Chicken Gizzard Myosin Light Chain Research Articles

Isoforms of the small non-catalytic subunit of smooth muscle myosin light chain phosphatase

Chicken gizzard smooth muscle myosin light chain phosphatase is composed of a ∼37 kDa catalytic subunit, a ∼110 kDa myosin binding or targeting subunit and a ∼20 kDa subunit (MPs) whose function is as yet undefined. It was reported previously that a cloned chicken gizzard MPs cDNA encodes a protein of 186 amino acids (aa) [Y.H. Chen, M.X. Chen, D.R. Alessi, D.G. Gampbell, C. Shanahan, P. Cohen, P.T.W. Cohen, FEBS Lett. 356 (1994) 51–55]. More recently, we obtained by PCR amplification another MPs cDNA that encodes a protein of only 161 aa [Y. Zhang, K. Mabuchi, T. Tao, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1343 (1997) 51–58]. In this work we obtained cDNAs corresponding to both sequences using a different set of PCR primers, indicating that the two sequences correspond to isoforms that most likely arose from alternative splicing of the same gene. Using two polyclonal antibodies, one raised against the recombinant 161 aa isoform of chicken gizzard MPs and the other against a C-terminal polypeptide that is present only in the 186 aa isoform, we found that while the 161 aa isoform is the predominant one in chicken gizzard, in chicken aorta it is the 186 aa one; in chicken stomach both isoforms are present, and in mammalian tissues such as ferret and rat only the 186 aa isoform is detected. Furthermore, we purified the MPs associated with the chicken gizzard myosin light chain phosphatase holoenzyme and determined its molecular weight, amino acid composition and six residues of its C-terminal sequence. The results from these analyses showed conclusively that the predominant isoform in chicken gizzard is the 161 aa one.

Inhibition of eukaryote protein kinases and of a cyclic nucleotide-binding phosphatase by prenylated xanthones

A series of prenylated xanthones are variously potent inhibitors of the catalytic subunit (cAK) of rat liver cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), rat brain Ca 2+and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PKC), chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), wheat embryo Ca 2+-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) and potato tuber cyclic nucleotide-binding phosphatase (Pase). The prenylated xanthones examined are mostly derivatives of α-mangostin in which the 3-hydroxyl and 6-hydroxyl are variously substituted with groups R or R′, respectively, or derivatives of 3-isomangostin (mangostanol) in which the 9-hydroxyl is substituted with groups R′ or the prenyl side chain is modified. The most potent inhibitors of cAK have non-protonatable and relatively small R′ and R groups. Conversely, the most potent inhibitors of PKC and MLCK have bulkier and basic R′ groups. Some prenylated xanthones are also potent inhibitors of CDPK. PKC and cAK are competitively inhibited by particular prenylated xanthones whereas the compounds that are the most potent inhibitors of MLCK and CDPK are non-competitive inhibitors. Prenylated xanthones having relatively small and non-protonatable R′ and R groups inhibit a high-affinity cyclic nucleotide binding Pase in a non-competitive fashion.

Phosphorylation of Calmodulin by Myosin Light Chain Kinase Is Altered by Exchange or Duplication of EF-Hand Pairs

We have previously demonstrated that under certain conditions, myosin light chain kinase can phosphorylate its activator, calmodulin. In this study we show that myosin light chain kinase from chicken gizzard can phosphorylate recombinant calmodulins in which the EF-hand pairs (Ca2+-binding domains) are duplicated or exchanged. Three mutants were used CaMNN (the amino-terminal EF-hand pair is duplicated), CaMCC (the carboxy-terminal EF-hand pair is duplicated) and CaMCN (the carboxy- and amino-terminal EF-hand pairs are switched). Myosin light chain kinase phosphorylated CaMNN and CaMCN to a greater extent than wild-type CaM but did not phosphorylate CaMCC. While CaMCC is a competitive inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of myosin light chains, it did not prevent the phosphorylation of native calmodulin under the conditions employed in these studies. These data suggest that, although the carboxy- and amino-terminal EF-hand pairs are similar, their orientation can be distinguished by chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase.

