Increase In Protein Kinase Activity Research Articles

Inhibition of v-Mos kinase activity by protein kinase A.

We investigated the effect of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA ) on v-Mos kinase activity. Increase in PKA activity in vivo brought about either by forskolin treatment or by overexpression of PKA catalytic subunit resulted in a significant inhibition of v-Mos kinase activity. The purified PKA catalytic subunit was able to phosphorylate recombinant p37v-mos in vitro, suggesting that the mechanism of in vivo inhibition of v-Mos kinase involves direct phosphorylation by PKA. Combined tryptic phosphopeptide two-dimensional mapping analysis and in vitro mutagenesis studies indicated that Ser-56 is the major in vivo phosphorylation site on v-Mos. In vivo phosphorylation at Ser-56 correlated with slower migration of the v-Mos protein during sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, even though Ser-56 was phosphorylated by PKA, this phosphorylation was not involved in the inhibition of v-Mos kinase. The alanine-for-serine substitution at residue 56 did not affect the ability of v-Mos to autophosphorylate in vitro or, more importantly, to activate MEK1 in transformed NIH 3T3 cells. We identified Ser-263 phosphorylation, the Ala-263 mutant of v-Mos was not inhibited by forskolin treatment. From our results, we propose that the known inhibitory role of PKA in the initiation of oocyte maturation in mice could be explained at least in part by its inhibition of Mos kinase.

Gibberellin stimulates synthesis of a protein kinase in dwarf pea epicotyls

Application of gibberellin A 3 (GA 3, 1 μM) stimulated protein kinase activity two-fold in light-grown dwarf pea epicotyls. This response was almost completely blocked by the simultaneous application of abscisic acid (ABA, 10 μM). Likewise, this GA 3-mediated increase in protein kinase activity was strongly inhibited by the application of cycloheximide (CHI, 20 μg ml −1), indicating that de novo protein synthesis was necessary for the response. The enhancement of protein kinase activity was observed in crude and partially purified enzyme fractions prepared from untreated and GA 3-treated dwarf pea epicotyls. However, purified protein kinase (casein-Sepharose fraction) from untreated and GA 3-treated epicotyls showed no significant difference in their specific activities. These results clearly suggested that GA 3 stimulates protein kinase activity through de novo enzyme synthesis and not by enzyme activation. The M r of the untreated and GA 3-stimulated protein kinase was 70000. Analysis of the purified protein kinase on SDS-PAGE from untreated and GA 3-treated epicotyls showed a single protein-stained band with M r 67000, indicating that it is monomeric. Chemical characterization of the reaction product of the protein kinase showed 32P-label in phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues of the substrate casein. Significantly, the tall pea epicotyls contained 2.9-fold higher activity of the M r 70000 protein kinase than did epicotyls from dwarfs. Thus, it seems likely that the protein kinases activity is stimulated by endogenous GA s. We have also observed a significant increase in the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins in GA 3-treated dwarf pea epicotyls over the untreated epicotyls.

PKA activity in the antennal lobe of honeybees is regulated by chemosensory stimulation in vivo

The involvement of cyclic nucleotide cascades has been suggested for chemosensory signal processing as well as synaptic plasticity. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is a major mediator for transient changes in these second messengers. The objective of this study was to examine the role of PKA in the central processing of chemosensory information by the honeybee. Effects of chemosensory stimulation in vivo were detected in the first chemosensory neuropil of the honeybee brain, the antennal lobe (AL), by using a combination of shock freezing and specific determination of PKA activity. Mechanosensory or odor stimulation of the antennae had no effect on PKA activity. Brief application of aqueous solutions (pure water or sucrose solution) to an antenna caused a rapid and transient elevation of PKA activity in the ipsilateral AL. A series of such stimuli led to a graded increase in PKA activity followed by a rapid decrease during the first 10 s after the end of stimulation, but elevated levels of PKA activity were observed for as long as 1 min. These results suggest that PKA activity and its regulation contribute to central processing of chemosensory signals.

