Substrate For cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Research Articles

Domain-structure analysis of recombinant rat hormone-sensitive lipase.

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) plays a key role in lipid metabolism and overall energy homoeostasis, by controlling the release of fatty acids from stored triglycerides in adipose tissue. Lipases and esterases form a protein superfamily with a common structural fold, called the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold, and a catalytic triad of serine, aspartic or glutamic acid and histidine. Previous alignments between HSL and lipase 2 of Moraxella TA144 have been extended to cover a much larger part of the HSL sequence. From these extended alignments, possible sites for the catalytic triad and alpha/beta-hydrolase fold are suggested. Furthermore, it is proposed that HSL contains a structural domain with catalytic capacity and a regulatory module attached, as well as a structural N-terminal domain unique to this enzyme. In order to test the proposed domain structure, rat HSL was overexpressed and purified to homogeneity using a baculovirus/insect-cell expression system. The purification, resulting in > 99% purity, involved detergent solubilization followed by anion-exchange chromatography and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. The purified recombinant enzyme was identical to rat adipose-tissue HSL with regard to specific activity, substrate specificity and ability to serve as a substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The recombinant HSL was subjected to denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride and limited proteolysis. These treatments resulted in more extensive loss of activity against phospholipid-stabilized lipid substrates than against water-soluble substrates, suggesting that the hydrolytic activity can be separated from recognition of lipid substrates. These data support the concept that HSL has at least two major domains.

Identification of cGMP-dependent protein kinase and its specific substrates in the anterior pituitary

In the anterior pituitary, cGMP is produced in response to a number of stimuli, but intracellular events distal to cGMP production are obscure. Since cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) is a major effector of cGMP actions in other tissues we have determined whether PKG and its specific substrates might be present and responsive to external signals in the ovine anterior pituitary. Photoaffinity labelling with [ 32P]cGMP revealed a specific 78 kDa protein in ovine anterior pituitary that comigrated with purified bovine lung PKG-I. PKG in protein extracts from anterior pituitary or cultured anterior pituitary cells was enriched by DEAE ion-exchange chromatography and assayed for activity. Both tissue and cultured cells had a relatively high PKG activity by comparison with aortic smooth muscle (known high activity) and brain (known low activity). Subcellular distribution studies showed that in anterior pituitary, aortic and brain, PKG activity was present in both cytosol and triton-extracted membrane fractions, while in platelets the activity was associated with only the membrane fraction. To determine if this PKG might be responsive to extracellular signals an activity ratio assay was used. Incubation of cultured cells with atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and sodium nitroprusside, activators of membrane and cytosolic guanylate cyclases respectively, increased the activity of PKG. To determine events distal to PKG activation, a search for potential substrates of PKG was performed. Few substrates were detectable upon addition of purified PKG to tissue lysates due to the high background activity of endogenous protein kinases in the anterior pituitary. However, 19 substrates of PKG were detected in heat-stable and 14 in acid-soluble protein extracts of the anterior pituitary, in which background phosphorylation was almost abolished. After partial purification through Q-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography some of these proteins were preferentially phosphorylated by addition of PKG-I, while the others were additionally substrates of exogenous cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or Ca 2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC). A 132-kDa substrate showed an identical phosphopeptide map to a PKG substrate previously described in vascular smooth muscle and platelets. These data demonstrate for the first time the presence of functional PKG activity and multiple PKG substrates in the anterior pituitary where they may play a role in mediating the intracellular actions of cGMP.

The 44-kDa regulatory subunit of the Paramecium cAMP-dependent protein kinase lacks a dimerization domain and may have a unique autophosphorylation site sequence.

The 44-kDa regulatory subunit (R44) of one form of cAMP-dependent protein kinase of Paramecium was purified, and two partial internal amino acid sequences from it were used to clone the corresponding cDNA. This R44 cDNA clone was 1022-bp long, including 978 bp of coding sequence and 7 bp and 37 bp of 5' and 3' untranslated sequences, respectively. A 1.1-kb mRNA was labeled on a Northern blot. The deduced R44 amino acid sequence had 31%-38% positional identity to the sequences of other cloned cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunits. R44 sequence showed equal sequence similarity to mammalian types I and II regulatory subunits. The N-terminal sequence encoding the regulatory subunit dimerization domain found in most regulatory subunits is not present in the R44 clone, confirming the lack of regulatory subunit dimer formation previously reported for the Paramecium cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The putative autophosphorylation site of R44 contains the amino acid sequence TRTS, distinct from the consensus sequence RRXS, where X is any residue, found in other autophosphorylated cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunits and many cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrates.

