Increased Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Activity in Postmortem Brain from Patients with Bipolar Affective Disorder

Previous observations of reduced [3H]cyclic AMP binding in postmortem brain regions from bipolar affective disorder subjects imply cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase function may be altered in this illness. To test this hypothesis, basal and stimulated cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was determined in cytosolic and particulate fractions of postmortem brain from bipolar disorder patients and matched controls. Maximal enzyme activity was significantly higher (104%) in temporal cortex cytosolic fractions from bipolar disorder brain compared with matched controls. In temporal cortex particulate fractions and in the cytosolic and particulate fractions of other brain regions, smaller but statistically nonsignificant increments in maximal enzyme activity were detected. Basal cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was also significantly higher (40%) in temporal cortex cytosolic fractions of bipolar disorder brain compared with controls. Estimated EC50 values for cyclic AMP activation of this kinase were significantly lower (70 and 58%, respectively) in both cytosolic and particulate fractions of temporal cortex from bipolar disorder subjects compared with controls. These findings suggest that higher cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in bipolar disorder brain may be associated with a reduction of regulatory subunits of this enzyme, reflecting a possible adaptive response of this transducing enzyme to increased cyclic AMP signaling in this disorder.     

Characterization of the protein kinase activities of human platelet supernatant and particulate fractions.

After human platelets were lysed by freezing and thawing in the presence of EDTA, about 35% of the total cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was specifically associated with the particulate fraction. In contrast, Ca2+-activated phospholipid-dependent protein kinase was found exclusively in the soluble fraction. Photoaffinity labelling of the regulatory subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase with 8-azido-cyclic [32P]AMP indicated that platelet lysate contained a 4-fold excess of 49 000-Da RI subunits over 55 000-Da RII subunits. The RI and RII subunits were found almost entirely in the particulate and soluble fractions respectively. Chromatography of the soluble fraction on DEAE-cellulose demonstrated a single peak of cyclic AMP-dependent activity with the elution characteristics and regulatory subunits characteristic of the type-II enzyme. A major enzyme peak containing Ca2+-activated phospholipid-dependent protein kinase was eluted before the type-II enzyme, but no type-I cyclic AMP-dependent activity was normally observed in the soluble fraction. The particulate cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and associated RI subunits were solubilized by buffers containing 0.1 or 0.5% (w/v) Triton X-100, but not by extraction with 0.5 M-NaCl, indicating that this enzyme is firmly membrane-bound, either as an integral membrane protein or via an anchor protein. DEAE-cellulose chromatography of the Triton X-100 extracts demonstrated the presence of both type-I cyclic AMP-dependent holoenzyme and free RI subunits. These results show that platelets contain three main protein kinase activities detectable with histone substrates, namely a membrane-bound type-I cyclic AMP-dependent enzyme, a soluble type-II cyclic AMP-dependent enzyme and Ca2+-activated phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, which was soluble in lysates containing EDTA.     

Protein phosphorylation in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Subcellular distribution and partial characterization of adenosine 3'':5''-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase.

Cytoplasmic and membrane fractions prepared from human peripheral-blood lymphocytes both contained cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and endogenous protein kinase substrates. Protein kinase activity in the particulate fractions was not eluted with 0.25 M-NaCl, suggesting that it was not derived from non-specifically absorbed soluble cytoplasmic protein kinase. Nor was the particulate protein kinase activity eluted by treatment with cyclic AMP, suggesting that the catalytic subunit is membrane-bound and arguing against cyclic AMP-induced translocation of particulate activity. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein-phosphorylating activity in the cytoplasmic fraction was highly sensitive to inhibition by Mn2+, and was co-eluted from DEAE-cellulose primarily with type-I rabbit skeletal-muscle kinase. Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylating activity in the plasma-membrane fractions was stimulated at low [Mn2+] and inhibited only at high [Mn2+]. When solubilized with Nonidet P-40, plasma-membrane protein kinase was co-eluted from DEAE-cellulose with type-II rabbit muscle kinase. These differences, together with the strong association of the particulate kinases with the particulate fraction, suggest the possibility of compartmentalized protein phosphorylation in intact lymphocytes.     

