Phosphorylation Of RII Research Articles

PKA-RII subunit phosphorylation precedes activation by cAMP and regulates activity termination.

Type II isoforms of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA-II) contain a phosphorylatable epitope within the inhibitory domain of RII subunits (pRII) with still unclear function. In vitro, RII phosphorylation occurs in the absence of cAMP, whereas staining of cells with pRII-specific antibodies revealed a cAMP-dependent pattern. In sensory neurons, we found that increased pRII immunoreactivity reflects increased accessibility of the already phosphorylated RII epitope during cAMP-induced opening of the tetrameric RII2:C2 holoenzyme. Accordingly, induction of pRII by cAMP was sensitive to novel inhibitors of dissociation, whereas blocking catalytic activity was ineffective. Also in vitro, cAMP increased the binding of pRII antibodies to RII2:C2 holoenzymes. Identification of an antibody specific for the glycine-rich loop of catalytic subunits facing the pRII-epitope confirmed activity-dependent binding with similar kinetics, proving that the reassociation is rapid and precisely controlled. Mechanistic modeling further supported that RII phosphorylation precedes cAMP binding and controls the inactivation by modulating the reassociation involving the coordinated action of phosphodiesterases and phosphatases.

Pain modulators regulate the dynamics of PKA-RII phosphorylation in subgroups of sensory neurons

Knowledge about the molecular structure of protein kinase A (PKA) isoforms is substantial. In contrast, the dynamics of PKA isoform activity in living primary cells has not been investigated in detail. Using a high content screening microscopy approach, we identified the RIIβ subunit of PKA-II to be predominantly expressed in a subgroup of sensory neurons. The RIIβ-positive subgroup included most neurons expressing nociceptive markers (TRPV1, NaV1.8, CGRP, IB4) and responded to pain-eliciting capsaicin with calcium influx. Isoform-specific PKA reporters showed in sensory-neuron-derived F11 cells that the inflammatory mediator PGE₂ specifically activated PKA-II but not PKA-I. Accordingly, pain-sensitizing inflammatory mediators and activators of PKA increased the phosphorylation of RII subunits (pRII) in subgroups of primary sensory neurons. Detailed analyses revealed basal pRII to be regulated by the phosphatase PP2A. Increase of pRII was followed by phosphorylation of CREB in a PKA-dependent manner. Thus, we propose RII phosphorylation to represent an isoform-specific readout for endogenous PKA-II activity in vivo, suggest RIIβ as a novel nociceptive subgroup marker, and extend the current model of PKA-II activation by introducing a PP2A-dependent basal state.

Phosphorylation of the cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase (PKA) Regulatory Subunit Modulates PKA-AKAP Interaction, Substrate Phosphorylation, and Calcium Signaling in Cardiac Cells

Subcellular compartmentalization of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) by protein kinase A-anchoring proteins (AKAPs) facilitates local protein phosphorylation. However, little is known about how PKA targeting to AKAPs is regulated in the intact cell. PKA binds to an amphipathic helical region of AKAPs via an N-terminal domain of the regulatory subunit. In vitro studies showed that autophosphorylation of type II regulatory subunit (RII) can alter its affinity for AKAPs and the catalytic subunit (PKA(cat)). We now investigate whether phosphorylation of serine 96 on RII regulates PKA targeting to AKAPs, downstream substrate phosphorylation and calcium cycling in primary cultured cardiomyocytes. We demonstrated that, whereas there is basal phosphorylation of RII subunits, persistent maximal activation of PKA results in a phosphatase-dependent loss of RII phosphorylation. To investigate the functional effects of RII phosphorylation, we constructed adenoviral vectors incorporating mutants which mimic phosphorylated (RIIS96D), nonphosphorylated (RIIS96A) RII, or wild-type (WT) RII and performed adenoviral infection of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that more AKAP15/18 was pulled down by the phosphomimic, RIIS96D, than RIIS96A. Phosphorylation of phospholamban and ryanodine receptor was significantly increased in cells expressing RIIS96D versus RIIS96A. Expression of recombinant RII constructs showed significant effects on cytosolic calcium transients. We propose a model illustrating a central role of RII phosphorylation in the regulation of local PKA activity. We conclude that RII phosphorylation regulates PKA-dependent substrate phosphorylation and may have significant implications for modulation of cardiac function.