Octopamine mediates rapid stimulation of protein kinase A in the antennal lobe of honeybees

In the honeybee octopamine mediates mechanisms of arousal that interfere with the appetitive proboscis extension response to food-indicating chemosensory stimuli. This study demonstrates that injections of octopamine or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) into the primary chemosensory neuropil of the honeybee, the antennal lobe, evokes a rapid and transient activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Other monoamines detectable in the antennal lobe, dopamine and serotonin, do not affect the level of PKA activity. Stimulation of the bees' antenna with the appetitive stimulus water or sucrose solution in vivo also causes a short-term activation of PKA in the antennal lobe. The increased PKA activity can be detected immediately (0.5 s) after stimulation but reverts to the basal level within 3 s. This effect can be abolished by monoamine depletion with reserpine. Since octopamine is the only monoamine that stimulates PKA, it appears to mediate the PKA activation after sucrose stimulus and may contribute to the processing of this chemosensory input.

Protein kinases and the response to DNA damage

Exposure of eukaryotic cells to DNA damaging agents induces gene expression and inhibits cell cycle progression. The first response to damage that has been measured is an increase in protein kinase activity. Several protein kinases are activated in cells exposed to DNA damaging agents, and other kinases that correct damage hypersensitivity mutants have been identified genetically. Current challenges include determining which responses result from damage to DNA and identifying the immediate detectors of damaged DNA that initiate signal transduction.

Intra-A10 injection of H7 blocks the development of sensitization to cocaine.

The role of protein kinase activity in the development of behavioral sensitization was examined by injecting the protein kinase inhibitor H7 into the A10 dopamine region 5 min before each of four daily peripheral injections of cocaine. Animals then received a challenge injection of cocaine 24 h after the daily treatments. Intra-A10 injection of H7 attenuated the acute motor-stimulant response to cocaine. Daily injections of H7 prevented the development of an enhanced motor-stimulant response, which occurred with daily cocaine injections, such that the animals' behavioral response was similar to that of animals receiving their first cocaine injection. These data suggest that increased protein kinase activity in the A10 dopamine region may be important in the development of behavioral sensitization to cocaine.

Induction of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase (PKA) Activity in T Cells after Stimulation of the Prostaglandin E2 or the β-adrenergic Receptors: Relationship between PKA Activity and Inhibition of Anti-CD3 Monoclonal Antibody-Induced T Cell Proliferation

Recently, we have shown that T cells exposed to concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2) or the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol (ISO) that elicit equimolar levels of cAMP accumulation do not inhibit anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody-induced T cell proliferation to the same extent. This report extends these studies by investigating the induction of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in T cells stimulated with PGE 2 or ISO. The kinetics of PKA activity induced by PGE 2 or ISO in T cells are similar but PGE 2 induces more PKA activity. When T cells were treated with concentrations of PGE 2 or ISO that elicited similar PKA activities, PGE 2 was found to be more immunosuppressive than ISO. T cells stimulated with PGE 2 or ISO showed similar levels of increased PKA activity in both the cytosolic and the particulate fractions. Quantitation of the activity of PKA I and PKA II isozymes in T cells stimulated with PGE 2 or ISO revealed that both types were activated; however, while PGE 2 induced the utilization of an equal amount of both isozymes in T cells, ISO-treated cells utilized twice as much PKA I compared to PKA II. Overall, these results suggest that qualitative differences in the concentration or cAMP and PKA activity are important elements in modulatory T cell proliferative responses.

Effects of phosphorylation of troponin I and C protein on isometric tension and velocity of unloaded shortening in skinned single cardiac myocytes from rats.

Effects on isometric tension generation and maximum velocity of unloaded shortening after exposure to cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) were investigated in rat enzymatically isolated, tritonized ventricular myocytes. Exposure of myocytes to PKA in the presence of [32P]ATP resulted in phosphorylation of troponin I and C protein. Ca2+ sensitivity of isometric tension was assessed as pCa50, ie, the [Ca2+] at which tension was 50% of maximum, and was lower after PKA treatment (pCa50 5.58) than before PKA treatment (pCa50 5.74). This suggests beta-adrenergic stimulation of the heart and subsequent increases in PKA activity and phosphorylation of troponin I and C protein lead to a significant decrease in tension-generating ability at a given submaximum [Ca2+]. Unloaded shortening velocity was determined by measuring the time required to take up various amounts of slack imposed at one end of the cardiac myocyte preparation. Unloaded shortening velocity during maximum activation was 2.88 +/- 0.11 muscle lengths per second (mean +/- SEM) before PKA exposure and 2.86 +/- 0.13 muscle lengths per second after PKA exposure. Unloaded shortening velocity during 40% of maximum activation was 1.91 +/- 0.25 muscle lengths per second before PKA exposure and 2.17 +/- 0.15 muscle lengths per second after PKA exposure. The absence of an effect of PKA on unloaded shortening velocity in skinned ventricular myocytes suggests that beta-adrenergic stimulation of myocardium either does not affect myofilament velocity of shortening or alters velocity of shortening by a non-PKA-dependent process.