Binding of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP to renal cortical homogenates. Relationship with phosphorylation

This study examined the binding of both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP to receptor proteins in particulate and soluble subfractions of renal cortical homogenates from the golden hamster. The binding of both nucleotides was compared to subsequent effects of both nucleotides on the phosphorylation of histone from identical fractions. Cyclic AMP binding and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity predominated in the cytosol, with some binding and enzyme activity also detected in particulate fractions. Cyclic GMP and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase activity could only be demonstrated in cytosolic fractions and represented only 20-30% of cyclic AMP-dependent activity in this fraction. Binding of both nucleotides was highly specific, however, cyclic AMP showed some interaction with cyclic GMP binding. Evidence suggesting that each nucleotide interacts with a specific protein kinase was as follows: both the binding activity of the cyclic nucleotides and their combined protein kinase activity show additivity; cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP binding activity could be separated on sucrose gradients; cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP protein kinase activity could be separated with Sephadex G-100 chromatography, after preincubation of homogenate supernatants with either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP. The results demonstrate the presence of both cyclic AMP- and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in renal cortex.     

Cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinases at brain synaptic junctions.

We have examined endogenous cyclic AMP-stimulated phosphorylation of subcellular fractions of rat brain enriched in synaptic plasma membranes (SPM), purified synaptic junctions (SJ), and postsynaptic densities (PSD). The analyses of these fractions are essential to provide direct evidence for cyclic AMP-dependent endogenous phosphorylation at discrete synaptic junctional loci. Protein kinase activity was measured in subcellular fractions using both endogenous and exogenous (histones) proteins as substrates. The SJ fraction possessed the highest kinase activity toward endogenous protein substrates, 5-fold greater than SPM and approximately 120-fold greater than PSD fractions. Although the kinase activity as measured with histones as substrates was only slightly higher in SJ than SPM fractions, there was a marked preference of kinase activity toward endogenous compared to exogenous substrates in SJ fractions but in SPM fractions. Although overall phosphorylation in SJ fractions was increased only 36% by 5 micron cyclic AMP, there were discrete proteins of Mr = 85,000, 82,000, 78,000, and 55,000 which incorporated 2- to 3-fold more radioactive phosphate in the presence of cyclic AMP. Most, if not all, of the cyclic AMP-independent kinase activity is probably catalyzed by catalytic subunit derived from cyclic AMP-dependent kinase, since the phosphorylation of both exogenous and endogenous proteins was greatly decreased in the presence of a heat-stable inhibitor protein prepared from the soluble fraction of rat brain. The specific retention of SJ protein kinase(s) activity during purification and their resistance to detergent solubilization was achieved by chemical treatments which produce interprotein cross-linking via disulfide bridges. Two SJ polypeptides of Mr = 55,000 and 49,000 were photoaffinity-labeled with [32P]8-N3-cyclic AMP and probably represent the regulatory subunits of the type I and II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases. The protein of Mr = 55,000 was phosphorylated in a cyclic AMP-stimulated manner suggesting autophosphorylation as previously observed in other systems.     

Activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by epinephrine in proliferating lymphoid cells

Activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in intact lymphosarcoma cells can be promoted by epinephrine. The lymphosarcoma protein kinase is approximately 90% Isozyme I. Using the synthetic peptide PK-1 (LeuArgArgAlaSerLeuGly) as substrate for the kinase, the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was 95% of the total protein phosphotransferase activity in the cell extract. In control cells the optimum extraction buffer for preventing enzyme subunit dissociation or reassociation contained buffer (2(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid), EDTA, 2-mercaptoethanol, and charcoal. The absence of charcoal or the presence of 0.14 m KCl in the buffer promoted enzyme dissociation in the extract. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine had no effect. In extracts from epinephrine-treated cells or extracts to which purified catalytic subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was added, recovery of the total protein kinase activity was 25% of that predicted in experiments with control cells. Recovery of enzyme activity increased to 80–95% of the predicted value when 0.14 m KCl was included in the extraction buffer. Methods involving a two-buffer extraction procedure are presented as the optimum protocol for determining in vivo activation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, Isozyme I. Using these methods, epinephrine (1 μm) dissociated the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase essentially 100% in intact lymphosarcoma cells. The dissociation was apparently maintained for up to 60 min. Approximately 10–15% of the dissociated enzyme may be specifically associated with particulate cell fractions. Collectively the data emphasize the experimental difficulty inherent in determination of the extent of in vivo dissociation of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Cyclic nucleotide-stimulable protein kinases in the central nervous sytem of Manduca sexta.

