tubulin kinase activity was isolated from brain cytosol and separated from its substrate protein, tubulin, and Ca²⁺ regulatory protein, calmodulin. Characterization of the Ca²⁺-tubulin kinase system revealed a Km of 4 μM, 0.5 μM, 60 μM for Ca²⁺, calmodulin and ATP, respectively. The tubulin kinase system bound to a calmodulin affinity column in the presence of Ca²⁺ and was released from the column by chelation with EGTA. A major 55,000 and a minor 65,000 dalton peptide were identified as the only calmodulin binding proteins in the enzyme fraction, indicating that one or both of these peptides represent the calmodulin binding subunit of the Ca²⁺-calmodulin tubulin kinase system.     

Ca- and Mg-dependent association of phosphorylase kinase with human erythrocyte membranes

The interaction of rabbit muscle phosphorylase kinase (EC 2.7.1.38) with human erythrocyte membranes was investigated. It was found that at pH 7.0 the kinase binds to the inner face of the erythrocyte membrane (inside-out vesicles) and that this binding is Ca²⁺- and Mg²⁺-dependent. The sharpest increase in the binding reaction occurs at concentrations between 70 and 550 nM free Ca²⁺. Erythrocyte ghost or right-side out erythrocyte vesicles showed a significantly lower capacity to interact with phosphorylase kinase. Autophosphorylated phosphorylase kinase shows a similar Ca²⁺-dependent binding profile, while trypsin activation of the kinase and calmodulin decrease the original binding capacity by about 50%. Heparin (200 μg/ml) and high ionic strength (50 mM NaCl) almost completely blocks enzyme-membrane interaction; glycogen does not affect the interaction.     

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.     

Selective labelling of phosphorylase kinase with fluorescein isothiocyanate

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) is a highly specific inhibitor of rabbit muscle phosphorylase kinase. The rapid inhibition process is accompanied by an almost exclusive incorporation of fluorescein into the α sub-unit. A molar ratio of 0.8 mol FITC per mol α subunit for a 60% inhibited kinase was calculated. Mg²⁺ and Mg²⁺-ATP completely block the inhibitory effect of FITC, but ATP, ADP and Ca²⁺ have no significant effect on FITC inhibition. Trypsin-activated phosphorylase kinase is not inactivated by FITC, while the fluorescein-modified enzyme can be activated by digestion with trypsin to the same level of activity of trypsin-activated unmodified enzyme.     

The regulatory role of Mg2+ on rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase

The stimulation of phosphorylase kinase by Mg²⁺ was studied. Both the nonactivated and activated kinases are stimulated by Mg²⁺ at concentrations that are 100- to 200-fold greater than ATP. This stimulation is observed at both pH 6.8 and 8.2 and results in a 10-fold increase in the activity of the nonactivated kinase. Mg²⁺ stimulation is additive with that observed by calmodulin. Both the Ca²⁺-dependent and -independent activities of the kinase are stimulated by high [Mg²⁺]. Kinetically this stimulation can be explained by a decrease in the K_m for both phosphorylase b and ATP or an increase in V. The pH $\text{6.8}\text{8.2}$ ratio (0.06) is unaffected by [Mg²⁺] between 5 and 20 mm, but increases when [Mg²⁺] is less than 5 mm or greater than 20 mm. The stimulation by high [Mg²⁺] is explained by a direct effect of this cation on the kinase molecule rather than on its protein substrate, phosphorylase. This activating effect of high [Mg²⁺] does not result in any permanent change in the kinase molecule and can be readily reversed by diluting [Mg²⁺] to a low value.     

Studies on the kinetics of cation-associated fluorescence changes in chloroplast membranes

A soluble Ca²⁺- and Ca²⁺—calmodulin-activated protein kinase was partially purified from wheat germ. The phosphorylation of histones and casein catalyzed by this enzyme is largely Ca²⁺-dependent. After repeated gel filtration of the protein kinase in the presence of 1 mM EGTA, the phosphorylation of casein and histones by the enzyme is activated 3-fold and up to 16-fold, respectively, by added calmodulin (12.5 μM). Such activation of the protein kinase by calmodulin is Ca²⁺-dependent. The protein kinase binds to calmodulin—Sepharose 4B in a Ca²⁺-dependent fashion. This type of Ca²⁺-activated protein kinase may be involved in stimulus—response coupling in plants.