Regulation of purified rat liver acetyl CoA carboxylase by phosphorylation

Acetyl CoA carboxylase was purified from liver of fasted-refed rats to near homogeneity, based on electrophoretic analysis and biotin content. These preparations contained an endogenous protein kinase that catalyzed the transfer of radioactive phosphate from [gamma-32P]ATP to acetyl CoA carboxylase, accompanied by a decrease in acetyl CoA carboxylase activity. Phosphate incorporated into acetyl CoA carboxylase was removed when the preparation was incubated with partially purified phosphorylase phosphatase catalytic subunit with regain of enzymatic activity. This endogenous protein kinase was shown not to be affected by either cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, EGTA, or trifluoperazine. The addition of either cyclic-AMP or purified cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit to the purified acetyl CoA carboxylase preparation increased protein phosphorylation but had no further effect on acetyl CoA carboxylase activity. Purified acetyl CoA carboxylase was shown to act as an ATPase during the phosphorylation reaction.     

Physiological Phosphorylation of Protein Kinase A at Thr-197 Is by a Protein Kinase A Kinase

Phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, or protein kinase A, on Thr-197 is required for optimal enzyme activity, and enzyme isolated from either animal sources or bacterial expression strains is found phosphorylated at this site. Autophosphorylation of Thr-197 occurs in Escherichia coli and in vitro but is an inefficient intermolecular reaction catalyzed primarily by active, previously phosphorylated molecules. In contrast, the Thr-197 phosphorylation of newly synthesized protein kinase A in intact S49 mouse lymphoma cells is both efficient and insensitive to activators or inhibitors of intracellular protein kinase A. Using [³⁵S]methionine-labeled, nonphosphorylated, recombinant catalytic subunit as the substrate in a gel mobility shift assay, we have identified an activity in extracts of protein kinase A-deficient S49 cells that phosphorylates catalytic subunit on Thr-197. The protein kinase A kinase activity partially purified by anion-exchange and hydroxylapatite chromatography is an efficient catalyst of protein kinase A phosphorylation in terms of both a low K_m for ATP and a rapid time course. Phosphorylation of wild-type catalytic subunit by the kinase kinase activates the subunit for binding to a pseudosubstrate peptide inhibitor of protein kinase A. By both the gel shift assay and a [γ-³²P]ATP incorporation assay, the enzyme is active on wild-type catalytic subunit and on an inactive mutant with Met substituted for Lys-72 but inactive on a mutant with Ala substituted for Thr-197. Combined with the results from mutant subunits, phosphoamino acid analysis suggests that the enzyme is specific for phosphorylation of Thr-197.     

Mg X ATP2-dependent interaction of the inhibitor protein of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase with the catalytic subunit

The interaction between the inhibitor protein and the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase has been investigated by steady state kinetics and by an assessment of the requirement of this interaction for ATP. By analysis for tightly bound inhibitors, inhibition by the inhibitor protein was shown to be competitive versus peptide substrate and uncompetitive versus Mg X ATP2-. This, together with the observations of Gronot et al. (Gronot, J., Mildvan, A.S., Bramson, H. N., Thomas, N., and Kaiser, E.T. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 602-610) and those given in the accompanying paper (Whitehouse, S., Feramisco, J.R., Casnellie, J.E., Krebs, E.G., and Walsh, D.A. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 3693-3701), would indicate that the probable reaction mechanism of the protein kinase is ordered with the nucleotide binding first and that the inhibitor protein blocks catalysis by interaction with the catalytic subunit-Mg X ATP complex. The Ki for this interaction at saturating Mg X ATP and zero peptide substrate is 0.49 nM. Multiple inhibition analysis in the presence of 5'-adenylimidodiphosphate (AMP X PNP) indicates that the inhibitor protein does not interact with a catalytic subunit-AMP X PNP complex. The requirement for ATP for the inhibitor protein-catalytic subunit interaction has also been demonstrated by direct binding measurements and by the observation that the efficiency of the inhibitor protein is increased by preincubation of the inhibitor protein, catalytic subunit, and ATP in the absence of peptide substrate. By either measurement, the catalytic subunit in the presence of the inhibitor protein, was shown to exhibit an apparent Kd of 20 approximately 60 nM for ATP; this value is two orders of magnitude higher than the affinity for ATP by the catalytic subunit alone. This high apparent affinity of the catalytic subunit for ATP (in the presence of the inhibitor) does not require that there be a specific binding site on the inhibitor protein for some moiety of the ATP but may simply be a reflection of the formation of a catalytic subunit-Mg X ATP X inhibitor protein complex with resultant displacement of the equilibrium of ATP binding to the protein kinase.     