Effects of RII Phosphorylation on Protein Kinase A targeting in the Heart

Effects of RII Phosphorylation on Protein Kinase A targeting in the Heart

Substrate Enhances the Sensitivity of Type I Protein Kinase A to cAMP

The functional significance of the presence of two major (types I and II) isoforms of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is still enigmatic. The present study showed that peptide substrate enhanced the activation of PKA type I at low, physiologically relevant concentrations of cAMP through competitive displacement of the regulatory RI subunit. The effect was similar whether the substrate was a short peptide or the physiological 60-kDa protein tyrosine hydroxylase. In contrast, substrate failed to affect the cAMP-sensitivity of PKA type II. Size exclusion chromatography confirmed that substrate acted to physically enhance the dissociation of the RIalpha and Calpha subunits of PKA type I, but not the RIIalpha and Calpha subunits of PKA type II. Substrate availability can therefore fine-tune the activation of PKA type I by cAMP, but not PKA type II. The cAMP-dissociated RII and C subunits of PKA type II reassociated much faster than the PKA type I subunits in the presence of substrate peptide. This suggests that only PKA type II is able to rapidly reverse its activation after a burst of cAMP when exposed to high substrate concentration. We propose this as a possible reason why PKA type II is preferentially found in complexes with substrates undergoing rapid phosphorylation cycles.

Regulation of PKA binding to AKAPs in the heart: alterations in human heart failure.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) regulates a broad range of cellular responses in the cardiac myocyte. Downstream regulation of the PKA pathway is mediated by a class of scaffolding proteins called A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs), which sequester PKA to specific subcellular locations through binding to its regulatory subunit (R). However, the effect of RII autophosphorylation on AKAP binding and the degree of RII autophosphorylation in failing and nonfailing human hearts remains unknown. We investigated AKAP-RII binding by overlay analysis and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and measured RII autophosphorylation in human hearts by backphosphorylation. Binding of Ht31 peptide (representing the RII-binding region of AKAPs) to cardiac RII was increased approximately 145% (P<0.01) for autophosphorylated RII relative to unphosphorylated control. By surface plasmon resonance, RII autophosphorylation significantly increased binding affinity to Ht31 by approximately 200% (P<0.01). Baseline PKA-dependent phosphorylation of RII was significantly decreased approximately 30% (P<0.05) in human hearts with dilated cardiomyopathy compared with nonfailing controls. These results suggest that AKAP binding of PKA in the heart is regulated by RII autophosphorylation. Therefore AKAP targeting of PKA may be reduced in patients with end-stage heart failure. This mechanism may be responsible for the decreased cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of proteins in dilated cardiomyopathy that we and others have previously observed.

CAMP-dependent protein kinases in the rat testis: regulatory and catalytic subunit associations

Based upon recent reports that the rat testis exhibits mRNAs for cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) regulatory (R) subunits RIα, RIIβ, RIIα, and RIIβ, this study was designed to identify R proteins present in extracts of germ cell-rich testis from adult and Sertoli cell-enriched, germ cell-poor testis from 14–15-day-old rats. Following separation by DEAE-cellulose. R subunits were identified by M r: (a) upon labeling with 8-N 3[ 32P]cAMP and 32P in an RII phosphorylation reaction and; (b) by Western blot analysis using R-specific antibodies on one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Elution of R subunits as catalytic (C) subunit-free dimers or in association with C subunits to form holoenzyme was determined by their sedimentation characteristics on sucrose gradient centrifugation in conjunction with their cAMP-stimulated activation characteristics on Eadie-Scatchard analysis. Soluble extracts of testes, from both adult and 14–15 day-old rats, showed the presence of a prominent type I holoenzyme containing RIα subunits (47 kDa, peak 1), a minor type II holoenzyme, containing RIIβ subunits (52 kDa, peak 2), and a second, more abundant, type II holoenzyme peak containing predominately RIIα and, to a lesser extent RIIβ subunits (peak 3). The 53 kDa RIβ protein predicted by mRNA studies was only tentatively identified by Western blot analysis. Testes extracts of 14–15-day-old, but not adult, rats exhibited high levels of C subunit-free RIα, a result not predicted by mRNA studies. This latter results may be attributable to direct RIα regulation or to indirect RIIβ regulation at a time during testis development prior to germ cell maturation.