Cyclic nucleotide-stimulable protein kinase (EC 1.7.1.37) has been studied in crude extracts from the central nervous system of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). The insect kinase was fulfhydryl-sensitive and required Mg-2+ for optimal activity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of supernatants demonstrated the presence of multiple kinases in the larval nerve cord. At low concentrations, cyclic AMP was a much more potent activator of soluble and particulate activities than was cyclic GMP. The specific activity of coluble kinase and the magnitude of its activations by cyclic AMP were greater in the adult than in the larval central nervous system. The exogenous protein substrate specificity of the insect enzyme was similar to that of rat brain kinase with the sole exception that protamine was more readily phosphorylated than histone by nerve cord kinase. It was observed that cyclic AMP lowered the Km of Manduca sexta kinase for ATP, a phenomenon which is apparently nervous tissue=specific in mammals. An effective inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was prepared from the larval central nervous system.     

Modulation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by vasopressin and calcitonin in cultured porcine renal LLC-PK1 cells

We have previously demonstrated that a cultured porcine kidney cell, LLC-PK(1), maintains the characteristics of a polar renal epithelial cell in culture, and responds to salmon calcitonin and [arginine]vasopressin by increasing cyclic AMP content. To demonstrate the usefulness of this cell line as a model for the study of the biochemical events distal to cyclic AMP production, the activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was examined. Intact cells in monolayer demonstrated progressive increases in cyclic AMP content and activation of protein kinase in response to [arginine]vasopressin (2-200nm) and salmon calcitonin (0.03-30nm) with both hormones fully activating the enzyme at a cell cyclic AMP content of 35pmol/mg of protein. Of the total cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity, 80% was found in the 27000g supernatant fraction of sonicated cell material, and this soluble protein kinase could be fully activated by hormone. Conversely, the 27000g pellet contained a significant proportion of cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase and only 20% of total cell cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase; the latter showed little response to hormone. On the basis of DEAE-cellulose chromatography, type II protein kinase was the predominant isoenzyme in both soluble and particulate fractions of the LLC-PK(1) cells and the soluble fractions of rat and guinea-pig renal medulla. Thus, the LLC-PK(1) cell line can serve as a model for hormonal modulation of protein kinase and as a potential source for defining the endogenous substrates for these enzymes.     

Coordinate Regulation of the Cyclic AMP System with Firing Rate and Expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase in the Rat Locus Coeruleus: Effects of Chronic Stress and Drug Treatments

Recent studies have demonstrated that chronic stress increases the firing rate and expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC), the major noradrenergic nucleus in brain. The present study was undertaken to examine the influence of chronic stress and other treatments known to influence the activity of LC neurons on the cyclic AMP (cAMP) second messenger system in these neurons. Chronic (5 days) cold exposure significantly increased levels of TH immunoreactivity in the LC, as previously reported, but not in substantia nigra (SN) or ventral tegmentum (VT), two dopaminergic nuclei studied for comparison. Chronic cold exposure increased levels of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in soluble, but not particulate, fractions of the LC, and increased basal and GTP- and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in this brain region. In contrast, levels of the protein kinase and adenylate cyclase in VT, SN, and frontal cortex were not significantly influenced by cold exposure. To study further the relationship between regulation of LC firing rate, TH expression, and the cAMP system in the LC, other treatments known to influence TH were examined. Reserpine treatment, shown previously to increase levels of TH, was found to increase both LC firing rate and levels of soluble cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in the LC. 6-Hydroxydopamine, shown previously to increase levels of TH and firing rate of LC neurons, also increased soluble levels of protein kinase activity. Other treatments known to either increase (adrenalectomy) or decrease (chronic imipramine) levels of TH in the LC were also found to increase or decrease, respectively, levels of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in this brain region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Regulation by chronic clonidine of adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the rat locus coeruleus