Inhibition of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase: comparison of a protein inhibitor with polyanions and substrate analogs.

The mechanism of inhibition of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase was studied using a protein inhibitor isolated by a non-denaturing procedure from bovine heart. This protein inhibitor interacts with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase and binds to some substrates of the kinase. Protein kinase activity can also be inhibited by polyanions which, like the protein inhibitor, bind to basic substrates but do not bind to the catalytic subunit of protein kinase. Peptides such as L-lysyl-L-tyrosyl-L-threonine that resemble the phosphate accepting site of protein kinase substrates competitively inhibit phosphorylation of histone. Protein kinase activity can thus be inhibited in vitro by interaction of the protein inhibitor with substrates, and/or the catalytic subunit of the kinase, by competition of substrate analogs with "natural" substrates and by direct interaction of polyanions with basic protein substrates for the phosphotransferase reaction.     

Post-transcriptional regulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity by cAMP in GH3 pituitary tumor cells. Evidence for increased degradation of catalytic subunit in the presence of cAMP

The effects of cyclic AMP treatment on total cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in GH3 pituitary tumor cells have been studied. Incubation of cells for 24 h with 1 microM forskolin resulted in a 50% decrease in total cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity which was reversible upon removal of forskolin from culture media. A similar response was observed in GH3 cells treated with 5 ng/ml cholera toxin and 0.5 mM dibutyryl cAMP but not 0.5 mM dibutyryl cGMP. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the steady-state level of the mRNA for each of the six kinase subunit isoforms studied was not detectably altered after treatment with 1 microM forskolin for 24 h. The concentration of catalytic subunit was also assessed by binding studies using a radiolabeled heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor. Treatment of GH3 cells with 1 microM forskolin for 24 h reduced protein kinase inhibitor binding activity by 50%, consistent with the observed forskolin-induced decrease in total kinase activity. Analysis of endogenous heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor activity in GH3 cell extracts showed no significant difference between forskolin-treated cells and cells maintained under control conditions. To assess possible effects on catalytic subunit degradation, pulse-chase experiments were performed and radiolabeled catalytic subunit was isolated by affinity chromatography. The results demonstrated that treatment of cells with chlorophenylthio-cAMP detectably increased the apparent degradation of radiolabeled catalytic subunit. The increased degradation of the catalytic subunit was sufficient to account for the observed decreases in kinase activity. These results suggest that relatively long term cAMP treatment can alter total cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity through effects to alter the degradation of the catalytic subunit of the enzyme.     

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

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

Regulatory subunit of the type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase as an inhibitor and substrate of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase

The regulatory subunit of the type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase (Rt) serves as a substrate for the phosphotransferase reaction catalyzed by cGMP-dependent protein kinase (Km = 2.2 microM). The reaction is stimulated by cGMP when RI . cAMP is the substrate, but not when nucleotide-free RI is used. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase catalyzes the incorporation of 2 mol of phosphate/mol of RI dimer in the presence of cAMP and a self-phosphorylation reaction to the extent of 4 mol of phosphate/mol of enzyme dimer. In the absence of cAMP, RI is a competitive inhibitor of the phosphorylation of histone H2B (Ki = 0.25 microM) and of the synthetic peptide substrate Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Gly (Ki = 0.15 microM) by the cGMP-dependent enzyme. Nucleotide-free RI also inhibits the intramolecular self-phosphorylation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The inhibition of the phosphorylation reactions are reversed by cAMP. The catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase does not catalyze the phosphorylation of RIand does not significantly alter the ability of RI to serve as a substrate or an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase. These observations are consistent with the concept that the cGMP- and cAMP-dependent protein kinases are closely related proteins whose functional domains may interact.     