Nuclear Localization of Type II cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase during Limb Cartilage Differentiation Is Associated with a Novel Developmentally Regulated A-Kinase Anchoring Protein

Differentiation of chicken limb cartilage is accompanied by a rise in intracellular cyclic AMP, an inducer of cartilage-specific gene expression. A basic ∼35-kDa protein, designated p35, is the major nuclear substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) during this process. Here we show that whereas both precartilage and cartilage nuclei contain p35, only precartilage nuclei contain PKA. The phosphorylation of p35 in isolated cell fractions was used as an index of changes in the cellular comparmentalization of components of PKA during chondrogenesis. Both the catalytic subunit and type II regulatory subunit (RII) of PKA were present in the precartilage nuclear fraction, but were undetectable or present in only trace amounts in the cartilage nuclear fraction. Furthermore, a novel ∼150-kDa A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP), which binds to RII, was detected in the nuclear matrix of precartilage nuclei but, like RII, was virtually absent in the nuclei of fully differentiated cartilage cells. In limb mesenchymal cells undergoing chondrogenesis in culture a corresponding set of changes occurred: cartilage differentiation was accompanied by a marked reduction in the amounts of both nuclear RII and nAKAP150. These observations indicate that type II PKA holoenzyme is imported into the mesenchymal cell nucleus prior to chondrogenesis, an event that appears to depend on the the activity of the developmentally regulated nAKAP150.

Effect of phosphorylation of latrotoxin-like brain protein on its fusogenic properties

A latrotoxin-like protein isolated from the bovine brain is shown to be a cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate. The fusogenic activity of the protein was determined from the extent of mixing of content of the negatively charged liposomes in the presence of native or phosphorylated protein preparations. It was shown that phosphorylation of the protein considerably decreased its fusogenic activity at pH 7.5, but increased this activity at pH 6.0. The possible regulatory role of the phosphorylation in the functioning of latrotoxin-like protein is suggested.

Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphoprotein components I and II interact with beta gamma subunits of transducin in frog rod outer segments.

Components I and II (CI&II) in frog rod outer segments (ROS) are prominent cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A) substrates. Their phosphorylation level is high in the dark, and illumination causes dephosphorylation. In order to understand their physiological role in phototransduction, biochemical characterization of CI&II phosphorylation was performed. Fractionation of phosphorylated ROS proteins showed that CI&II in the soluble fraction were highly phosphorylated by endogenous PK-A, whereas those in the membrane-associated protein fractions were not. The latter proteins could be phosphorylated by purified catalytic subunit of PK-A (PK-Acat) while the former proteins were not, suggesting that membrane-bound CI&II are normally much less phosphorylated. Treatments that dissociate the alpha subunit (alpha t) of transducin (Gt) from beta gamma subunits (beta gamma t) and thus produce excess free subunits of Gt in the soluble fraction caused inhibition of CI&II phosphorylation in the soluble fraction and enhancement of CI&II phosphorylation in the peripheral membrane fractions containing less Gt. Unphosphorylated CI&II tightly associated with the washed ROS membranes could be extracted after phosphorylation by PK-Acat. Phosphorylation also caused elution of beta gamma t from the membrane under the same conditions. Cross-linking by the maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of the peripheral membrane fraction produced a distinct phosphorylated 50 kDa product with concurrent disappearance of the beta subunit of transducin (beta t) and phosphorylated CI&II. This phosphorylated cross-linked product was not recognized by a monoclonal anti-alpha t antibody but was recognized by antiserum against beta t, suggesting that the 50 kDa protein is a complex of beta gamma t and CI&II. Amino terminal sequencing of components I and II suggests that they are identical proteins with a unique sequence unrelated to other proteins in protein data bases. Phosphopeptide mapping of phosphorylated CI&II in the soluble fraction yielded two trypsinized phosphopeptides, while that in the peripheral membrane fractions showed only one phosphopeptide. These data suggest that multiple phosphorylation of CI&II alters their cellular localization. We conclude that phosphorylation of CI&II controls their localization in frog ROS and an interaction of CI&II with subunits of Gt regulates their phosphorylation.

