Skeletal Muscle Phosphorylase Kinase Research Articles

Rat skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase: turnover and control of isozyme levels in culture.

The expression of phosphorylase kinase was investigated in rat skeletal muscle cells developing in vitro. The enzyme was immunoprecipitated from cells cultured in the presence of [35S]methionine, and the 35S-labeled alpha-, alpha'-, and beta-subunits of the kinase were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Fusion of myoblasts into myotubes was associated with marked increases in the amounts of kinase activity and the three 35S-labeled subunits. In 2-wk-old myotubes, the net amount of alpha'-subunit represented less than 20% of the total alpha-subunits (alpha + alpha'); however, alpha'-subunits appeared to be synthesized at least as rapidly as alpha-subunits. That alpha'-subunits were degraded more rapidly was confirmed by pulse-chase experiments, which also indicated that alpha'-subunits were not formed by proteolytic processing of the larger alpha-subunit. Inhibition of the spontaneous contractile activity of the myotubes with lidocaine markedly increased both phosphorylase kinase activity and the amounts of the 35S-labeled subunits. The divalent cation ionophore, A23187, decreased the alpha-subunits by 60%, but did not change levels of the alpha'-subunits. Taken together, the present results indicate that rat myotubes synthesize the two isozymes of phosphorylase kinase, and that levels of both are controlled by differentiation and muscle activity.

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)

Interaction of phosphorylase kinase with polymyxins

Nonactivated rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase is inhibited by the polymyxins A, B, D and E when assayed at pH 8.6. Polymyxin B is the most effective inhibitor, causing 50% inhibition at 0.3 mM. Following the effect of polymyxin B on the kinase activity toward troponin, no inhibition was observed. In contrast, polymyxin B was found to greatly stimulate the autophosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase. About 10 mol of phosphate per tetramer (αβγδ) were incorporated in presence of polymyxin B (full autophosphorylation). This incorporation was about 6-fold higher than that observed without polymyxin. The stimulation of autophosphorylation by polymyxin B was accompanied with enhancement of the rat of autoactivation at pH 6.8.

Characterization of Ca2+-activated protein phosphatase activity in exocrine pancreas.

Ca2+-activated protein phosphatase activity was demonstrated in mouse pancreatic acinar cytosol with alpha-casein and skeletal-muscle phosphorylase kinase as substrates. This phosphatase activity preferentially dephosphorylated the alpha subunit of phosphorylase kinase. After DEAE-cellulose chromatography, the Ca2+-activated phosphatase activity became dependent on exogenous calmodulin for maximal activity. Half-maximal activation was achieved at 0.5 +/- 0.1 microM-Ca2+. Trifluoperazine completely inhibited Ca2+-activated phosphatase activity, with half-maximal inhibition occurring at 8.5 +/- 0.6 microM. Mn2+, but not Mg2+, at 1 mM concentration could substitute for Ca2+ in eliciting full enzyme activation. The apparent Mr of the phosphatase as determined by Sephadex G-150 chromatography was 93000 +/- 1000. Submitting active fractions obtained after Sephadex chromatography to calmodulin affinity chromatography resulted in the resolution of a major protein of Mr 55500 +/- 300. In conclusion, Ca2+-activated protein phosphatase activity has been identified in exocrine pancreas and has several features in common with Ca2+-activated calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatases previously isolated from brain and skeletal muscle. It is possible that this Ca2+-activated phosphatase may utilize as substrates certain acinar-cell phosphoproteins previously shown to undergo dephosphorylation in response to Ca2+-mediated secretagogues.

Phosphorylase kinase from chicken gizzard. Partial purification and characterization.