Dephosphorylation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit in stimulated parietal cells.

The phosphorylation of endogenous proteins was investigated in subcellular fractions prepared from isolated rabbit parietal cells incubated with either cimetidine (unstimulated) or a combination of histamine and forskolin (maximally stimulated). Phosphorylation of endogenous proteins in subfractions was then assessed in a post hoc assay using [gamma-32P]ATP as a phosphate donor in vitro. The Mg(2+)-dependent incorporation of [32P]phosphate into a 52-kDa protein (pp52M) was observed in the 4,000 g membrane fraction from stimulated but not unstimulated cells. The pp52M protein was identified as the type II regulatory subunit of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (RII) by isoelectric focusing, comigration with cAMP-binding proteins, and immunoprecipitation. Incorporation of [32P]phosphate into RII in the in vitro assay in the presence of Zn2+ was apparent in the 4,000 g membrane from stimulated but not unstimulated cells. The results thus suggested that, on stimulation, RII in membrane was dephosphorylated. Incorporation of [32P]phosphate into membrane-associated RII was completely abolished in the presence of 10 microM cAMP. The decrease in RII phosphorylation in membrane from stimulated cells assayed in the presence of cAMP was due to a phosphoprotein phosphatase activity that was completely inhibited by okadaic acid (1 microM). The results indicate that stimulation of parietal cells with histamine and forskolin results in the dephosphorylation of membrane bound RII by a protein phosphatase that is also membrane associated. Furthermore, okadaic acid inhibited histamine-stimulated accumulation of [14C]aminopyrine into isolated parietal cells without altering stimulated increases in cAMP. Thus protein phosphatase may be a significant regulator of parietal cell function.

Phosphorylation of RII subunit and attenuation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity by proline-directed protein kinase

Previous studies identified proline-directed protein kinase (PDPK) as a growth factor-sensitive serine/threonine protein kinase that is active in the cytosol of proliferative cells and tissues during interphase. In this communication, we report that the regulatory subunit (RII) of bovine cardiac muscle cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is a putative substrate for the multifunctional PDPK. Purified RII is readily phosphorylated by PDPK in vitro in a time-dependent, enzyme-dependent manner to a stoichiometry approaching 0.7 mol phosphate/mol RII subunit protein. The major RII phosphorylation site is identified as a threonine residue located within a large hydrophobic tryptic peptide that is predicted to contain the cAMP binding domains. In contrast to the reported effects of RII autophosphorylation, kinetic analysis of RII function following phosphorylation by PDPK indicates that the inhibitory potency of RII toward the catalytic subunit of PKA in a reassociation assay is increased in proportion to the degree of phosphorylation. Further studies indicate that the cAMP-dependent activation of the RII 2C 2 holoenzyme is inhibited by PDPK phosphorylation. Taken together, the results of these studies indicate that phosphorylation of RII by PDPK attenuates the activity of PKA. This antagonistic interaction suggests a biochemical mechanism by which a growth factor-activated signaling system may function to modulate cAMP-dependent cellular responses.