The native structure of the activated Raf protein kinase is a membrane-bound multi-subunit complex.

Raf is a mitogen-stimulated protein kinase that functions as a component of the signaling cascade that leads to the stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. Here we show that the native structure of Raf is a large multi-subunit protein complex with an apparent mass of 300-500 kDa that interacts with Ras and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase Mek. Analysis of the structure of the Raf complex demonstrates that it contains a single Raf protein kinase together with the molecular chaperones hsp90 and p50. The Raf-hsp90-p50 complex was observed in starved cells and in cells activated with serum or phorbol ester. Thus, changes in complex formation with hsp90 and p50 are not required for activation of the Raf protein kinase. However, Raf activation caused by Ras was associated with the translocation of the cytoplasmic Raf-hsp90-p50 complex to the cell membrane. Significantly, it is only the membrane-bound complex that exhibits increased protein kinase activity. Thus, the Ras-activated Raf protein kinase functions as a membrane-bound multi-subunit complex.

Inhibition of estrogen stimulated mitogenesis by 3-phenylacetylamino-2,6-piperidinedione and its Para-hydroxy analog

3-Phenylactetylamino-2,6-piperidinedione (A10) inhibited estradiol stimulated cell growth in the MCF-7 (E3) human breast tumor cell line in vivo and in vitro. While high concentrations of A10 were needed to inhibit cell proliferation (IC 50 = 3 × 10 −3 M in vitro), the compound demonstrated little toxicity. The effect appeared specific since a hydrolysis product of A10, phenylacetylglutamine, demonstrated no growth inhibitory activity at similar concentrations in MCF-7 (E3) cells in vitro. A computer designed analog, p-hydroxy A10, was more potent than A10 in inhibiting activity in MCF-7 (E3) cells in vitro. The IC 50 for p-hydroxy A10 was 7 × 10 −6 M which was comparable to that of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen (IC 50 1 × 10 −7 M). All three compounds caused a decline in estrogen receptor levels in a dose-dependent fashion. A10 also inhibited estradiol induction of progesterone receptors. Examination of protein kinase activity following an acute exposure to a 10 −11 M growth stimulatory dose of estradiol revealed a 168% increase in protein kinase activity over that of untreated control cells. A10 in a dose-responsive fashion inhibited the estradiol stimulated increase in protein kinase activity. The protein kinase activity was also inhibited by p-hydroxy A10. These activities of A10 and p-hydroxy A10 coupled with the low toxicity and novelty of the basic A10 structure provide an exciting possibility of developing a new class of clinically useful antineoplastic drugs with minimal side effects.

Autoactivation of catalytic (C alpha) subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase by phosphorylation of threonine 197.

We recently found, using cultured mouse cell systems, that newly synthesized catalytic (C) subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase undergo a posttranslational modification that reduces their electrophoretic mobilities in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels and activates them for binding to a Sepharose-conjugated inhibitor peptide. Using an Escherichia coli expression system, we now show that recombinant murine C alpha subunit undergoes a similar modification and that the modification results in a large increase in protein kinase activity. Threonine phosphorylation appears to be responsible for both the enzymatic activation and the electrophoretic mobility shift. The phosphothreonine-deficient form of C subunit had reduced affinities for the ATP analogs p-fluorosulfonyl-[14C]benzoyl 5'-adenosine and adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) as well as for the Sepharose-conjugated inhibitor peptide; it also had markedly elevated Kms for both ATP and peptide substrates. Autophosphorylation of C-subunit preparations enriched for this phosphothreonine-deficient form reproduced the changes in enzyme activity and SDS-gel mobility that occur in intact cells. A mutant form of the recombinant C subunit with Ala substituted for Thr-197 (the only C-subunit threonine residue known to be phosphorylated in mammalian cells) was similar in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis mobility and activity to the phosphothreonine-deficient form of wild-type C subunit. In contrast to the wild-type subunit, however, the Ala-197 mutant form could not be shifted or activated by incubation with the phosphothreonine-containing wild-type form. We conclude that posttranslational autophosphorylation of Thr-197 is a critical step in intracellular expression of active C subunit.