Phosphorylase kinase was partially purified (530-970-fold) from chicken gizzard smooth muscle by a procedure involving ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography on 8-(6-aminohexyl)adenosine-5'-phosphate--Sepharose 4B and glycerol density gradient ultracentrifugation. The final and most efficient purification step takes advantage of the relatively high molecular mass of gizzard phosphorylase kinase, which was found to be similar to that of rabbit skeletal muscle enzyme. The gizzard kinase, further purified to near homogeneity by calmodulin-Sepharose 4 B affinity chromatography, showed one main protein band of 61 kDa, upon dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Four minor protein bands of higher molecular mass were also present but no protein stain was seen at the position of the gamma subunit. The gizzard phosphorylase kinase showed a high pH 6.8/8.2 activity ratio of 0.53, it was stimulated by Ca2+, inhibited up to 80% by EGTA and it was activated about 1.9-fold by calmodulin. The km value for ATP was 0.45 mM, while the K0.5 for rabbit muscle phosphorylase b was extremely low, more than 200-fold lower than the Km of nonactivated skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase for its protein substrate. High concentrations of phosphorylase b were found to be inhibitory. At 10 mg/ml phosphorylase b, the maximum activity of the kinase was inhibited fivefold. No evidence has been obtained indicating autophosphorylation or the existence of active and inactive forms of gizzard phosphorylase kinase. Limited proteolysis of the smooth muscle kinase with trypsin was accompanied by a twofold activation at pH 6.8.

Monoclonal antibodies to rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase. Probes for studies of subunit function.

Monoclonal antibodies to rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase were produced by the conventional hybridoma cell technique. 90 out of 600 hybridomas were found to produce phosphorylase kinase binding antibodies from which only five secreted also phosphorylase kinase activity affecting antibodies. Three of them were cloned; two hybridomas resisted all cloning efforts. Employing immunoblot technique all monoclonal antibodies show cross-reactivity with the alpha, beta, and gamma subunits of phosphorylase kinase indicating that similar, if not identical, epitopes are present on these three subunits. No cross-reactivity with delta is observed. Monoclonal antibodies secreted by two clones which bind to the alpha subunit stimulate the Ca2+-independent A0 activity of phosphorylase kinase more than 30-fold, whereas all other monoclonal antibodies obtained are ineffective in this respect. Monoclonal antibodies binding to the beta subunit inhibit the Ca2+-dependent activities significantly. Antibody produced by one hybridoma binds to the alpha, beta, and gamma subunits with approximately the same affinity. Based on the dual function of calmodulin in phosphorylase kinase (Hessová, Z., Varsányi, M., and Heilmeyer, L.M.G., Jr. (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 146, 107-115) we conclude that binding of anti-alpha monoclonal antibodies to a regulatory domain in the alpha subunit results in an uncoupling of the inhibitory function of the Ca2+-free delta from the holoenzyme which leads to a concomitant increase in A0 activity. Furthermore, binding of anti-beta monoclonal antibodies to the beta subunit prevents a signal transfer from the Ca2+-saturated delta to the catalytic site of the holoenzyme which inhibits the Ca2+-dependent activities.

Subunit phosphorylation and activation of skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Divalent metal ion, ATP, and protein concentration dependence.

This report provides a characterization of the effects of varying the concentrations of Mg2+, ATP, phosphorylase kinase, and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase on the activation and phosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase. The results show the following. (a) The Km for MgATP2- for the cAMP-dependent protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation is decreased by increasing Mg2+, probably as a consequence of decreasing the free ATP:MgATP2- ratio and increasing free Mg2+. (b) Whereas beta subunit phosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase plays a prominent role in determining its activity, alpha subunit phosphorylation can also modulate activity. (c) The phosphorylation of the alpha subunit, which occurs following the initial cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of the beta subunit, is catalyzed by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and is not a consequence of EGTA-insensitive (or EGTA-sensitive) autophosphorylation occurring as a result of the enhanced phosphorylase kinase activity. (d) The relationship between subunit phosphorylation and phosphorylase kinase activation is complex and particularly dependent upon concentrations of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphorylase kinase in the activation reaction. The data suggest the possibilities that the pathway of phospho-intermediates involved in the activation process probably varies with the activation conditions, that the efficacy of a specific site to be covalently modified is dependent upon the phosphorylation status of other sites, and that the effect of phosphorylation in regulating activity may also be dependent on the phosphorylation status of other sites. It is clear from the data that the activation process for phosphorylase kinase can be very complex, and it is possible that this complexity might have significant physiological ramifications.

Dual function of calmodulin (delta) in phosphorylase kinase.