Molecular Changes Associated with Ethanol‐Induced Growth Suppression in the Chick Embryo

In humans and in animal models the most frequently observed alcohol-related birth defect (ARBD) is intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The central nervous system (CNS) is sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of in utero ethanol exposure and neonatal CNS alterations with associated behavioral deficits are a likely result of maternal ethanol consumption. Presently, little information exists as to the biochemical mechanism by which ethanol inhibits fetal CNS growth. Further, it is unknown if there are genetic differences in maternal or fetal responses to ethanol. Ongoing research using a chick model indicates that pharmacologically appropriate doses of ethanol (less than 30 mM) inhibit brain growth and reduce CNS 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) with an associated 50% decrease in the binding of cyclic AMP by the regulatory subunit (RII) of protein kinase A. Furthermore, there is a specific loss of phosphorylation of RII by kinase catalytic subunit as a result of ethanol exposure. Because tissue cyclic AMP content and the degree of RII phosphorylation are important parameters for the regulation of protein kinase A catalytic activity, it is hypothesized that these alterations may be biochemical transformations that underlie ethanol-induced growth suppression.

Phosphorylation of type II Fcγ receptor on activated human B lymphocytes

Activation of resting human B lymphocytes either by cross-linking their membranal IgM or by phorbol esters has been previously demonstrated to modulate the type II receptor for Fc gamma domains (Fc gamma RII): shortly after stimulation a decrease in IgG binding capacity and an enhancement of Fc gamma RII expression were observed. These were followed by the release of Fc gamma RII fragments from the cell membrane. Since protein phosphorylation is well-established signal transduction element, we examined whether Fc gamma RII may be a target of such activation induced phosphorylation. Resting (high density) and activated (low density) human tonsil B lymphocytes were stimulated either by cross-linking their surface IgM (sIgM) or by the phorbol ester TPA. This treatment induced specific phosphorylation of a 36 kd membrane protein. This polypeptide was shown to specifically bind to IgG-coated Sepharose beads or to monoclonal Fc gamma RII-specific antibody-coated Affi-Gel 10 beads; thus, it most probably corresponds to the Fc gamma RII of these cells. In addition, phosphorylation of a 20 kd protein with similar binding characteristics was also observed in several experiments. Both serine and tyrosine were the amino acids that underwent phosphorylation in the 36 kd Fc gamma RII. The extent of Fc gamma RII phosphorylation correlated with the increase in receptor expression as monitored by specific mAb binding and, at the same time, with the decrease in the capacity to bind IgG-sensitized erythrocytes. These results suggest that stimulation-induced phosphorylation of Fc gamma RII on B cells is an early signal transduction element involved in controlling B cell response.

Autophosphoryiation of Rat Liver Type II cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase

A monoclonal antibody was prepared against the regulatory subunit (RII) of rat liver type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Autophosphorylated and nonphosphorylated RII in extracts from rat liver or hepatocytes were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and quantified by immunoblot analysis with this antibody. Under basal conditions, 90% of hepatocyte RII was in the phosphorylated form. Incubating hepatocytes with 8-bromo-cAMP and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor resulted in activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and glycogenolysis but did not affect phospho RII levels. RII phosphorylation was also unaffected by the inclusion of sufficient insulin to cause a decrease in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity and glycogenolysis. The results indicate that unlike other cell types, dissociation of rat hepatocyte type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase does not result in dephosphorylation of RII. The biochemical basis for the apparent lack of RII dephosphorylation in intact hepatocytes was examined by comparison with smooth muscle where RII is rapidly dephosphorylated. Rat liver extract contained 4-fold less RII and had an 80-fold lower rate of dephosphorylation of endogenous RII compared to bovine smooth muscle extract. The differences in the rates of RII dephosphorylation in tissue extracts were not observed using purified RII from either tissue. These data suggested that the slow rate of RII dephosphorylation in rat hepatocytes is due to a difference in the susceptibility of endogenous rat liver RII to dephosphorylation rather than a difference in phosphatase activity.