Autoactivation of Catalytic (Cα) Subunit of Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase by Phosphorylation of Threonine 197

We recently found, using cultured mouse cell systems, that newly synthesized catalytic (C) subunits of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase undergo a posttranslational modification that reduces their electrophoretic mobilities in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels and activates them for binding to a Sepharose-conjugated inhibitor peptide. Using an Escherichia coli expression system, we now show that recombinant murine C alpha subunit undergoes a similar modification and that the modification results in a large increase in protein kinase activity. Threonine phosphorylation appears to be responsible for both the enzymatic activation and the electrophoretic mobility shift. The phosphothreonine-deficient form of C subunit had reduced affinities for the ATP analogs p-fluorosulfonyl-[14C]benzoyl 5'-adenosine and adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) as well as for the Sepharose-conjugated inhibitor peptide; it also had markedly elevated Kms for both ATP and peptide substrates. Autophosphorylation of C-subunit preparations enriched for this phosphothreonine-deficient form reproduced the changes in enzyme activity and SDS-gel mobility that occur in intact cells. A mutant form of the recombinant C subunit with Ala substituted for Thr-197 (the only C-subunit threonine residue known to be phosphorylated in mammalian cells) was similar in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis mobility and activity to the phosphothreonine-deficient form of wild-type C subunit. In contrast to the wild-type subunit, however, the Ala-197 mutant form could not be shifted or activated by incubation with the phosphothreonine-containing wild-type form. We conclude that posttranslational autophosphorylation of Thr-197 is a critical step in intracellular expression of active C subunit.

Nicotinic Agonists, Phorbol Esters, and Growth Factors Activate Two Extracellular Signal‐Regulated Kinases, ERK1 and ERK2, in Bovine Chromaffin Cells

Treatment of bovine chromaffin cells with nicotinic agonists, phorbol esters, and growth factors increases protein kinase activity toward microtubule-associated protein-2 and myelin basic protein (MBP) in vitro. To characterize the kinases that are activated by these agents, we separated chromaffin cell proteins by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels into which MBP had been incorporated, allowed the proteins to renature, and then assayed MBP kinase activity by incubating the gels with [gamma-32P]ATP. Chromaffin cells contain a family of kinases that phosphorylate MBP in vitro. Two of these kinases, of M(r) 46,000 and 42,000 (PK46 and PK42), were activated by treatment of the cells with dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP was dependent on extracellular Ca2+, whereas the effects of PDBu and IGF-I were Ca2+ independent. Down-regulation of protein kinase C by incubation of the cells with PDBu abolished the activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP, PDBu, and IGF-I. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, prevented the activation of PK46 and PK42 by DMPP and PDBu but did not block the activation of these kinases by IGF-I. Immunoblotting experiments with antiphosphotyrosine (anti-PTyr) antibodies demonstrated that agents that increased the kinase activities of PK46 and PK42 also increased the apparent PTyr content of M(r) 46,000 and 42,000 proteins. PK46 and PK42 comigrated with proteins that reacted with antibodies against extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). Thus, PK46 and PK42 appear to be the bovine homologues of ERK1 and ERK2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Persistent protein kinase activation in the maintenance phase of long-term potentiation.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus is a robust form of synaptic plasticity that may contribute to mammalian memory formation. A variety of pharmacological evidence suggests that persistent kinase activation contributes to the maintenance of LTP. To determine whether persistent activation of protein kinases was associated with the maintenance phase of LTP, protein kinase activity was measured in control and LTP samples using exogenous protein kinase substrates in an in vitro assay of homogenates of the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. After LTP, protein kinase activity was persistently increased, and the induction of this effect was blocked by the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid. The increased protein kinase activity was found to be significantly attenuated by PKC(19-36), a selective peptide inhibitor of protein kinase C. Thus, LTP is associated with an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated generation of a persistently activated form of protein kinase C. These data lend strong support to the model that persistent protein kinase activation contributes to the maintenance of LTP.