Dephosphorylation of a 30-kDa Protein of Fowl Spermatozoa by the Addition of Myosin Light Chain Kinase Substrate Peptide Inhibits the Flagellar Motility

Phosphorylation of demembranated fowl sperm proteins during incubation with [γ- 32P]ATP and various protein kinase substrate peptides at 30°C was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A marked difference in phosphorylation was observed in a 30 kDa protein. This protein was strongly phosphorylated after the addition of Kemptide, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) substrate peptide; Syntide 2, a calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II substrate peptide; a protein kinase C (PKC) substrate peptide; as well as control samples but only slightly phosphorylated in the presence of a myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) substrate peptide. The motility of demembranated spermatozoa at 30°C remained high in control samples and following the addition of Kemptide, Syntide 2 and PKC substrate peptide, but decreased markedly following the addition of MLCK substrate peptide. These results suggest that the 30 kDa protein is identified as a substrate for MLCK or a MLCK-like protein in fowl spermatozoa and that phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of this protein is involved in the regulation of flagellar movement at 30°C.

Dephosphorylation of the focal adhesion protein VASP in vitro and in intact human platelets

The focal adhesion protein VASP, a possible link between signal transduction pathways and the microfilament system, is phosphorylated by both cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases in vitro and in intact cells. Here, the analysis of VASP dephosphorylation by the serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP) PP1, PP2A, PP2B and PP2C in vitro is reported. The phosphatases differed in their selectivity with respect to the dephosphorylation of individual VASP phosphorylation sites. Incubation of human platelets with okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of PP1 and PP2A, caused the accumulation of phosphorylated VASP indicating that the phosphorylation status of VASP in intact cells is regulated to a major extent by serine/ threonine protein phosphatases. Furthermore, the accumulation of phosphorylated cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate(s) appears to account for inhibitory effects of okadaic acid on platelet function.

The Muscle Isoform of 6-Phosphofructo 2-Kinase/Fructose 2,6-Bisphosphatase of the Teleost Sparus aurata: Relationship with the Liver Isoform

The liver isoform of 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase of the teleost fish Sparus aurata has several characteristics similar to the skeletal muscle isoform of mammals. In order to ascertain the relation between muscle and liver isoforms in teleost, 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase/fructose 2,6 bisphosphatase was purified from skeletal muscle of S. aurata. The muscle isozyme is composed of subunits with a molecular weight of 54 kDa, is bifunctional, and has an activity ratio kinase to bisphosphatase of 2.5. Muscle 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase is not sensitive to glycerol 3-phosphate inhibition and has noncooperative K ATP m , higher than the liver isozyme. Thus, the kinetic characteristics of the muscle were distinguishable from the liver isozyme. Furthermore, the muscle isozyme is not a substrate of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Despite those differences, two polyclonal antibodies raised against purified liver and muscle isozymes from S. aurata are not able to distinguish between them. Both antisera recognize with lower affinity recombinant rat liver 6-phosphofructo a kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase. A third antibody raised against the rat liver isozyme was also able to immunoprecipitate the teleost enzymes. The close immunological properties found suggest that S. aurata isozymes share epitopes in common. Considering the kinetic and immunological data reported, it is likely that the skeletal muscle/liver isozymes in teleost are products of a differentially spliced transcript of the same gene, as it is in rat. As those species are distant in vertebrate evolution, the similitude suggest that a common ancestral gene is involved in the muscle/liver 6-phosphofructo 2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase system in vertebrates.