ETHANOL-INDUCED GROWTH INHIBITION IN EMBRYONIC CHICK BRAIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN CYTOPLASMIC CYCLIC AMP-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE REGULATORY SUBUNIT

Several lines of research have suggested that ethanol-induced changes in the adenylate cyclase/protein kinase cascade may contribute to the growth retardation observed in infants exposed to ethanol in utero. Based on studies with an embryonic chick model, the data presented here suggest that chronic ethanol treatment significantly lowered the binding of cyclic AMP by protein kinase regulatory subunit (RII) and reduced the level of phosphorylation of RII by the endogenous cytoplasmic protein kinase catalytic subunit. Furthermore, ethanol treatment altered the phosphorylation of at least one other brain cytosolic protein (molecular weight = 62-65 kD).

12] cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit phosphorylation in intact cells

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of RII at the autophosphorylation site may be an important factor in the control of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Studies on the function of RII phosphorylation have been limited to analysis of the properties of the enzyme in vitro . Autophosphorylation of RII results in a 10-fold increase in the dissociation constant of the RII-C interaction. This chapter develops a method that can be used to quantitate the relative amounts of the phospho and dephospho forms of RII in intact cells and tissues. The method is used to examine RII phosphorylation in rat liver cells. In rat liver extracts, the concentration of RII is significantly lower than in tracheal muscle. This reduced amount of RII relative to other soluble proteins makes detection of RII by the direct immunoblotting method difficult. It is found that much better results are obtained when RII is enriched by treatment of the extract with a small amount of cAMP-agarose affinity resin for 20 min.

Regulation of the content and phosphorylation of RII by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol in cultured granulosa cells.

The mechanisms by which FSH and cAMP induce receptors for LH (RLH) and increase progesterone (P) production in estradiol (E)-primed ovarian granulosa cells remain unclear, but may involve increases in the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase II (RII) and the phosphorylation of specific cellular proteins. To examine the relationship of these events, primary cultures of granulosa cells (10(6) cells/ml) from E-treated (1.5 mg/day for 3 days) immature female rats were incubated with 10 nM E with or without FSH (25 ng/ml) for 0-120 h. The cytosolic content of RII was analyzed by four techniques: 1) immunoblotting using an antibody to bovine heart RII; 2) photoaffinity labeling with [32P]8-azido-cAMP; 3) phosphorylation with [gamma-32P]ATP with or without 2 microM cAMP or with the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase; and 4) phosphorylation of intact cells with [32P] orthophosphate. All approaches revealed a time-dependent 5- to 6-fold increase in RII content in granulosa cells cultured for 48 h with E and FSH compared to that in cells treated with E alone. The content of RI, the regulatory subunit of protein kinase type I, remained low throughout the culture period regardless of hormone treatment. Granulosa cells were also cultured with E (10 nM) and 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP; 0.25-3 mM) or forskolin (0.5-100 microM), agents that increase intracellular cAMP, for 48 or 72 h. The cytosolic content and phosphorylation of RII were increased by culturing granulosa cells in E and 8-Br-cAMP (1 mM) or forskolin (50 microM) for 48 h. The increase in RII was associated with a FSH-mediated increase in the content and phosphorylation of other cAMP-dependent phosphoproteins. The increases in RII and cAMP-dependent phosphoproteins were associated with specific alterations in granulosa cell function: a FSH-mediated rise in 1) RLH [59.3 +/- 7.4 cpm/micrograms DNA (without FSH) to 1171.5 +/- 157 cpm/micrograms DNA (with FSH]) and 2) P accumulation in the medium [0.05 +/- 0.03 ng/ml (without FSH) to 25.3 +/- 4.6 ng/ml (with FSH]) at 48 h. A dose-dependent increase in the RLH and P accumulation in the medium was observed at 48 h of culture with E and 8-Br-cAMP or E and forskolin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The phosphoform of the regulatory subunit RII of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase possesses intrinsic topoisomerase activity

The phosphoform of the type II regulatory subunit (phospho-RII-cAMP) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase from rat liver was found to possess intrinsic topoisomerase activity towards several DNA substrates such as φX174, pBR322, SV40, and M13. Like the type I topoisomerases from several eukaryotic cells, phospho-RII-cAMP can relax both positive and negative superhelical turns of φX174 DNA. Topological isomers with a decreasing number of superhelical turns can be identified as transient products. Conditions under which phospho-RII-cAMP relaxes superhelical φX174 DNA lead to transient formation of a DNA-phospho-RII-cAMP complex via DNA strand breakage and covalent attachment of the DNA to a tyrosine residue of phospho-RII-cAMP via a phosphodiester bond. The topoisomerase activity of phospho-RII-cAMP depends on the presence of cAMP and is altered by changes in the degree of phosphorylation of RII. Both dephosphorylation and removal of cAMP from phospho-RII-cAMP abolish its topoisomerase activity.