Inhibitory effect of polycations on phosphorylation of glycogen synthase by glycogen synthase kinase 3

Several polycations were tested for their abilities to inhibit the activity of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3). L-Polylysine was the most powerful inhibitor of GSK-3 with half-maximal inhibition of glycogen synthase phosphorylation occurring at approx. 100 nM. D-Polylysine and histone H1 were also inhibitory, but the concentration dependence was complex, and DL-polylysine was the least effective inhibitor. Spermine caused about 50% inhibition of GSK-3 at 0.7 mM and 70% inhibition at 4 mM. Inhibition of GSK-3 by L-polylysine could be blocked or reversed by heparin. A heat-stable polycation antagonist isolated from swine kidney cortex also blocked the inhibitory effect of L-polylysine on GSK-3 and blocked histone H1 stimulation of protein phosphatase 2A activity. Under the conditions tested, L-polylysine also inhibited GSK-3 catalyzed phosphorylation of type II regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and a 63 kDa brain protein, but only slightly inhibited phosphorylation of inhibitor 2 or proteolytic fragments of glycogen synthase that contain site 3 (a + b + c). L-Polylysine at a concentration (200 nM) that caused nearly complete inhibition of GSK-3 stimulated casein kinase I and casein kinase II, but had virtually no effect on the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. These results suggest that polycations can be useful in controlling GSK-3 activity. Polycations have the potential to decrease the phosphorylation state of glycogen synthase at site 3, both by inhibiting GKS-3 as shown in this study and by stimulating the phosphatase reaction as shown previously (Pelech, S. and Cohen, P. (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 148, 245-251).     

Modulation of soluble ovarian adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase activity during prepubertal development in the rat. II. Evaluation of the catalytic subunit inhibitor activity

In a previous report on the ontogeny of the ovarian adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase activity during prepubertal development of the rat, we concluded that the 4-fold decline in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity observed in ovaries of 21- to 23-day-old rats was due to the presence of a heat-labile inhibitor in the ovarian extracts (Hunzicker-Dunn et al., 1984). We developed an assay for this ovarian kinase inhibitor activity that was based on the observation that ovarian cytosol added to an exogenous catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase caused a time-dependent and ovarian cytosol protein concentration-dependent inhibition of exogenous catalytic subunit phosphotransferase activity. The present studies were conducted to evaluate the basis for this catalytic subunit inhibitor present in soluble rat ovarian extracts of prepubertal-aged rats. This inhibitor activity was absent from cytosol extracts of rat corpora lutea, rat liver, rabbit follicles, and rabbit corpora lutea. Inhibitor activity present in rat ovarian cytosol was not attributable to insufficient levels of the phosphorylation substrate Kemptide. Inhibitor activity was also not related to the presence of the large amount of catalytic subunit-free regulatory subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase present in ovarian extracts of late juvenile-aged rats. Inhibitor activity, however, did correlate with an endogenous adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity that reduced assay ATP concentrations below levels needed to accurately measure phosphotransferase activity, despite the presence of sodium fluoride (an ATPase inhibitor) and ATP concentrations 5- to 15-fold greater than the Km of the kinase for ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A thermostable protein inhibitor of protein kinase from the swine brain. Isolation of the inhibitor and interaction with the enzyme