Activation of chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase by Ca2+/calmodulin is inhibited by autophosphorylation.

Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is a calmodulin-dependent protein kinase which phosphorylates the 20,000 dalton regulatory light chain of myosin II. Here we show that activation of chicken gizzard MLCK by Ca2+/ calmodulin is inhibited by autophosphorylation at 2 sites in the absence of Ca2+/calmodulin. Two phosphorylation sites are located in the functional domain of the kinase, the threonine site toward the actin binding domain near the N-terminus of MLCK and the serine site in immediate proximity to the calmodulin binding site. The autophosphorylation was significantly inhibited by the binding of calmodulin to MLCK in the presence of Ca2+.

Selective inhibition of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by isoquinoline derivatives.

A large series of isoquinoline derivatives was synthesised including derivatives of isoquinoline, isoquinolino[3,4-c]furazan, 1,2-dihydro-1-oxoisoquinoline, 6-oxopyrimido[1,2-d]isoquinoline, benzo[c][1,8]-naphthyridine, pyrazino[2,3-c]isoquinoline and benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline as well as further structurally related isoquinoline derivatives and pyrido-2,3-furazans. Representatives of all of these classes of isoquinolines are potent and selective inhibitors of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) catalytic subunit (cAK) from rat liver. The most effective cAK inhibitors are a series of 1,3-di-substituted and 1,3,4-tri-substituted isoquinolines (IC50 values 30-50 nM) (compounds A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5) and 2-ethylcarboxy-3-amino-5,6-dihydro-6-oxobenzo[c] [1,8]naphthyridine (E1) (IC50 0.08 microM). Compounds A1-A5 inhibit cAK in a fashion that is competitive with respect to ATP as substrate. The isoquinoline inhibitors A1-A5 are ineffective or very poor inhibitors of wheat embryo Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) and rat brain Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C (PKC), chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and potato tuber cyclic nucleotide-binding phosphatase (Pase). E1 is a moderately effective inhibitor of CDPK and PKC (IC50 values 30 and 61 microM, respectively). The bisisoquinoline-1(2H)-one compound B7 inhibits cAK, CDPK, PKC and MLCK (IC50 values 8, 95, 24 and 7 microM, respectively) as does J1 [2-(p-bromophenyl)pyrrolo-[2,3-c]isoquinoline-5(4H)-one] (IC50 values 2, 50, 44 and 7 microM, respectively). The very potent isoquinoline-derived cAK inhibitors found here involve substitution of the N-containing isoquinoline ring system and these inhibitors show high specificity for cAK.

Heterogeneity of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase Characterization of isoelectric variants

Purified chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) analyzed by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be consistently resolved into three well separated peaks, termed α, β, γ. These peaks are shown to correspond to differently charged forms of MLCK with the charge difference between α and β twice as large as between β and γ. The isoelectric point and elution position of the peaks as well as their amplitudes are modified by phosphorylation or by autophosphorylation of MLCK suggesting that the observed charge differences are related to their different phosphate content. The three forms appear to have similar apparent affinity for both the substrates, ATP and the isolated regulatory light chain, but their specific activities are different.

The MgATP-binding site on chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase remains open and functionally competent during the calmodulin-dependent activation-inactivation cycle of the enzyme.