Changes in content and phosphorylation of cytosol proteins in luteinizing ovarian follicles and corpora lutea.

Cytosol prepared from rat preovulatory ovarian follicles contained several specific substrates which were phosphorylated by [gamma 32P] ATP in the presence of 2 microM cyclic AMP (cAMP) or 780 nM of highly purified catalytic subunit. These substrates were identified as RII, the regulatory subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase, an Mr = 43,000 protein presumed to be actin, and four other proteins with Mr = 36,500-15,000. A marked decrease in phosphorylation of these proteins was observed within 6-48 h of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced ovulation and luteinization in hormonally primed immature rats. The phosphorylation of these proteins was also low in cytosol of corpora lutea isolated on Days 2, 4, 9, 13 and 23 of pregnancy. The decrease in phosphorylation of RII was associated primarily with a decrease in substrate content as measured by photoaffinity labeling and silver staining techniques, and not to a marked increase in phosphoprotein phosphatase and adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activities. Whereas the decreased phosphorylation of other proteins is also presumed to be related to a decrease in their cytosol content, the data do not exclude the possibility that luteal tissue contains a specific phosphoprotein phosphatase which is not present in granulosa or theca cells of preovulatory follicles. We conclude that luteinizing hormone (LH) or hCG, and thereby cAMP itself, induces the rapid loss of specific phosphoproteins which may be involved in regulating cAMP action in granulosa cells.

Changes in content and cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of specific proteins in granulosa cells of preantral and preovulatory ovarian follicles and in corpora lutea.

The responsiveness of granulosa cells to the gonadotropins and cAMP increases as ovarian follicles mature. To determine if this change in response might be related to either the content or cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of specific proteins, we labeled proteins in 30,000 X g supernatant fractions (cytosol) with [gamma-32P] ATP in the presence or absence of cAMP. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we observed that granulosa cells of preantral follicles exhibited low amounts of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of two proteins with apparent molecular weights of 54,000-56,000 and 43,000. Using [32P]8-N3cAMP and photoaffinity labeling procedures, the Mr = 54,000-56,000 protein was identified as RII, the regulatory subunit of type II protein kinase. Polychromatic silver staining, as well as the photoaffinity labeling, revealed that RII exists in three forms, each of which was also labeled by [gamma-32P] ATP. Based on the relative isoelectric points and specific silver staining of highly purified actin and phosphorylated actin, the Mr = 43,000 protein has been provisionally identified as actin. Five proteins (Mr = 37,500, 27,500, 22,500, 19,000, and 15,000), in addition to RII and actin, were phosphorylated in cytosol of granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles. By adding increasing concentrations of exogenous catalytic subunit to the cytosols, we demonstrated that the content, as well as the phosphorylation of these proteins, was increased selectively in granulosa cells of antral follicles. By using hypophysectomized rats, we demonstrated that these five proteins are induced by follitropin (FSH). Because they were not present in cytosols of thecal cells or corpora lutea, they appear to be specific markers for granulosa cells. The content and phosphorylation of RII was also dramatically increased in cytosols of granulosa cells from antral follicles, whereas that of actin remained unchanged. These observations indicate that granulosa cell differentiation involves regulation by FSH of specific proteins which are substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Thus, FSH and cAMP appear to regulate the intracellular content and phosphorylation of a cAMP response system in granulosa cells. The extent to which RII and the five specific phosphoproteins themselves regulate granulosa cell responsiveness remains to be determined.