A heat-stable protein inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase has been isolated from pig brain tissue. During gel filtration the protein is eluted in three peaks corresponding to the tetramer, dimer and monomer. The monomer fraction was purified 609-fold. The molecular mass of the monomeric form as determined by gel filtration and electrophoresis is equal to 11,000 Da and 8000 Da, respectively. The inhibition of the phosphotransferase reaction with respect to ATP occurs via a non-competitive mechanism, while that for histone--via a competitive mechanism. A formal kinetic analysis of various modes of the inhibitor binding to different protein kinase forms, e. g., the cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, protein kinase holoenzyme in the presence and absence of cAMP as well as of holoenzyme preparations modified by dimethylsuberimidate and cupric 1,10-phenanthroline, has been carried out. It was demonstrated that 3-4 inhibitor molecules are involved in the interaction with protein kinase.     

A selective inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase isolated from an alkalophilic strain of Bacillus species

Many alkalophilic bacteria were found to produce inhibitors of protein kinases. We isolated a novel inhibitor of protein kinase from an alkalophilic strain of Bacillus species. This substance was A heat-stable peptide with a molecular weight of 13,000 daltons. It was found to be a selective inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A kinase). The inhibition of a kinase by this substance was non-competitive with histone or ATP. It behaved distinctly; other known inhibitors such as H-7, H-8, Staurosporine, K-252 and Erbstatine inhibit protein kinase less selectively and their functions are competitive with either substrate or ATP. This inhibitor was found to bind to the regulatory subunits of A kinase and markedly inhibited the separation of the catalytic subunits from A kinase induced by the binding of cAMP despite of no effect on the binding of cAMP. Thus, the activation step of A kinase was influenced by this inhibitor. This molecule had no effect on the inhibition by cAMP of CHO cell proliferation. This may have been due to the inability of this molecule to reach the target in the cell. Modification of the molecule itself or the administration method is needed for cellular or animal application.     

Molecular cloning and expression of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A from Trypanosoma cruzi

The activation of protein kinase A (cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase) by cyclic adenosine monophosphate is believed to play an important role in regulating the growth and differentiation of Trypanosoma cruzi. A PCR using degenerate oligonucleotide primers against conserved motifs in the VIb and VIII subdomains of the ACG family of serine/threonine protein kinases was utilised to amplify regions corresponding to the parasite homologue of the protein kinase A catalytic subunit. This putative protein kinase A fragment was used to isolate the entire gene from T. cruzi genomic libraries. The deduced 329 amino acid sequence of this gene contained all of the signature motifs of known protein kinase A catalytic subunit proteins. The recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli was shown to phosphorylate Kemptide, a synthetic peptide substrate of protein kinase A, in a protein kinase inhibitor (PKI)-inhibitory manner. Immunoprecipitation with polyclonal antisera raised against recombinant protein of this gene was able to pull-down PKI-inhibitory phosphotransferase activity from epimastigote lysates. Immunoblot and Northern blot analyses, in combination with enzyme activity assays, revealed that this gene was a stage-regulated enzyme in T. cruzi with higher levels and activity being present in epimastigotes compared with amastigotes or trypomastigotes. Overall these studies indicate that the cloned gene encodes an authentic protein kinase A catalytic subunit from T. cruzi and are the first demonstration of PKI-inhibitory phosphotransferase activity in an expressed protozoan protein kinase A catalytic subunit.     

Protein kinase activities in rat pancreatic islets of Langerhans.