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase in BC3H1 myocytes by fluoroaluminate

Treatment of BC3H1 myocytes or 3T3-L1 fibroblasts with fluoroaluminate (AlF4-), a direct activator of G proteins, increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 42-kDa cytosolic protein. AlF4- induced a parallel increase in protein kinase activity toward myelin basic protein (MBP) in partially purified cell extracts. To test whether AlF4- was activating the 42-kDa MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase, extracts from AlF4--treated cells were taken through the chromatographic steps routinely used to purify MAP kinase from growth factor-stimulated cells. Following phenyl-Superose chromatography, a peak of MBP kinase activity eluted at a position characteristic of MAP kinase. Immunoblotting of the active fractions with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies revealed a single reactive protein band of Mr 42,000. Stimulation of MAP kinase by AlF4- was rapid, peaking within 15 min and persisting for at least 1 h. In contrast, the activation of MAP kinase by insulin was transient, characteristic of its activation by growth factors in other cell types. Although concentrations of sodium fluoride greater than 1 mM also activated MAP kinase, this effect was shown to be dependent upon the simultaneous presence of aluminum ions in the medium. Activation of MAP kinase by AlF4- was not affected by either cellular depletion of protein kinase C or pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin. Potential sites of action of AlF4- are discussed. These findings suggest that activation of a G protein(s) in intact cells can initiate events that result in tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of MAP kinase.

Induction of alkaline phosphatase in mouse L cells by overexpression of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Mouse L929 cells were used to study the mechanism of cAMP induction of alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity. Following treatment with 200 microM 8-chlorophenylthio-cAMP (CPT-cAMP), alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity was observed to increase 80-fold after 24 h. The CPT-cAMP dose response of the alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity correlated well with the CPT-cAMP activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase in L cells. A cDNA clone for the alkaline phosphatase was isolated and used to demonstrate a 10-fold increase in alkaline phosphatase mRNA levels after a 24-h treatment of L cells with CPT-cAMP. Increased mRNA levels were first detected 4-6 h, after CPT-cAMP treatment, and the level of alkaline phosphatase mRNA decreased rapidly after removal of CPT-cAMP. In vitro nuclear transcription studies showed that a 3-fold increase in alkaline phosphatase gene transcription was detectable 6 h after CPT treatment, and this increase was blocked by cycloheximide. In order to determine if the catalytic (C) subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was able to mediate the induction of AP, L cells were transfected with expression vectors containing the metallothionein promoter and coding for the C alpha isoform of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase or for a catalytic subunit in which lysine 72 had been mutated to methionine (C alpha K72M). Zinc treatment of stably transfected cells expressing the wild-type C subunit showed an increase in protein kinase activity and an increase in AP activity. Zinc treatment of cells containing the mutant C subunit expression vector produced an increase in the amount of a protein which was recognized by C subunit antibodies on Western blots, but these cells showed no increase in protein kinase activity or in AP activity. We conclude that the C subunit is sufficient for transcriptional induction of the AP gene and that the phosphotransferase activity of the C subunit is required for this induction.

Signal transduction by the epidermal growth factor receptor after functional desensitization of the receptor tyrosine protein kinase activity.

Previous work identified a protein kinase activity that phosphorylates the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor at Thr669. An assay for this protein kinase activity present in homogenates prepared from A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells was developed using a synthetic peptide substrate corresponding to residues 663-681 of the EGF receptor (peptide T669). Here we report that a greater initial rate of T669 phosphorylation was observed in experiments using homogenates prepared from EGF- or phorbol ester-treated cells compared with control cells. EGF and 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused a 6-fold and a 2-fold increase in protein kinase activity, respectively. A kinetic analysis of T669 phosphorylation demonstrated that the increase in protein kinase activity observed was accounted for by an increase in Vmax. To examine the interaction between protein kinase C and signal transduction by the EGF receptor, the effect of pretreatment of cells with PMA on the subsequent response to EGF was investigated. Treatment of cells with PMA caused greater than 90% inhibition of the EGF-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the EGF receptor and abolished the EGF-stimulated formation of soluble inositol phosphates. In contrast, PMA was not observed to inhibit the stimulation of T669 protein kinase activity caused by EGF. Thus, the apparent functional desensitization of the EGF receptor caused by PMA does not inhibit signal transduction mediated by the T669 protein kinase. Our results demonstrate that EGF receptor transmodulation alters the pattern of signal-transduction pathways that are utilized by the EGF receptor.