An ATP-like affinity labeling reagent, 5'-[p-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl]adenosine (FSBA), was used to probe the MgATP-binding site of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase from chicken gizzard (smMLCK) and its calmodulin (CaM) complex. Native smMLCK has an absolute requirement for the binding of the calcium complex of CaM for expression of its catalytic activity. FSBA reacted with smMLCK-CaM and with the CaM-free, inactive enzyme as well. Both reactions were dependent on time and FSBA concentration. Reaction was accompanied by the incorporation of covalently bound [14C]FSBA into smMLCK protein at a molar ratio of approximately 1:1 in each case. p-(Fluorosulfonyl)benzoic acid, an analogue of FSBA lacking the adenosine targeting group, did not react at a significant rate with either form of smMLCK. Reaction of CaM-free and CaM-bound smMLCK with FSBA displayed saturation kinetics. The first-order rate constants for the conversion of the reversible, noncovalent enzyme-FSBA complex to form the irreversibly inhibited, covalently modified enzyme were similar for both smMLCK and smMLCK-CaM, 0.15 and 0.07 min-1, respectively. The concentrations of FSBA yielding the half-maximal rate of inactivation, KI, were essentially identical--0.65 and 0.64 mM, respectively--for smMLCK and smMLCK-CaM. MgATP, but not MgGTP or a substrate peptide, potently inhibited reaction with FSBA. Inhibition by MgATP was competitive. The measured inhibitory constant for MgATP was essentially the same--33 versus 34 microM--for both smMLCK and smMLCK-CaM. It therefore is concluded that the MgATP-binding site on smMLCK remains accessible and recognizable as such when the enzyme becomes inactivated upon dissociation of CaM.

Effects of phosphorylation by myosin light chain kinase on the structure of Limulus thick filaments.

The results discussed in the preceding paper (Levine, R. J. C., J. L. Woodhead, and H. A. King. 1991. J. Cell Biol. 113:563-572.) indicate that A-band shortening in Limulus muscle is a thick filament response to activation that occurs largely by fragmentation of filament ends. To assess the effect of biochemical changes directly associated with activation on the length and structure of thick filaments from Limulus telson muscle, a dually regulated tissue (Lehman, W., J. Kendrick-Jones, and A. G. Szent Gyorgyi. 1973. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 37:319-330.) we have examined the thick filament response to phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chains. In agreement with the previous work of J. Sellers (1981. J. Biol. Chem. 256:9274-9278), Limulus myosin, incubated with partially purified chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and [gamma 32P]-ATP, binds 2 mol phosphate/mole protein. On autoradiographs of SDS-PAGE, the label is restricted to the two regulatory light chains, LC1 and LC2. Incubation of long (greater than or equal to 4.0 microns) thick filaments, separated from Limulus telson muscle under relaxing conditions, with either intact MLCK in the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin, or Ca2(+)-independent MLCK obtained by brief chymotryptic digestion (Walsh, M. P., R. Dabrowska, S. Hinkins, and D. J. Hartshorne. 1982. Biochemistry. 21:1919-1925), causes significant changes in their structure. These include: disordering of the helical surface arrangement of myosin heads as they move away from the filament backbone; the presence of distal bends and breaks, with loss of some surface myosin molecules, in each polar filament half; and the production of shorter filaments and end-fragments. The latter structures are similar to those produced by Ca2(+)-activation of skinned fibers (Levine, R. J. C., J. L. Woodhead, and H. A. King. J. Cell Biol. 113:563-572). Rinsing experimental filament preparations with relaxing solution before staining restores some degree of order of the helical surface array, but not filament length. We propose that outward movement of myosin heads and thick filament shortening in Limulus muscle are responses to activation that are dependent on phosphorylation of regulatory myosin light chains. Filament shortening may be due, in large part, to breakage at the filament ends.

KN-62, 1-[N,O-bis(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-N-methyl-L-tyrosyl]-4-phenylpiperazi ne, a specific inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.