The Ca2+-independent activity of fast skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase, A0, can be reversibly stimulated by heparin more than 20-fold; concomitantly the Ca2+-dependent A2 activity is abolished completely. Heparin also drastically changes the aggregation state of the enzyme; aggregated species contain significantly less delta and show an about fivefold higher A0 activity than the tetrameric form containing delta stoichiometrically. We interpret this to mean that delta has two functions in the phosphorylase kinase: an inhibitory one with respect to A0 and an activating one with respect to A2. The inhibition of A0 by Ca2+-free delta is released, i.e. A0 increases when this subunit dissociates from the holoenzyme. The maximally heparin-stimulated A0 activity, A0,hep, is enriched from a crude extract to the same degree and approximately with the same yield as the major activity, A2. The phosphorylase kinase is not eluted from DEAE-cellulose as a symmetrical bell-shaped protein peak. The peak fraction contains the activities A2 and A0,hep superimposed and yields a nearly homogeneous sedimentation boundary with an S20,w value of 25.5 S. The A0 yields a much broader eluation profile showing a distinct maximum from the A2 activity which contains slower sedimenting species of 12.1 S, some tetrameric enzyme of 22.7 S and higher aggregated material. Over the whole profile the activity ratio A2/A0 decreases about sevenfold whereas the ratio A2/A0,hep is constant on average. This shows that A0 is an intrinsic activity of phosphorylase kinase. The heparin-activated A0 activity or A0 itself in the presence of the phosphorylase phosphatase inhibitor, fluoride, can trigger a Ca2+-independent flash activation of phosphorylase in a protein-glycogen complex. Thus, A0 could be responsible for the conversion of phosphorylase b to a at 20 nM free Ca2+ in resting, hormone-stimulated, muscle.

Comparison of the phosphorylation of rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and cAMP-independent glycogen synthase (casein) kinase-1.

We have previously reported that rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase is phosphorylated by glycogen synthase (casein) kinase-1 (CK-1) primarily on the beta subunit (beta = 1 mol of PO4; alpha = 0.2 mol of PO4) when the reaction was carried out in beta-glycerophosphate. The resultant enzyme activation was 16-fold (Singh, T. J., Akatsuka, A., and Huang, K.-P. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 13379-13384). In the present study we found that in Tris-Cl buffer CK-1 catalyzes the incorporation of greater than 2 mol of PO4/monomer into each of the alpha and beta subunits. Phosphorylase kinase activation resulting from the higher level of phosphorylation remained 16-fold. 32P-Labeled tryptic peptides from the alpha and beta subunits were analyzed by isoelectric focusing. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) phosphorylates a single major site in each of the alpha and beta subunits at 1.5 mM Mg2+. In addition to these two sites, A-kinase phosphorylates at least three other sites in the alpha subunit at 10 mM Mg2+. CK-1 also catalyzes the phosphorylation of multiple sites in both the alpha and beta subunits. Of the two major sites phosphorylated by CK-1 in the beta subunit, one of these sites is also recognized by A-kinase. At least three sites are phosphorylated by CK-1 in the alpha subunit. One of these sites is recognized by CK-1 only after a prior phosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase by A-kinase at a single site in each of the alpha and beta subunits at 1.5 mM Mg2+. The roles of the different phosphorylation sites in phosphorylase kinase activation are discussed.

Amino acid sequence of the phosphorylation site of rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase.

6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase from rat liver was phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP. Treatment of the 32P-labeled enzyme with thermolysin removed all of the radioactivity from the enzyme core and produced a single labeled peptide. The phosphopeptide was purified by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The sequence of the 12-amino acid peptide was found to be Val-Leu-Gln-Arg-Arg-Arg-Gly-Ser(P)-Ser-Ile-Pro-Gln. Correlation of the extent of phosphorylation with activity showed that a 50% decrease in the ratio of kinase activity to bisphosphate activity occurred when only 0.25 mol of phosphate was incorporated per mol of enzyme subunit, and maximal changes occurred with 0.7 mol incorporated. The kinetics of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of the native bifunctional enzyme was compared with that of other rat liver protein substrates. The Km for 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase (10 microM) was less than that for rat liver pyruvate kinase (39 microM), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (222 microM), and 6- phosphofructose -1-kinase (230 microM). Comparison of the initial rate of phosphorylation of a number of protein substrates of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase revealed that only skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase was phosphorylated more rapidly than the bifunctional enzyme. Skeletal muscle glycogen synthase, heart regulatory subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, and liver pyruvate kinase were phosphorylated at rates nearly equal to that of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase, while phosphorylation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase was barely detectable. Phosphorylation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase was not catalyzed by any other protein kinase tested. These results are consistent with a primary role of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in regulation of the enzyme in intact liver.

