Effect of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase on the genetic activity of eukaryotic cells.

Abstract

The effect of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase from pig brain on the protein synthesis in normal (3T3) and virus-transformed (SV40-3T3) cells was studied. The regulatory subunit was found to induce a specific synthesis of new proteins; the direct and first response of 3T3 cells to the introduction of the regulatory subunit being the synthesis of the protein P-15. The molecular weight of the protein was 15 000, the isoelectric point 6.3. The electrophoretic analysis of the cytosol of SV40-3T3 cells demonstrated a general derepression of the genome of the virus-transformed cells. A protein identical with P-15 was detected to be present in SV40-3T3 cells. The treatment of these cells with the regulatory subunit as well as with cAM P separately did not affect the synthesis of P-15, whereas the introduction of the cAM P-regulatory subunit complex caused a significant expression of the protein P-15. The data obtained indicate that the protein synthesis is dependent on the nuclear translocation of the regulatory subunit.