Protein Kinase-A and the Effects of Parathyroid Hormone on Phosphate Uptake in Opossum Kidney Cells*

Current evidence indicates that signal transduction after receptor binding of PTH involves the stimulation of adenylate cyclase as well as stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism. Recent studies, showing that PTH alters phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells at concentrations which do not increase cAMP production and that activators of protein kinase-C also alter phosphate transport, have led to the suggestion that there is a dual mechanism for the regulation of phosphate transport by PTH, namely, protein kinase-C at physiological levels of PTH and cAMP at higher levels of PTH. The present studies were designed to evaluate the relationship between cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A), a more sensitive indicator of alterations in cAMP metabolism than measurements of total cellular cAMP, and phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells, in response to bovine (b)PTH 1-34 and [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide. While bPTH 1-34 markedly stimulated cAMP accumulation (half-maximal stimulation between 1 and 10 nM), PTH 3-34 analog did not. Phosphate transport was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by bPTH 1-34, with half-maximal effect occurring between 0.1 and 1 nM. [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide also altered phosphate transport, although this peptide was 3 orders of magnitude less potent than bPTH 1-34. PK-A activity increased in response to bPTH 1-34 and correlated closely with the effects of PTH on phosphate transport. [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide, which did not appear to increase cAMP, also resulted in a significant increase in the activity of PK-A. Studies of inhibition of cAMP accumulation using 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine demonstrated that while this agent markedly inhibited the accumulation of cAMP in response to PTH, the effects of PTH on phosphate transport were not altered. However, in spite of the reduction in cAMP the activation of PK-A was similar to control. These data indicate that the effects of PTH peptides on phosphate transport are more closely related to changes in the activity of PK-A than to levels of total cAMP. Activation of PK-A in response to PTH is demonstrable at the lowest doses of PTH that alter phosphate transport.

Hormonal regulation of chick kidney inhibitor of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase.

The endogenous inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKI) in chick kidney is regulated by the vitamin D status of the animal. To determine the specific factors that are involved in the regulation of chick kidney PKI, chicks were raised on a low (0.05%), normal (1%), or high (3%) calcium diet and given vitamin D3 or vehicle three times a week orally. The results from this experimental protocol show that vitamin D3 or one or more of its metabolites and serum calcium levels are both involved in the regulation of chick kidney PKI in vivo. Measurement of PKI activity in primary cultures of chick kidney cells revealed treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3) led to a 90-95% decrease in PKI activity. This effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 was dose dependent, and neither PTH nor insulin was able to reverse it completely. Treatment with PTH caused 30-60% increase in PKI activity, and cell cultures that were grown in medium containing either 0.5 or 2 mM calcium chloride had similar PKI activities. Taken together, these results indicate that 1,25-(OH)2D3, the most physiologically active form of vitamin D3, is the predominant regulator of PKI, but serum calcium, indirectly through the regulation of PTH secretion, is also involved.

Effect of retinyl acetate on cAMP-dependent protein kinase in transformed mouse 10T1/2 cells.

The effect of retinyl acetate (RAC) on the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) was studied in mouse 10T1/2 cells. The studies revealed that normal 10T1/2 cells had about 13-fold more PKA activity than did methylcholanthrene-transformed cells (MCA cells). The addition of RAC to MCA cells increased the activity of PKA about 3-fold as measured by the in vitro phosphorylation of a specific site in H1 histone (site A) or Kemptide. The increased PKA activity coincided with a reduction in the rate of cell replication of MCA cells, about 24 hr after exposure to the retinoid. Addition of forskolin to RAC-treated MCA cells resulted in a further reduction in the rate of cell replication, and this suggested that the enhanced PKA activity was also capable of action in vivo. To test this notion, MCA cells were grown with and without RAC, and the phosphorylation of the H1 histone at site A, a site known to be phosphorylated by PKA in cells treated with hormones or other agonists which activate PKA, was studied in vivo. RAC, by itself, was capable of causing an increase in the phosphorylation of the H1 histone at site A, demonstrating that the retinoid-mediated increase in PKA activity was sufficient to cause the enhanced phosphorylation of a known substrate.