Clonidine and morphine are known to produce tolerance and dependence in rat locus coeruleus (LC) neurons after chronic administration based on electrophysiological criteria. Previous studies have shown that morphine tolerance and dependence is associated with increases in levels of adenylate cyclase, pertussis toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation of G-proteins, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in this brain region. The present study was aimed at investigating whether clonidine tolerance and dependence is also associated with alterations in these intracellular messengers. It was found that, similar to chronic morphine, chronic (2 weeks) clonidine administration, under conditions that produce electrophysiological evidence of tolerance and dependence in LC neurons, increased levels of adenylate cyclase activity and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in this brain region, but not in several other regions studied, which included the frontal cortex, neostriatum, and dorsal raphe. However, the changes induced by chronic clonidine in the LC, at maximal doses and duration of treatment, were only approximately 50% in magnitude of those observed in response to morphine. Unlike chronic morphine, chronic clonidine produced no change in G-protein ADP-ribosylation levels in the LC. Chronic administration of a number of other drugs, namely diazepam, chloral hydrate, and dextromethorphan, which produce electrophysiological actions distinct from those of clonidine and morphine in the LC, failed to alter adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in this brain region. The results indicate that increased levels of adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase represent common adaptations by LC neurons to chronic clonidine and morphine, and raise the possibility that such changes contribute to the development of clonidine and morphine tolerance and dependence in these neurons.     

Ca2+ and Phospholipid-Dependent Protein Kinase Activity and Phosphorylation of Endogenous Proteins in Bovine Adrenal Medulla

Abstract: Soluble and membrane fractions of bovine adrenal medulla contain several substrates for the Ca²⁺/ phospholipid-dependent and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases. The phosphorylation of soluble proteins (36 and 17.7 kilodaltons) and a membrane protein (22.5 kilo-daltons) showed an absolute requirement for the presence of both Ca²⁺ and phosphatidylserine; other substrates showed less stringent phosphorylation requirements and many of these proteins were specific for each of the protein kinases. The Ca²⁺/phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation was rapid, with effects seen as early as at 30 s of incubation. Measurement of enzyme activities with histone HI as an exogenous substrate demonstrated that the Ca²⁺/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase was equally distributed between the soluble and membrane fractions whereas the cyclic AMP-dependent enzyme was predominantly membrane-bound in adrenal medulla and chromaffin cells. The activity of the soluble Ca²⁺/phos-pholipid-dependent protein kinase of adrenal medulla was found to be about 50% of the enzyme level present in rat brain, a tissue previously shown to contain a very high enzyme activity. These results suggest a prominent role for the Ca²⁺/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase in chromaffin cell function.     

Effect of epinephrine and insulin on adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate--dependent protein kinase in human skeletal muscle in vivo.

Cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase has beeen identified in human skeletal muscle tissue. In crude muscle extracts the enzyme was 3--5 fold activated by cyclic AMP. The cyclic AMP-dependent activity (corresponding to the inactive holoenzyme) was completely inhibited by the heat stable inhibitor of protein kinase. Reciprocal changes of the cyclic AMP-dependent activity in skeletal muscle were observed after administration of epinephrine and insulin in vivo. Infusion of epinephrine in healthy volunteers increased the level of cyclic AMP and decreased the activity of the cyclic AMP-depenent form (i.e. the inactive form) of protein kinase. These changes were reversible after cessation of epinephrine administration. The results are consistent with an activation of protein kinase in vivo due to an epinephrine mediated increase of the concentration of cyclic AMP. I.v. injection of insulin had the opposite effect on the enzyme in skeletal muscle, leading to increased activity of the cyclic AMP-dependent form of protein kinase. Insulin had no effect on the level of cyclic AMP, but promoted a transient increase of cyclic GMP 1 min. after insulin injection. The effect by insulin on protein kinase cannot be related to the level of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP.     

Chronic Administration of Lithium or Other Antidepressants Increases Levels of DARPP-32 in Rat Frontal Cortex

Abstract: We studied the chronic actions of lithium on rat brain by investigating its effects on cyclic AMP-dependent protein phos-phorylation by use of a back-phosphorylation procedure. We identified one heavily regulated phosphoprotein in frontal cortex as the 32-kDa dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32). Immunoblot experiments demonstrated that chronic lithium regulation of DARPP-32 back-phosphorylation is associated with equivalent increases in levels of DARPP-32 immunoreactivity. Lithium regulation of DARPP-32 immunoreactivity required chronic drug administration and was not observed in several other brain regions examined. Moreover, chronic administration of the antidepressant imipramine or tranylcypromine produced a similar increase in levels of DARPP-32 in frontal cortex, whereas other types of psychotropic drugs, including haloperidol. morphine, and cocaine, did not influence DARPP-32 levels. Increased levels of DARPP-32 could reflect a common functional effect on frontal cortex of long-term exposure to lithium and some other antidepressant medications, an effect possibly related to the clinical actions of these drugs.     