1-[N,O-Bis(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-N-methyl-L-tyrosyl]-4-phenylpipera zine (KN-62), a selective inhibitor of rat brain Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca2+/CaM kinase II) was synthesized and its inhibitory properties in vitro and in vivo were investigated. KN-62 inhibited phosphorylation of exogenous substrate (chicken gizzard myosin 20-kDa light chain) by Ca2+/CaM kinase II with Ki value of 0.9 microM, but no significant effect up to 100 microM on activities of chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase, rabbit brain protein kinase C, and bovine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II. KN-62 also inhibited the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent autophosphorylation of both alpha (50 kDa) and beta (60 kDa) subunits of Ca2+/CaM kinase II dose dependently in the presence or absence of exogenous substrate. Kinetic analysis indicated that this inhibitory effect of KN-62 was competitive with respect to calmodulin. However, KN-62 did not inhibit the activity of autophosphorylated Ca2+/CaM kinase II. Moreover, Ca2+/CaM kinase II bound to a KN-62-coupled Sepharose 4B column, but calmodulin did not. These results suggest that KN-62 affects the interaction between calmodulin and Ca2+/CaM kinase II following inhibition of this kinase activity by directly binding to the calmodulin binding site of the enzyme but does not affect the calmodulin-independent activity of already autophosphorylated (activated) enzyme. We examined the effect of KN-62 on cultured PC12 D pheochromocytoma cells. KN-62 suppressed the A23187 (0.5 microM)-induced autophosphorylation of the 53-kDa subunit of Ca2+/CaM kinase in PC12 D cells, which was immunoprecipitated with anti-rat forebrain Ca2+/CaM kinase II polypeptides antibodies coupled to Sepharose 4B, thereby suggesting that KN-62 could inhibit the Ca2+/CaM kinase II activity in vivo.

Regulatory and structural motifs of chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase.

The amino acid sequence for chicken smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) was deduced from a full-length cDNA. This has allowed definition of both the complete sequence of the inactive 64-kDa proteolytic fragment, which contains the pseudosubstrate autoregulatory sequence, and of the active 61-kDa Ca2+/calmodulin-independent fragment, which lacks the autoregulatory domain. Comparison of the two sequences shows that the autoregulatory domain extends from Asn-780 to Arg-808. The peptide Leu-774 to Ser-787 does not inhibit smMLCK, whereas peptides of similar or shorter length from the pseudosubstrate region (Ser-787 to Val-807) are potent inhibitors. These data define the autoregulatory region as being contained within and probably identical to the pseudosubstrate domain. The catalytic and regulatory regions are flanked by several copies of 100-amino acid segments containing one of two consensus motifs. These motifs are absent from mammalian skeletal muscle MLCK or from Dictyostelium discoideum MLCK but are present in the Caenorhabditis elegans unc-22 gene product and the titin molecule of skeletal muscle myofibrils. These results indicate that the amino acid sequence of smMLCK encodes multiple functional motifs in addition to the catalytic domain.

Detection of a Calcium-Activated Protein Kinase in Mougeotia by Using Synthetic Peptide Substrates

By using a synthetic peptide, KM-14, a protein kinase was detected and partially purified from Mougeotia sp. The peptide contains the sequence of the regulatory light chain of smooth muscle myosin that is phosphorylated by calcium-calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). The Mougeotia kinase was stimulated 40-fold by calcium with half-maximal stimulation occurring at 1.5 micromolar. The enzyme was fractionated from calmodulin and was depleted of calmodulin based on enzyme activator analysis. The calmodulin-depleted enzyme was fully active and calcium dependent, and was not stimulated further by exogenous calmodulin nor by the calcium effectors phosphatidylserine and diacylglycerol. The enzyme phosphorylated intact chicken gizzard myosin light chain as well as the KM-14 substrate. KM-13, a peptide analog of KM-14 with a deletion of a glutamine at position 5, was a poor substrate with a V(max)/K(m) ratio 200-fold lower than KM-14. Thus, similarly to vertebrate MLCK, the Mougeotia enzyme is very sensitive to changes in sequence surrounding the phosphorylation site. Calcium-dependent KM-14 kinase activity also was detected in two other algae, Mesotaenium caldariorum and Spirogyra sp., as well as in pea seedlings. The data suggest that plant and algal tissues possess an enzyme with a substrate specificity similar to MLCK, but unlike MLCK, does not appear to require calmodulin for activity.