Phosphorylation of rat liver glycogen synthase by phosphorylase kinase.

Phosphorylation of rat liver glycogen synthase by rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase results in the incorporation of approximately 0.8-1.2 mol of PO4/subunit. Analyses of the tryptic peptides by isoelectric focusing and thin layer chromatography reveal the presence of two major 32P-labeled peptides. Similar results were obtained when the synthase was phosphorylated by rat liver phosphorylase kinase. This extent of phosphorylation does not result in a significant change in the synthase activity ratio. In contrast, rabbit muscle glycogen synthase is readily inactivated by rabbit muscle phosphorylase kinase; this inactivation is further augmented by the addition of rabbit muscle cAMP-dependent protein kinase or cAMP-independent synthase (casein) kinase-1. Addition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase after initial phosphorylation of liver synthase with phosphorylase kinase, however, does not result in an inactivation or additional phosphorylation. The lack of additive phosphorylation under this condition appears to result from the phosphorylation of a common site by these two kinases. Partial inactivation of liver synthase can be achieved by sequential phosphorylation with phosphorylase kinase followed by synthase (casein) kinase-1. Under this assay condition, the phosphate incorporation into the synthase is additively increased and the synthase activity ratio (-glucose-6-P/+glucose-6-P) is reduced from 0.95 to 0.6. Nevertheless, if the order of the addition of these two kinases is reversed, neither additive phosphorylation nor inactivation of the synthase is observed. Prior phosphorylation of the synthase by phosphorylase kinase transforms the synthase such that it becomes a better substrate for synthase (casein) kinase-1 as evidenced by a 2- to 4-fold increase in the rate of phosphorylation. This increased rate of phosphorylation of the synthase appears to result from the rapid phosphorylation of a site neighboring that previously phosphorylated by phosphorylase kinase.

Two diverse effects of poly(L-lysine) on rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase: stimulation of autophosphorylation and inhibition of its activity

Polylysine greatly stimulated the autophosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle. When fully autophosphorylated, about 14 mol of phosphate per tetramer (αβγδ) were incorporated in the presence of polylysine, which was twice as much as those observed without polylysine. In contrast to this stimulatory effect of polylysine on the autophosphorylation, polylysine strongly inhibited the conversion reaction of phosphorylase b to a. The inhibition is competitive with a K i of 2.3 μg/ml. No effects of polylysine were observed on the activities of phosphorylase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Ca 2+-dependent stimulation of muscle and liver phosphorylase kinase by heparin

1. 1. Heparin stimulates the activity of nonactivated and activated skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase in a Ca 2+-dependent manner. 2. 2. The stimulatory effect of heparin on the activity of nonactivated phosphorylase kinase is also expressed in the presence of calmodulin and glycogen. Heparin acted in synergism with glycogen. 3. 3. Heparin increases the affinity of phosphorylase kinase to Ca 2+ 5–12 fold depending upon the activation conditions. 4. 4. Ca 2+ influences the stimulation of liver phosphorylase kinase by heparin in a similar way.

Free energy coupling in the interactions between Ca2+, calmodulin, and phosphorylase kinase.