1. Protein kinase activities in homogenates of rat islets of Langerhans were studied. 2. On incubation of homogenates with [gamma-32P]ATP, incorporation of 32P into protein occurred: this phosphorylation was neither increased by cyclic AMP nor decreased by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor described by Ashby & Walsh [(1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 6637--6642]. 3. On incubation of homogenates with [gamma-32P]ATP and histone as exogenous substrate for phosphorylation, incorporation of 32P into protein was stimulated by cyclic AMP (approx. 2.5-fold) and was inhibited by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. In contrast, when casein was used as exogenous substrate, incorporation of 32P into protein was not stimulated by cyclic AMP, nor was it inhibited by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. 4. DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography resolved four peaks of protein kinase activity. One species was the free catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, two species corresponded to 'Type I' and 'Type II' cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzymes [see Corbin, Keely & Park (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 218--225], and the fourth species was a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase. 5. Determination of physical and kinetic properties of the protein kinases showed that the properties of the cyclic AMP-dependent activities were similar to those described in other tissues and were clearly distinct from those of the cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase. 6. The cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase had an s20.w of 5.2S, phosphorylated a serine residue(s) in casein and was not inhibited by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. 7. These studies demonstrate the existence in rat islets of Langerhans of multiple forms of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and also the presence of a cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase distinct from the free catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The presence of the cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase may account for the observed characteristics of 32P incorporation into endogenous protein in homogenates of rat islets.     

Chelerythrine is a potent and specific inhibitor of protein kinase C

The benzophenanthridine alkaloid chelerythrine is a potent, selective antagonist of the Ca++/phospholopid-dependent protein kinase (Protein kinase C: PKC) from the rat brain. Half-maximal inhibition of the kinase occurs at 0.66 microM. Chelerythrine interacted with the catalytic domain of PKC, was a competitive inhibitor with respect to the phosphate acceptor (histone IIIS) (Ki = 0.7 microM) and a non-competitive inhibitor with respect to ATP. This effect was further evidenced by the fact that chelerythrine inhibited native PKC and its catalytic fragment identically and did not affect [3H]- phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate binding to PKC. Chelerythrine selectively inhibited PKC compared to tyrosine protein kinase, cAMP-dependent protein kinase and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. The potent antitumoral activity of celerythrine measured in vitro might be due at least in part to inhibition of PKC and thus suggests that PKC may be a model for rational design of antitumor drugs.     

Implication of pH in the catalytic properties of anthrax lethal factor

The anthrax lethal factor (LF) is a Zn(2+)-endopeptidase specific for mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MAPKKs), which are cleaved within their N-terminal region. Much line of effort was carried out to elucidate the catalytic activity of LF for designing the inhibitor and to understand the cellular mechanism of its cytotoxicity. Current assay methods to analyze the LF activity have been based on a synthetic peptide, consisting of 15-20 residues around being cleaved. However, there are accumulating reports that the region distal to cleavage site is required for the LF-mediated proteolysis of substrate. In this study, we demonstrate the catalytic properties of LF, using the full-length native substrate, MEK. We described the catalytic properties of LF focused on the effects of the pH alteration, which was encountered during the endocytosis of lethal toxin, and of the requirement for metal ions. We present the first evidence that additional metal ions are required for the LF catalyzed hydrolysis of native substrate, and that the pH alteration causes a significant change of catalytic properties of LF.     

Sangivamycin, a nucleoside analogue, is a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C

Protein kinase C functions prominently in cell regulation via its pleiotropic role in signal transduction processes. Certain oncogene products resemble elements involved in transmembrane signaling, elevate cellular sn-1,2-diacylglycerol second messenger levels, and activate protein kinase C. Sangivamycin was unique among the nucleoside compounds tested in its ability to potently inhibit protein kinase C activity. Inhibition was competitive with respect to ATP for both protein kinase C and the catalytic fragment of protein kinase C prepared by trypsin digestion. Sangivamycin was a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to histone and lipid cofactors (phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol). Sangivamycin inhibited native protein kinase C and the catalytic fragment identically, with apparent Ki values of 11 and 15 microM, respectively. Sangivamycin was an effective an inhibitor of protein kinase C as H-7, an isoquinolinsulfonamide. Sangivamycin did not inhibit [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate binding to protein kinase C. Sangivamycin did not exert its action through the lipid binding/regulatory domain; inhibition was not affected by the presence of lipid or detergent. Unlike H-7, sangivamycin selectively inhibited protein kinase C compared to cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The discovery that protein kinase C is inhibited by sangivamycin and other antitumor agents suggests that protein kinase C may be a target for rational design of antitumor compounds.     