Anti-Gizzard MLCK Monoclonal Antibody MM13 Inhibits Superprecipitation and Phosphorylation of Bovine Aortic Smooth Muscle Actomyosin1

We prepared monoclonal antibodies directed against chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and used them to study the contractile system of aortic smooth muscle. One monoclonal antibody, MM13, dose dependently inhibited actomyosin superprecipitation of bovine aortic smooth muscle, in accord with the suppression of 20 kDa myosin light chain phosphorylation by endogenous kinase. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that MM13 cross-reacted with the 150,000 Mr peptide of bovine aortic actomyosin preparation. The bovine aortic MLCK was purified approximately 2,400-fold to apparent homogeneity by three steps of column chromatography. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 150,000 and a slower mobility than chicken gizzard MLCK (130,000 Mr), as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. MM13 also cross-reacted with purified bovine aortic MLCK and inhibited the kinase activity, in vitro. We interpret these findings to mean that binding of the anti-gizzard MLCK monoclonal antibody directly to aortic smooth muscle MLCK (150,000 Mr) decreases the phosphorylation of the 20 kDa myosin light chain, thus suppressing the aortic smooth muscle myosin-actin interaction.

Two isoforms of smooth muscle myosin regulatory light chain in chicken gizzard.

We isolated a cDNA clone for a new isoform of chicken smooth muscle myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) from a cDNA library of embryonic chicken gizzard. The deduced amino acid sequence was different in 10 amino acid residues from the previously reported polypeptide sequences of chicken gizzard MRLC. The in vitro transcription/translation product from the cDNA comigrated with a minor isoform of chicken gizzard MRLC (L20-B) in a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. This isoform was detected only in the embryonic gizzard and was slightly more acidic than the predominant isoform (L20-A). The partial polypeptide sequence of L20-A was confirmed to be identical to the previously reported MRLC sequence. Nevertheless, Northern blot analysis showed that L20-B-related mRNAs were present in both the embryonic and adult gizzard. Non-denaturing pyrophosphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the in vitro transcription/translation product could be associated with native myosin when mixed and coprecipitated in a low-ionic-strength buffer with adult chicken gizzard myosin. Moreover, the coprecipitated translation product was phosphorylated in vitro by chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase apparently more rapidly than L20-A on the native myosin heavy chain. From these findings, we concluded that at least two isoforms of smooth muscle MRLC exist in chicken gizzard and that their expression may be regulated translationally depending on the developmental stage.

Minimum requirements for inhibition of smooth-muscle myosin light-chain kinase by synthetic peptides.

Although the amino acid residues that are important for peptide substrates of myosin light-chain kinase have been reported, those that are important for peptide inhibitors of this enzyme have not previously been investigated. Synthetic peptides based on the sequence Lys11-Lys12-Arg13-Ala-Ala-Arg16-Ala-Thr-Ser19 -Asn-Val21-Phe22-Ala of the chicken gizzard myosin light chain were tested as inhibitors of pig carotid-artery myosin light-chain kinase. The basic amino acid residues of the known myosin light-chain kinase inhibitor Lys-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala-Thr-Ser-NH2 (IC50 = 14 microM) [Pearson, Misconi & Kemp (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 25-27] were shown to be the important residues that contribute to inhibitor potency, as evidence by the finding that the hexapeptide Lys-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg-NH2 had an IC50 value of 22 microM. This indicates that binding of the phosphorylatable serine residue to myosin light-chain kinase, which is of obvious importance for a substrate, does not enhance the potency of an inhibitor. With the aim of preparing more potent inhibitors, peptides Lys-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala-Ala-Xaa-NH2 were prepared with a variety of amino acids substituted for the phosphorylatable serine residue. None of these peptides was a more potent inhibitor than the serine peptide.