Interactions between Ca2+, exogenous calmodulin, and white skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase have been quantitatively studied by equilibrium gel filtrations and analyzed by means of the so-called "linked functions" theory (Weber, G. (1975) Adv. Protein Chem. 29, 1-83). Four moles of calmodulin, each saturated with at least 3 Ca2+ ions, bind to 1 mol of phosphorylase kinase with a Kdiss of 2.3 nM. The activation of the enzyme as a function of free [Ca2+] shows that the intrinsic Ca-binding properties of phosphorylase kinase do not change upon binding of exogenous calmodulin, and confirms that alpha beta gamma delta X Ca3 is the functional catalytic unit through which activation occurs. Direct binding studies reveal that the intrinsic Ca-binding properties of the enzyme remain the same in the presence of either 0.5 or 8 mM Mg2+, indicating that phosphorylase kinase is endowed with Ca-specific sites. Upon interaction with the enzyme, calmodulin acquires strong positive cooperativity in Ca2+-binding: whereas its first two stoichiometric Ca-binding constants are not significantly different from those of free calmodulin, the third Ca2+ ion binds with an affinity at least 10(5)-fold higher than the corresponding one in free calmodulin. Calmodulin liganded with 1 or 2 Ca2+ displays the same low affinity for the enzyme as calmodulin depleted of Ca2+ (approximate Kdiss = 10(-4)-10(-3) M). The alpha beta gamma delta X calmodulin X Ca3 complex is strengthened by a free energy coupling of -8 kcal/mol upon complexation. The quantitative analysis of our results predicts that in spite of this high free energy barrier the dissociation of the complex (i.e. the inactivation of phosphorylase kinase) occurs rapidly upon lowering free [Ca2+].

The effect of heart and skeletal muscle troponin complexes and calmodulin on the Ca2+-dependent reactions of phosphorylase kinase isoenzymes.

The dephosphorylated form of phosphorylase kinase was purified 700-fold from rabbit heart extract. The purified enzyme had a pH 6.8/pH 8.2 activity ratio of 0.04-0.08 and was completely dependent on Ca2+ with an apparent Ka value for Ca2+ of 2.59 microM at pH 6.8. At free Ca2+ concentrations between 0.057 microM and 400 microM, 1.5 microM rabbit heart troponin complex had no significant effect on the reaction. However, 1.5 microM rabbit skeletal muscle troponin complex stimulated the reaction 1.5-2-fold with a concomitant decrease in the Ka value for Ca2+ to 1.40 microM. No differences in the effects of these troponin complexes were observed when heart-type and skeletal muscle-type phosphorylase b isoenzymes from either rabbit or pig were used as substrate. Similar effects of heart and skeletal muscle troponin complexes were observed on the Ca2+-dependent reaction of the dephosphorylated form of phosphorylase kinase partially purified from rabbit skeletal muscle. A saturating concentration (1.36 microM) of bovine brain calmodulin stimulated 2-5-fold the Ca2+-dependent reaction of skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase, but not the reaction of heart phosphorylase kinase. Heart troponin complex (12 microM) suppressed 80-100% the stimulatory effect of skeletal muscle troponin complex on the reactions of phosphorylase kinase isoenzymes, but had no significant effect on the stimulation by calmodulin of skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase reaction.

Characterization of initial autophosphorylation events in rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase.

Initial autophosphorylation of nonactivated rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase at pH 8.0 caused an increase in enzymatic activity that closely paralleled phosphorylation of the beta subunit. Peptide maps revealed that the first phosphate incorporated into the beta subunit during autophosphorylation was on the same tryptic peptide previously isolated from phosphorylase kinase that had been phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (Cohen P., Watson, D.C., and Dixon, G.H. (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 51, 79-92). When preincubated with phosphorylase kinase for one min, Ca2+ and Mg2+ synergistically stimulated subsequent autophosphorylation at pH 6.8. After this treatment phosphorylation of both the alpha and beta subunits became linear, and the first site phosphorylated on the beta subunit at pH 6.8 corresponded to the first site phosphorylated at pH 8.0. Removal of the lag as a consequence of the synergistic action of the metal ions allowed determination of a Km for MgATP of approximately 20 microM during initial autophosphorylation at either pH 6.8 or 8.2. With phosphorylase b as the substrate the Km values for MgATP under identical conditions were determined to be approximately 30 and 60 microM at pH 6.8 and 8.2, respectively. Initial rates of autophosphorylation over a 30-fold range of phosphorylase kinase concentrations suggest that incorporation of the first 1 to 2 mol of phosphate per alpha beta gamma delta tetramer occurs through an intramolecular mechanism.

Phosphorylation and activation of red skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase isozyme.

Phosphorylation and activation of red skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase isozyme.

