CAMP Induces Phosphorylation of a 40-kDa Nuclear Protein Which Is Distinct from CREB during Chondrogenesis of Chick Limb Bud Mesenchymal Cells in Vitro

Abstract

We examined the effect of cAMP on the phosphorylation of intracellular proteins in cultured chondroblasts to understand the stimulatory role of intracellular cAMP in chondrogenesis of chick limb bud mesenchymal cells. A 40-kDa protein was remarkably phosphorylated by cAMP and the phosphorylation was completely blocked by an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The phosphorylation of the 40-kDa protein was maximum at early stage of chondrogenesis (i.e., 24 hr of culture) which is consistent with the changes in the level of intracellular cAMP. The 40-kDa phosphoprotein was exclusively located in the nuclear parts of chondroblast but distinct from cAMP response element binding protein.