Domain organization of chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase deduced from a cloned cDNA

Myosin light chain kinases (MLCK) are the most studied of the calmodulin-activated enzymes; however, minimal sequence information is available for the smooth muscle form of the enzyme. The production of an antibody against the enzyme and the use of expression vectors for constructing cDNA libraries have facilitated the isolation of a cDNA for this kinase. The derived amino sequence was found to contain a region of high homology (54%) to the rabbit skeletal muscle enzyme and also very significant homology (35%) to the catalytic subunit of phosphorylase b kinase and cGMP-dependent protein kinase. All of these homologies were found in the known catalytic domains of these enzyme, thus enabling us to predict the location of the catalytic domain for the chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase. Within the catalytic domain a consensus sequence for an ATP-binding site was located. Subcloning and expression of different regions of the cDNA defined a 192 base pair fragment coding for the calmodulin-binding domain of MLCK. Both of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation sites were identified by sequence homology. A linear model for MLCK is presented placing the various domains in relative position. Northern blot analysis and S1 protection and mapping experiments have revealed that the mRNA for MLCK is 5.5 kilobases in length, but there also exists a second mRNA of 2.7 kilobases that shares a high degree of homology with about 520 base pairs at the 3' end of the cDNA for MLCK.

Tryptic digestion of myosin light chain kinase produces an inactive fragment that is activated on continued digestion

Trypsin digestion of chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase at limiting trypsin concentrations proceeds in stages. In the first stage, catalytic activity in the presence or absence of calcium and calmodulin decreases. In the second stage, activity in the absence of calcium increases, and the calcium-calmodulin complex no longer stimulates activity. The initial loss of activity is associated with the appearance of a 59,000-Da peptide that has been isolated and shown to have low catalytic activity. This peptide was further digested to a 55,000-Da peptide that has calcium-independent catalytic activity. This peptide has been isolated, and its affinities for the peptide substrate Kemptamide (LysLysArgProGlnArgAlaThr SerAsnValPheSerNH 2) and ATP have been shown to be the same as those of the intact enzyme. Neither the 59,000-Da nor the 55,000-Da fragment binds calmodulin.

Purification and characterization of a multifunctional calmodulin-dependent protein kinase from canine myocardial cytosol

A calmodulin-dependent protein kinase from canine myocardial cytosol was purified 1150-fold to apparent homogeneity with a 1.5% yield. The purified enzyme had a M r of 550,000 with a sedimentation coefficient of 16.6 S, and showed a single protein band with a M r of 55,000 (55K protein), determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 1.6 μmol/mg protein/min, and K a values of 67 nM and 1.1 μM for calmodulin and Ca 2+, respectively, using chicken gizzard myosin light chain as substrate. Calmodulin bound to the 55K protein. The purified enzyme had a broad substrate specificity. Endogenous proteins including glycogen synthase, phospholamban, and troponin I from the canine heart were phosphorylated by the enzyme. These results suggest that the purified enzyme works as a multifunctional protein kinase in the Ca 2+, calmodulin-dependent cellular functions of the canine myocardium, and that the enzyme resembles enzymes detected in the brain, liver, and skeletal muscle.

Calmodulin binding domains: characterization of a phosphorylation and calmodulin binding site from myosin light chain kinase.