Mat-8, a Novel Phospholemman-like Protein Expressed in Human Breast Tumors, Induces a Chloride Conductance in Xenopus Oocytes

We recently identified a novel 8-kDa transmembrane protein, Mat-8, that is expressed in a subset of murine breast tumors. We have now cloned a cDNA encoding the human version of Mat-8 and show that it is expressed both in primary human breast tumors and in human breast tumor cell lines. The extracellular and transmembrane domains of Mat-8 are homologous to those of phospholemman (PLM), the major plasmalemmal substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C in several different tissues. PLM, which induces chloride currents when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, contains consensus phosphorylation sites for both cAMP-dependent protein kinase A and protein kinase C in its cytoplasmic domain. In contrast, the cytoplasmic domain of Mat-8 contains no such consensus phosphorylation sites and is, in fact, unrelated to the cytoplasmic domain of PLM. RNA blot analysis reveals that Mat-8 and PLM exhibit distinct tissue-specific patterns of expression. We show that expression of Mat-8 in Xenopus oocytes induces hyperpolarization-activated chloride currents similar to those induced by PLM expression. These findings suggest that Mat-8 and PLM, the products of distinct genes, are related proteins that serve as Cl- channels or Cl- channel regulators but have different roles in cell and organ physiology.

Multiple protein kinase activities required for activation of sperm flagellar motility.

A specific peptide inhibitor of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKI-peptide) is a very effective inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent activation of motility of Ciona spermatozoa, when PKI-peptide is present at the beginning of incubation of demembranated spermatozoa with cAMP and ATP. Under conditions where approximately 120 sec is required for full activation of motility, the window of sensitivity to the PKI-peptide lasts for only 25-30 sec. Examination of sperm pellet proteins labeled with 32P ATP during activation reveals a major 25 kDa phosphoprotein and 2 minor phosphoproteins whose phosphorylation is highly sensitive to to inhibition by the PKI-peptide and essentially complete during this early phase. These sperm proteins appear to be immediate substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and phosphorylation of one or more of these appears to be requires, but not sufficient, for activation of motility. The phosphorylation of other proteins is reduced or eliminated when PKI-peptide is present at the beginning of incubation, but is unaffected by later addition of PKI-peptide. Some of these substrates appear to be likely candidates for axonemal proteins that must be phosphorylated during the later stages of incubation in order to complete the activation process. This selection is based upon a high degree of inhibition by inclusion of PKI-peptide or other inhibitors at the start of the incubation process, on near-completion of their phosphorylation by the end of the 2 min incubation period required for the activation of motility, and evidence that these proteins are phosphorylated during in vivo activation of motility. Although these observations suggest the presence of a second kinase activity that is upregulated by the initial activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, assays using exogenous substrates have not yet been able to identify such a kinase activity.

Identification of a ras-related protein in murine erythroleukemia cells that is a cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate and is phosphorylated during chemically induced differentiation

Murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells deficient in cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) activity are impaired in chemically induced differentiation (Pilz, R. B., Eigenthaler, M., and Boss, G. R. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 16161-16167). We identified by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis two low molecular weight proteins (referred to as pp 21-1 and 21-2) that were phosphorylated when parental MEL cells, but not A-kinase-deficient MEL cells, were treated with the membrane-permeable cAMP analog 8-bromo-cAMP. We showed that pp 21-1 and 21-2: (a) were direct A-kinase substrates; (b) bound GTP; and (c) belonged to the ras superfamily of proteins. The only ras-related proteins that are clearly A-kinase substrates both in vitro and in vivo are Rap 1A and 1B while H- and K-Ras can be A-kinase substrates in vitro; we showed by immunological methods, phosphopeptide mapping, and migration on two-dimensional gels that pp 21-1 and 21-2 were not identical to one of these four proteins. We found a 3-fold increase of 32PO4 incorporation into pp 21-2 in hexamethylene bisacetamide-treated parental MEL cells which was not secondary to an increase in pp 21-2 protein but appeared secondary to increased phosphorylation of pp 21-2 by A-kinase. Thus, pp 21-1 and 21-2 are either new ras-related proteins or are previously identified ras-related proteins not known to be A-kinase substrates, and increased phosphorylation of pp 21-2 occurs during differentiation of MEL cells.

Incorporation of Rap 1b into the platelet cytoskeleton is dependent on thrombin activation and extracellular calcium.