Phosphopeptide patterns of the ribosomal protein S6 following stimulation of guinea pig parotid glands by secretagogues involving either cAMP or calcium as second messenger

Stimulation of secretion in exocrine cells is associated with the incorporation of up to 3 to 4 phosphates into the ribosomal protein S6. This occurs with secretagogues involving either cAMP or free calcium as second messenger. An analysis of the phosphorylation pattern of S6 from stimulated guinea pig parotid glands reveals 3 phosphopeptides (termed A,B,C). The phosphopeptide pattern was identical for cAMP- or calcium-mediated stimulation, whereas phosphorylation of the S6 protein in vitro with catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase resulted only in the formation of phosphopeptides A and C. Therefore, secretagogue-mediated phosphorylation is not or not exclusively catalyzed by cAMP-dependent protein kinase even when cAMP is the second messenger.     

Ionic inhibition of catalytic phosphorylation of histone by bovine brain protein kinase.

The effects of various ions commonly found in protein kinase assays upon the rate of histone phosphorylation catalyzed by the highly purified bovine brain enzyme, protein kinase I, have been investigated. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium were found to inhibit histone phosphorylation by protein kinase I in a similar manner. The degree of inhibition by any of these cations was demonstrated to be directly proportional to the square root of the ionic strength of the assay medium. The relationship between the ionic strength of the assay medium and the rate of histone phosphorylation catalyzed by protein kinase I was employed to correct the rate of histone phosphorylation at various magnesium acetate concentrations to a standard ionic strength. When this was done an analysis of the previously postulated rate law for histone phosphorylation c atalyzed by protein kinase I gave a binding constant for the magnesium-ATP complex which was in agreement with that expected for this complex on the basis of various binding constants available in the literature. These results demonstrate that it is unnecessary to postulate a specific ion inhibition process for protein kinase I by the ions employed in this study. They also support the reasonable assumption that magnesium ion binds to ATP at or prior to the rate-determining step in histone phosphorylation catalyzed by protein kinase I. The expression developed in this paper for the effect of ionic strength upon protein kinase I activity can now be used to correct activity measurements made under various assay conditions to a standard assay state, allowing facile comparisons of kinetic data. It should be possible to develop similar expressions for other protein kinases and substrates to permit useful interpretation of kinetic data.     

Affinity purification of the C alpha and C beta isoforms of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

A synthetic peptide of 18 amino acids corresponding to the inhibitory domain of the heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor was synthesized and shown to inhibit both the C alpha and C beta isoforms of the catalytic (C) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Extracts from cells transfected with expression vectors coding for the C alpha or the C beta isoform of the C subunit required 200 nM protein kinase inhibitor peptide for half-maximal inhibition of kinase activity in extracts from these cells. An affinity column was constructed using this synthetic peptide, and the column was incubated with protein extracts from cells overexpressing C alpha or C beta. Elution of the affinity column with arginine allowed single step isolation of purified C alpha and C beta subunits. The C alpha and C beta proteins were enriched 200-400-fold from cellular extracts by this single step of affinity chromatography. No residual inhibitory peptide activity could be detected in the purified protein. The purified C subunit isoforms were used to demonstrate preferential antibody reactivity with the C alpha isoform by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, preliminary characterization showed both isoforms have similar apparent Km values for ATP (4 microM) and for Kemptide (5.6 microM). These results demonstrate that a combination of affinity chromatography employing peptides derived from the heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor protein and the use of cells overexpressing C subunit related proteins may be an effective means for purification and characterization of the C subunit isoforms. Furthermore, this method of purification may be applicable to other kinases which are known to be specifically inhibited by small peptides.