A protein kinase phosphorylation site in chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) has been identified, and a synthetic peptide analogue of this site has been shown to be a high-affinity calmodulin binding peptide as well as a substrate for cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylation of the site in MLCK is diminished when reactions are done in the presence of calmodulin. A fragment of MLCK containing the phosphorylation site was shown to have the amino acid sequence Ala-Arg-Arg-Lys-Trp-Gln-Lys-Thr-Gly-His-Ala-Val-Arg-Ala-Ile-Gly-Arg-Leu- Ser-Ser. The interaction of calmodulin with a synthetic peptide based on this sequence was characterized by using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopies and inhibition of calmodulin activation of MLCK. The peptide-calmodulin complex had an estimated dissociation constant in the range of 1 nM, underwent spectroscopic changes in the presence of calmodulin consistent with the induction of an alpha-helical structure, and interacted with calmodulin with an apparent 1:1 stoichiometry. Studies with other synthetic peptide analogues indicated that the phosphorylation of the serine residues diminished the ability of the peptide to interact with calmodulin even though the serines are not required for calmodulin binding. On the basis of the primary and secondary structural characteristics of these peptide analogues, a potential calmodulin binding region in another calmodulin binding protein, the gamma subunit of rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase, was identified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dephosphorylation of myosin by the catalytic subunit of a type-2 phosphatase produces relaxation of chemically skinned uterine smooth muscle.

It is now well-established that phosphorylation of the 20,000-dalton light chain of smooth muscle myosin (LC20) is a prerequisite for muscle contraction. However, the relationship between myosin dephosphorylation and muscle relaxation remains controversial. In the present study, we utilized a highly purified catalytic subunit of a type-2, skeletal muscle phosphoprotein phosphatase (protein phosphatase 2A) and a glycerinated smooth muscle preparation to determine if myosin dephosphorylation, in the presence of saturating calcium and calmodulin, would cause relaxation of contracted uterine smooth muscle. Addition of the phosphatase catalytic subunit (0.28 microM) to the muscle bath produced complete relaxation of the muscle. The phosphatase-induced relaxation could be reversed by adding to the muscle bath either purified, thiophosphorylated, chicken gizzard 20,000-dalton myosin light chains or purified, chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase. Incubation of skinned muscles with adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) prior to the addition of phosphatase resulted in the incorporation of 0.93 mol of PO4/mol of LC20 and prevented phosphatase-induced relaxation. Under all of the above conditions, changes in steady-state isometric force were associated with parallel changes in myosin light chain phosphorylation over a range of phosphorylation extending from 0.01 to 0.97 mol of PO4/mol of LC20. We found no evidence that dephosphorylation of contracted uterine smooth muscles, in the presence of calcium and calmodulin, could produce a latch-state where isometric force was maintained in the absence of myosin light chain phosphorylation. These results show that phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of the 20,000-dalton myosin light chain is adequate for the regulation of contraction or relaxation, respectively, in glycerinated uterine smooth muscle.

Functional domains of chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase.

The proteolytic susceptibility of chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase, a calmodulin-dependent enzyme, has been utilized to define the relative location of the catalytic and regulatory domains of the enzyme. Myosin light chain kinase isolated from this source exhibits a Mr of 130,000 and is extremely sensitive to trypsin at 24 degrees C; however, the molecule is divided into susceptible and resistant domains such that proteolysis proceeds rapidly and at multiple sites in the sensitive regions even at 4 degrees C while the rest of the molecule remains relatively resistant to digestion. One of these sensitive areas is the calmodulin-binding domain. On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease digestion generates a calmodulin-binding fragment (Mr = 70,000) that retains Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent enzymatic activity and both of the phosphorylation sites recognized by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In contrast, treatment with chymotrypsin produces a 95,000 Mr calmodulin-binding fragment that contains only the calmodulin-modulated phosphorylation site. Sequential proteolytic digestion studies demonstrated that the chymotryptic cleavage site responsible for the generation of this 95,000 Mr peptide is within 3,000 Mr of the V8 protease site which produces the 70,000 Mr fragment. Moreover, the non-calmodulin-modulated phosphorylation site must exist in this 3,000 Mr region. A calmodulin-Sepharose affinity adsorption protocol was developed for the digestion and used to isolate both the 70,000 and 95,000 Mr fragments for further study. Taken together, our results are compatible with a model for chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase in which there is no overlap between the active site, the calmodulin-binding region, and the two sites phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase with regard to their relative position in the primary sequence of the molecule.