Hormonal control of protein phosphorylation in turkey erythrocytes. Phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent and Ca2+-dependent protein kinases of distinct sites in goblin, a high molecular weight protein of the plasma membrane

Effects of nicotine on DARPP-32 and CaMKII signaling relevant to addiction

Paul Greengard brought to neuroscience the idea of, and evidence for, the role of second messenger systems in neuronal signaling. The fundamental nature of his contributions is evident in the far reach of his work, relevant to various subfields and topics in neuroscience. In this review, we discuss some of Greengard's work from the perspective of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and their relevance to nicotine addiction. Specifically, we review the roles of dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phospho-protein of 32kDa (DARPP-32) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) in nicotine-dependent behaviors. For each protein, we discuss the historical context of their discovery and initial characterization, focusing on the extensive biochemical and immunohistochemical work conducted by Greengard and colleagues. We then briefly summarize contemporary understanding of each protein in key intracellular signaling cascades and evidence for the role of each protein with respect to systems and behaviors relevant to nicotine addiction.

Cell volume regulation: osmolytes, osmolyte transport, and signal transduction

In recent years, it has become evident that the volume of a given cell is an important factor not only in defining its intracellular osmolality and its shape, but also in defining other cellular functions, such as transepithelial transport, cell migration, cell growth, cell death, and the regulation of intracellular metabolism. In addition, besides inorganic osmolytes, the existence of organic osmolytes in cells has been discovered. Osmolyte transport systems-channels and carriers alike-have been identified and characterized at a molecular level and also, to a certain extent, the intracellular signals regulating osmolyte movements across the plasma membrane. The current review reflects these developments and focuses on the contributions of inorganic and organic osmolytes and their transport systems in regulatory volume increase (RVI) and regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in a variety of cells. Furthermore, the current knowledge on signal transduction in volume regulation is compiled, revealing an astonishing diversity in transport systems, as well as of regulatory signals. The information available indicates the existence of intricate spatial and temporal networks that control cell volume and that we are just beginning to be able to investigate and to understand.

Dynamics of ankyrin-containing complexes in chicken embryonic erythroid cells: role of phosphorylation

Chicken erythroid ankyrin undergoes a fairly rapid cycle of cytoskeletal association, dissociation, and turnover. In addition, the cytoskeletal association of ankyrin is regulated by phosphorylation. Treatment of erythroid cells with serine and threonine phosphatase inhibitors stimulated the hyperphosphorylation of the 225- and 205-kDa ankyrin isoforms, and dissociated the bulk of these isoforms from cytoskeletal spectrin. In vitro binding studies have shown that this dissociation of ankyrin from spectrin in vivo can be attributed to a reduced ability of hyperphosphorylated ankyrin to bind spectrin. Interestingly, a significant fraction of detergent insoluble ankyrin accumulates in a spectrin-independent pool. At least some of this spectrin-independent pool of ankyrin is complexed with the AE1 anion exchanger, and the solubility properties of this pool are also regulated by phosphorylation. Treatment of cells with serine and threonine phosphatase inhibitors had no effect on ankyrin/AE1 complex formation. However, these inhibitors were sufficient to shift ankyrin/AE1 complexes from the detergent insoluble to the soluble pool. These analyses, which are the first to document the in vivo consequences of ankyrin phosphorylation, indicate that erythroid ankyrin-containing complexes can undergo dynamic rearrangements in response to changes in phosphorylation.

Cardiac cell volume: crystal clear or murky waters? A comparison with other cell types

The osmolarity of bodily fluids is strictly controlled so that most cells do not experience changes in osmotic pressure under normal conditions, but osmotic changes can occur in pathological states such as ischemia, septic shock, and diabetic coma. The primary effect of a change in osmolarity is to acutely alter cell volume. If the osmolarity around a cell is decreased, the cell swells, and if increased, it shrinks. In order to tolerate changes in osmolarity, cells have evolved volume regulatory mechanisms activated by osmotic challenge to normalise cell volume and maintain normal function. In the heart, osmotic stress is encountered during a period of myocardial ischemia when metabolites such as lactate accumulate intracellularly and to a certain degree extracellularly, and cause cell swelling. This swelling may be exacerbated further on reperfusion when the hyperosmotic extracellular milieu is replaced by normosmotic blood. In this review, we describe the theory and mechanisms of volume regulation, and draw on findings in extracardiac tissues, such as kidney, whose responses to osmotic change are well characterised. We then describe cell volume regulation in the heart, with particular emphasis on the effect of myocardial ischemia. Finally, we describe the consequences of osmotic cell swelling for the cell and for the heart, and discuss the implications for antiarrhythmic drug efficacy. Using computer modelling, we have summated the changes induced by cell swelling, and predict that swelling will shorten the action potential. This finding indicates that cell swelling is an important component of the response to ischemia, a component modulating the excitability of the heart.