Rap 1b is a 22-kDa low molecular mass GTP-binding protein which is both a member of the Ras superfamily and a substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Recently, evidence has been presented to show that Rap 1b is incorporated into the detergent-extracted cytoskeleton of platelets during thrombin-induced activation. The aims of this study were to compare the incorporation of Rap 1b into the detergent-extracted cytoskeleton after activation with different agonists, to examine the role of extracellular calcium on the incorporation of Rap 1b into the cytoskeleton, to investigate the relationship between the association of Rap 1b and other proteins with the cytoskeleton, and to determine the effect of phosphorylation of Rap 1b incorporation into the cytoskeleton. Platelets were activated with thrombin, A23187, phorbol myristate acetate, ADP, epinephrine, and collagen in the presence and absence of calcium. The time dependence of Rap 1b incorporation into the detergent-extracted cytoskeleton was then measured. When platelets were activated by thrombin in the presence of extracellular calcium, conditions which permit aggregation, incorporation of Rap 1b into the detergent-extracted cytoskeleton was biphasic. Approximately 20% of the total cellular Rap 1b incorporated into the cytoskeleton within seconds and was followed by a slower second phase of incorporation. In contrast, when platelets were activated by thrombin in the absence of calcium, conditions which inhibit aggregation, or by the other agents in the presence or absence of calcium, only the initial phase of Rap 1b incorporation into the cytoskeleton was measured. The incorporation of Rap 1b paralleled the incorporation of membrane glycoproteins (GP) IIb/IIIa and PECAM-1, but not the incorporation of pp60c-src. The GTPase-activating protein for Ras (Ras-GAP) did not associate with the detergent-extracted cytoskeleton. Two-dimensional isoelectric focusing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the total cellular and cytoskeletal Rap 1b showed that unphosphorylated as well as phosphorylated isoforms of Rap 1b were incorporated into the cytoskeleton in the same molar ratio as was present in the intact cell. Furthermore, the rates of incorporation of phosphorylated and unphosphorylated Rap 1b into the cytoskeleton were similar. These experiments show that Rap 1b can regulate events that take place within seconds after activation, such as the initial formation of the cytoskeleton, as well as longer term changes in the cytoskeleton that occur in response to thrombin-induced aggregation. Furthermore, phosphorylation could modulate the (unknown) functions of Rap 1b as a component of the cytoskeleton.

Differential phosphorylation of two size forms of the N-type calcium channel alpha 1 subunit which have different COOH termini.

Two size forms of the class B N-type calcium channel alpha 1 subunit were recently identified with CNB1, an antipeptide antibody directed against an intracellular loop of this channel (Westenbroek, R.E., Hell, J.W., Warner, C., Dubel, S.J., Snutch, T.P., and Catterall, W.A. (1992) Neuron 9, 1099-1115). To investigate the biochemical differences between these two size forms, the antibodies CNB3 and CNB4 were raised against peptides with sequences corresponding to the COOH-terminal end of the full-length form. Immunoblot experiments demonstrated that both antibodies specifically recognize the longer form of 250 kDa, indicating that the COOH-terminal regions of the two size forms of the class B N-type channel alpha 1 subunit are different. Phosphorylation experiments with immunopurified calcium channels and different second messenger-activated protein kinases revealed that both the 220- and 250-kDa forms of the class B N-type calcium channel alpha 1 subunit are substrates for cAMP-dependent protein kinase, cGMP-dependent protein kinase, and protein kinase C. These three kinases incorporated approximately 1 mol of phosphate/mol of binding sites for omega-conotoxin (omega-CgTx) GVIA, a ligand specific for the N-type calcium channel, and may regulate the activity of both forms in vivo. In contrast, calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) phosphorylated only the long form of the class B N-type calcium channel alpha 1 subunit, with a stoichiometry of 0.5 mol of phosphate/mol of total omega-CgTx GVIA binding sites. Specific phosphorylation of the long form of the class B alpha 1 subunit by CaM kinase II may differentially regulate the function of N-type calcium channels containing different size forms of their alpha 1 subunits in vivo.

Recombinant rabbit tryptophan hydroxylase is a substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase

A full-length cDNA clone for rabbit tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) was modified and subcloned into a bacterial expression vector. Expression of this gene in the protease-deficient strain of bacteria, BL21[DE3], produced TPH immunoreactive protein which exhibited enzyme activity. Treatment of the recombinant enzyme (in bacterial extracts) with the purified catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and [ y- 32P]-ATP resulted in specific phosphorylation of TPH. This expression system provides a means of generating and purifying large amounts of this important enzyme. Moreover, these experiments establish that TPH will serve as an in vitro substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

Identification of a ras-related protein in murine erythroleukemia cells that is a cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate and is phosphorylated during chemically induced differentiation