Dephosphorylation of skeletal muscle phosphorylase, glycogen synthase, and phosphorylase kinase β-subunit by a Mn 2+-activated protein phosphatase

An Mn 2+-activated phosphoprotein phosphatase of M r = 80,000 from rabbit muscle catalyzes the dephosphorylation of skeletal muscle proteins that are phosphorylated by either phosphorylase kinase or cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylase or glycogen synthase labeled by phosphorylase kinase at seryl residues 14 or 7, respectively, are both dephosphorylated by the phosphatase. Phosphorylase a and glycogen synthase compete with one another for the phosphatase. The phosphatase discriminates between different sites labeled by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase: glycogen synthase phosphorylated either to 1.0 or 1.8 mol phosphate/mol, or phosphorylase kinase phosphorylated on its β-subunit serve as substrates for the phosphatase, but the phosphorylase kinase α-subunit, the phosphorylated phosphatase inhibitor 1, or casein do not. Histone fraction IIA, phosphorylated by the catalytic subunit, was a poor substrate even at a concentration of 100 μ m. Phosphorylation of the α-subunit of phosphorylase kinase had no influence on the kinetics of dephosphorylation of the β-subunit. Thus, the M r = 80,000 phosphatase meets the functional definition of a protein phosphatase 1 [Cohen, P. (1978) Curr. Top. Cell. Regul. 14, 117–196]. Furthermore, from a comparison of the known phosphorylated sites of these proteins, it appears that the phosphatase discriminates between different sites present in the phosphoproteins tested on the basis of the K m values for the reactions. It displays a preferential activity toward proteins with a primary structure wherein basic residues are two positions amino-terminal from the phosphoserine, AgrLysX-YSer(P) or LysArgX-YSer(P), rather and one residue away, ArgArgX-Ser(P).

Phosphorylation and activation of rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase by a cyclic nucleotide- and Ca2+-independent protein kinase.

Phosphorylase kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle can be phosphorylated and activated by a cyclic nucleotide- and Ca2+-independent protein kinase previously identified as a glycogen synthase kinase (Itarte, E., and Huang, K.-P. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 4052-4057). This independent kinase phosphorylates the beta subunit of phosphorylase kinase approximately 15 times faster than it does the alpha subunit. The cAMP-dependent and -independent kinases separately catalyze the incorporation of 1 mol of phosphate into the beta subunit. Analyses of the tryptic peptides from the beta subunit phosphorylated with either kinase by isoelectric focusing and peptide mapping indicate that both kinases phosphorylate the same site on the beta subunit. Activation of phosphorylase kinase catalyzed by the independent kinase is only 60% of that observed with cAMP-dependent kinase. If phosphorylase kinase is first incubated with the independent kinase to phosphorylate the beta subunit, subsequent addition of cAMP-dependent kinase results in a predominant phosphorylation of the alpha subunit. This additional phosphorylation of the alpha subunit is accompanied by a further activation of the alpha subunit is accompanied by a further activation of phosphorylase kinase to the same extent as that achieved by cAMP-dependent kinase alone. Hence, the phosphorylation of the alpha subunit is clearly required for full activation of phosphorylase kinase, even at low [Mg2+].

The regulatory role of Mg 2+ on rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase

The stimulation of phosphorylase kinase by Mg 2+ was studied. Both the nonactivated and activated kinases are stimulated by Mg 2+ at concentrations that are 100- to 200-fold greater than ATP. This stimulation is observed at both pH 6.8 and 8.2 and results in a 10-fold increase in the activity of the nonactivated kinase. Mg 2+ stimulation is additive with that observed by calmodulin. Both the Ca 2+-dependent and -independent activities of the kinase are stimulated by high [Mg 2+]. Kinetically this stimulation can be explained by a decrease in the K m for both phosphorylase b and ATP or an increase in V. The pH 6.8 8.2 ratio (0.06) is unaffected by [Mg 2+] between 5 and 20 m m, but increases when [Mg 2+] is less than 5 m m or greater than 20 m m. The stimulation by high [Mg 2+] is explained by a direct effect of this cation on the kinase molecule rather than on its protein substrate, phosphorylase. This activating effect of high [Mg 2+] does not result in any permanent change in the kinase molecule and can be readily reversed by diluting [Mg 2+] to a low value.