Alterations in activities of cyclic nucleotide systems and in beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase during progression and regression of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Initial and transient increases in the basal levels of cyclic GMP in the heart were noted prior to cardiac hypertrophy in rats administered isoproterenol. Increased levels of cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase (in both the soluble and particulate fractions) and stimulatory modulator of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, however, were associated with the progression, or the state, of cardiomegaly, with their levels returning to the control values upon regression of the hypertrophy. The levels of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase in the soluble fraction were lower, whereas those in the particulate fraction were higher, in the hypertrophied heart than the control. In cardiac hypertrophy, the maximal activity ratio(--cyclic AMP/+cyclic AMP) of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the incubated minced heart caused by isoproterenol was lower, whereas the concentration of isoproterenol required to increase the activity ratio half-maximally was higher than controls; the reduced responsiveness to the drug, however, was reversed when the hypertrophy regressed. These observations, taken collectively, appear to suggest that the desensitization of the beta-adrenergic mechanism seen in the cardiac hypertrophy produced by repeated administration of isoproterenol is associated with adaptive modifications in certain parameters of the cyclic nucleotide systems.     

Localization of catalytic and regulatory subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases in mitochondria from various rat tissues.

Observation and quantification of the catalytic subunit C of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases by immuno-gold electron microscopy suggested a high concentration of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases in mitochondria from liver, kidney, heart and skeletal muscle, pancreas, parotid gland and brain cells. The position of gold particles pointed to a localization in the inner membrane/matrix space. A similar distribution was obtained by immunolocalization of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunits RI and RII in liver, pancreas and heart cells. The results indicated the presence of both the type I and the type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases in mitochondria of hepatocytes, and the preferential occurrence of the type I protein kinase in mitochondria from exocrine pancreas and heart muscle. The immunocytochemical results were confirmed by immunochemical determination of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase subunits in fractionated tissues. Determinations by e.l.i.s.a. of the C-subunit in parotid gland cell fractions indicated about a 4-fold higher concentration of C-subunit in the mitochondria than in a crude 1200 g supernatant. Immunoblot analysis of subfractions from liver mitochondria supported the localization in situ of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases in the inner membrane/matrix space and suggested that the type I enzyme is anchored by its regulatory subunit to the inner membrane. In accordance with the immunoblot data, the specific activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase measured in the matrix fraction was about twice that measured in whole mitochondria. These findings indicate the importance of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases in the regulation of mitochondrial functions.     

Concentrations of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase subunits in various tissues.

The concentrations of the regulatory (R) and catalytic (C) subunits of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase(s) were measured in extracts of skeletal muscle, heart, liver, kidney, and brain. These concentrations were also estimated for the particulate fraction from brain, the only tissue in which a major part of the total activity was not readily extracted in a soluble form. Values for R were determined by measuring the amount of cyclic [3H]amp bound to protein in these tissue fractions under specified conditions; it was assumed that 1 mol of cyclic AMP binds to 1 mol of R. Values for C were determined from measurements of the specific protein kinase activity of the fractions utilizing the turnover number of pure C in the calculations. Turnover numbers for C were found to be identical for this subunit obtained in the pure form from rabbit skeletal muscle, rabbit liver, and beef heart. The methods used for measuring C were evaluated by kinetic studies and through the use of the specific heatstable protein inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase(s). R and C were found to exist in a 1:1 molar ratio in all of the tissue fractions that were studied. the absolute concentrations of R and C ranged from 0.23 mumol/kg wet weight for liver to 0.78 mumol/kg wet weight for brain. For brain this value was based on the amount of each subunit in the particulate as well as the soluble fraction. For other tissues the values were based solely on the subunit content of the latter fraction. It was noted that the molar concentrations of R are close to those of cyclic AMP under basal conditions in the various tissues.     