Identification of a ras-related protein in murine erythroleukemia cells that is a cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate and is phosphorylated during chemically induced differentiation

Stereochemistry specifies the regiochemistry of phosphorylation in two cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrates

The substrate specificity of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase has been assessed with peptides bearing threoninol diastereomers. The threoninol residue contains both a primary alcohol and a secondary alcohol, either of which may serve as a site of phosphorylation. The enzyme-catalyzed phosphorylation of Gly-Arg-Thr-Gly-Arg-Arg-Asn-(2R,3R)-threoninol furnishes a Km of 498 +/- 39 microM and a Vmax of 7.8 +/- 0.2 mumol/min-mg, whereas the phosphorylation of Gly-Arg-Thr-Gly-Arg-Arg-Asn-(2S,3S)-threoninol provides a Km of 16.3 +/- 0.8 microM and a Vmax of 16.0 +/- 0.4 mumol/min-mg. Mass spectral analysis of the phosphopeptide reaction products revealed that each species is phosphorylated only once. 1H-coupled 31P NMR experiments unequivocally demonstrated that the (2R,3R)-isomer is specifically phosphorylated at the secondary alcohol, whereas the (2S,3S)-isomer is exclusively phosphorylated at the primary alcohol. This regiospecificity appears to be a consequence of the stereochemistry at C-2 in the threoninol residues. The structural attributes of the protein kinase that appear to be responsible for the observed differentiation between the C-2 stereoisomers is discussed.

Regulation of Gastric H +-K +-ATPase by cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase

A functional approach was utilized to isolate protein effectors from cAMP-stimulated rabbit gastric microsomes capable of stimulating H +-K +-ATPase activity. These studies have resulted in isolation of a cAMP-dependent protein kinase product from rabbit gastric microsomes which is capable of stimulating the proton pump of the parietal cell, H +-K +-ATPase, in inhibited gastric microsomes. This protein is membrane-bound and may be extracted from gastric microsomes only in the phosphorylated state. This phosphoprotein has at least 20 phosphorylation sites and produces enhancement of H +-K +-ATPase activity which equals that induced by the K + ionophore, valinomycin. It would appear, therefore, that cAMP-mediated acid secretion involves phosphorylation of a membrane-bound cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate in close proximity to the proton pump which produces K + conductance and thereby controls the rate of acid secretion. The degree of phosphorylation of this protein is probably controlled by the activities of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphoprotein phosphatase.

The active site substrate specificity of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase

cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrates have been synthesized employing an unusually efficient method that allows the alcohol-bearing residue to be incorporated into the peptide after solid phase peptide synthesis. These peptide substrates have been utilized to map the active site substrate specificity of the protein kinase. Only alpha- or beta-substituted alcohol-bearing residues containing the proper absolute configuration are phosphorylated by the enzyme. However, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase will phosphorylate achiral residues. The implications of the observed protein kinase substrate specificity with respect to inhibitor design are discussed.

Phosphatidic acid modulates Cl- secretion in T84 cells: varying effects depending on mode of stimulation.

Cl- secretion in T84 cells evoked by a stimulus that activates protein kinase C, carbachol, was associated with elevated levels of 32P-labeled phosphatidic acid (PA). PA's role in the regulation of Cl- secretion was explored by examining the effect of exogenous PA (10(-4) M) on Cl- secretion and intracellular Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) in monolayers. PA potentiated the effect of carbachol on [Ca2+]i and Cl- secretion, although it did not stimulate Cl- secretion by itself. PA had divergent effects on cyclic nucleotide-dependent Cl- secretion. It delayed Cl- secretion induced by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide [VIP, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) dependent] but potentiated that induced by the heat-stable enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (STa; guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate dependent). PA did not alter AMP or GMP levels, suggesting that PA acts at a site distal to the generation of these second messengers. PA caused a slight increase in phosphorylation of protein kinase C substrates but not of cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrates. However, PA is probably not acting through a classical protein kinase C pathway, because we have previously shown that phorbol esters inhibit carbachol's actions, and the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine failed to block the effect of PA on VIP- or STa-stimulated Cl- secretion. Thus PA differentially regulates stimulated Cl- secretion in T84 cells, depending on the nature of the agonist.