Identification of type III protein kinase C in bovine aortic tissue

We identified a subtype of protein kinase C in bovine aortic tissue. In Western blots, both the soluble and the particulate fractions from the aorta reacted only with MC-3a. In the case of hydroxylapatite column chromatography, a single activity peak of protein kinase C from the soluble and the particulate fractions was obtained with about 140 mM of potassium phosphate, a finding similar to that with the Type III protein kinase C from rabbit brain. The sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay for protein kinase C, with which the contents of each protein kinase C isozyme can be determined in the crude extracts, revealed that the Type III bovine aortic protein kinase C included 25.9 ng/mg protein. These results strongly suggest that it is the Type III protein kinase C which is mainly expressed in aortic tissue. Kinetic parameters of the Type III protein kinase C of the soluble and the particulate fractions, with respect to the Km for ATP, were 33 and 15 microM and the Km values for myosin light chain from chicken gizzard were 6.3 and 4.6 microM, respectively.     

Phosphorylation of rat brain calmodulin in vivo and in vitro

After injection of [32p]orthophosphate into the third ventricle of rat brain, calmodulin(CaM) was prepared from soluble(S2) and particulate(P2) fractions of the whole brain and analyzed by SDS-PAGE in the presence or absence of Ca2+ followed by autoradiography. CaM from both fractions(S2 and P2) was significantly phosphorylated by endogenous protein kinase(s) of rat brain. The incorporation of radioactive phosphate into membrane-bound CaM from the P2 fraction was much higher than that of soluble CaM from the S2 fraction. CaM was phosphorylated in vitro by casein kinase 2 but not by casein kinase 1 or by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, suggesting that casein kinase 2 may be, at least in part, responsible for the phosphorylation of CaM even in vivo.     

Alterations in activities of cyclic nucleotide systems and in β-adrenergic receptor-mediated activation of cyclic amp-dependent protein kinase during progression and regression of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy

Initial and transient increases in the basal levels of cyclic GMP in the heart were noted prior to cardiac hypertrophy in rats administered isoprotenol. Increased levels of cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase (in both the soluble and particulate fractions) and stimulatory modulator of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase, however, were associated with the progression, or the state, of cardiomegaly, with their levels returning to the control values upon regression of the hypertrophy. The levels of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase in the soluble fraction were lower, whereas those in the particulate fraction were higher, in the hypertrophied heart than the control. In cardiac hypertrophy, the maximal activity ratio (?cyclic AMP/+cyclic AMP) of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the incubated minced heart caused by isoproterenol was lower, whereas the concentration of isoproterenol required to increase the activit ratio half-maximally was higher than controls; The reduced responsiveness to the drug, however, was reversed when the hypertrophy regressed. These observations, taken collectively, appear to suggest that the desensitization of the β-adrenergic mechanism seen in the cardiac hypertrophy produced by repeated administration of isoproterenol is associated with adaptive modifications in certain parameters of the cyclic nucleotide systems.     

Regulation of rat brain (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity by cyclic AMP

The interaction between the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase and the adenylate cyclase enzyme systems was examined. Cyclic AMP, but not 5'-AMP, cyclic GMP or 5'-GMP, could inhibit the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase enzyme present in crude rat brain plasma membranes. On the other hand, the cyclic AMP inhibition could not be observed with purified preparations of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase enzyme. Rat brain synaptosomal membranes were prepared and treated with either NaCl or cyclic AMP plus NaCl as described by Corbin, J., Sugden, P., Lincoln, T. and Keely, S. ((1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 3854-3861). This resulted in the dissociation and removal of the catalytic subunit of a membrane-bound cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The decrease in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was accompanied by an increase in (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity. Exposure of synaptosomal membranes containing the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme to a specific cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor resulted in an increase in (Na+ +K+)-ATPase enzyme activity. Synaptosomal membranes lacking the catalytic subunit of the cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase did not show this effect. Reconstitution of the solubilized membrane-bound cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, in the presence of a neuronal membrane substrate protein for the activated protein kinase, with a purified preparation of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase, resulted in a decrease in overall (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity in the presence of cyclic AMP. Reconstitution of the protein kinase alone or the substrate protein alone, with the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase has no effect on (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity in the absence or presence of cyclic AMP. Preliminary experiments indicate that, when the activated protein kinase and the substrate protein were reconstituted with the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase enzyme, there appeared to be a decrease in the Na+-dependent phosphorylation of the Na+-ATPase enzyme, while the K+-dependent dephosphorylation of the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase was unaffected.