Functional significance of cell volume regulatory mechanisms

To survive, cells have to avoid excessive alterations of cell volume that jeopardize structural integrity and constancy of intracellular milieu. The function of cellular proteins seems specifically sensitive to dilution and concentration, determining the extent of macromolecular crowding. Even at constant extracellular osmolarity, volume constancy of any mammalian cell is permanently challenged by transport of osmotically active substances across the cell membrane and formation or disappearance of cellular osmolarity by metabolism. Thus cell volume constancy requires the continued operation of cell volume regulatory mechanisms, including ion transport across the cell membrane as well as accumulation or disposal of organic osmolytes and metabolites. The various cell volume regulatory mechanisms are triggered by a multitude of intracellular signaling events including alterations of cell membrane potential and of intracellular ion composition, various second messenger cascades, phosphorylation of diverse target proteins, and altered gene expression. Hormones and mediators have been shown to exploit the volume regulatory machinery to exert their effects. Thus cell volume may be considered a second message in the transmission of hormonal signals. Accordingly, alterations of cell volume and volume regulatory mechanisms participate in a wide variety of cellular functions including epithelial transport, metabolism, excitation, hormone release, migration, cell proliferation, and cell death.

Determination of Na+/Cl-, Na+/HCO3- and Na+/K+/2Cl- co-transporter activity in corneal endothelial cell plasma membrane vesicles

Corneal endothelial cell derived plasma membrane vesicles were used to investigate the presence of Na+/Cl-, Na+/HCO3- and Na+/K+/2Cl- co-transporter activity in the plasma membranes of these cells. Na+/H+ exchange was blocked by the presence of 1 mM amiloride in all determinations. The rate of accumulation of Na+ in the presence of chloride or bicarbonate was not significantly different from its accumulation in the presence of acetate, thiocyanate or gluconate. The addition of K+ to Na+ plus Cl- did not stimulate Na+ accumulation into the vesicles. The present work provides no evidence for Na+/K+/2Cl-, Na+/Cl- or Na+/HCO3- co-transport in corneal endothelial cell plasma membrane vesicles.

Membrane mechanisms and intracellular signalling in cell volume regulation

Recent work on selected aspects of the cellular and molecular physiology of cell volume regulation is reviewed. First, the physiological significance of the regulation of cell volume is discussed. Membrane transporters involved in cell volume regulation are reviewed, including volume-sensitive K+ and Cl- channels, K+, Cl- and Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransporters, and the Na+, H+, Cl-, HCO3-, and K+, H+ exchangers. The role of amino acids, particularly taurine, as cellular osmolytes is discussed. Possible mechanisms by which cells sense their volumes, along with the sensors of these signals, are discussed. The signals are mechanical changes in the membrane and changes in macromolecular crowding. Sensors of these signals include stretch-activated channels, the cytoskeleton, and specific membrane or cytoplasmic enzymes. Mechanisms for transduction of the signal from sensors to transporters are reviewed. These include the Ca(2+)-calmodulin system, phospholipases, polyphosphoinositide metabolism, eicosanoid metabolism, and protein kinases and phosphatases. A detailed model is presented for the swelling-initiated signal transduction pathway in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Finally, the coordinated control of volume-regulatory transport processes and changes in the expression of organic osmolyte transporters with long-term adaptation to osmotic stress are reviewed briefly.

Labeling of the Amphiuma erythrocyte K+/H+ exchanger with H2DIDS

Subsequent to swelling, the Amphiuma red blood cells lose K+, Cl-, and water until normal cell volume is restored. Net solute loss is the result of K+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- exchangers functionally coupled through changes in pH and therefore HCO3-. Whereas the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger is constitutively active, K+/H+ actively is induced by cell swelling. The constitutive Cl-/HCO3- exchanger is inhibited by low concentrations (< 1 microM) of 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) or H2DIDS, yet the concentration of H2DIDS > 25 microM irreversibly modifies the K+/H+ exchanger in swollen cells. We exploited the volume-dependent irreversible low-affinity reaction between H2DIDS and the K+/H+ to identify the protein(s) associated with K+/H+ exchange activity. Labeling of the membrane proteins of intact cells with 3H2DIDS results in high-affinity labeling of a broad 100-kDa band, thought to be the anion exchanger. Additional swelling-dependent low-affinity labeling at 110 kDa suggests the possibility of a volume-induced population of anion exchangers. Finally, the correlation between volume-sensitive K+/H+ modification and low-affinity labeling suggests that transport activity is associated with a protein of approximately 85 kDa. Although a 55-kDa protein is also labeled, it is a less likely candidate, since label incorporation and transport modification are less well correlated than that of the 85- and 110-kDa proteins.

Cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase inhibition by H-8: effects on ion transport

We explored the potential role of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein phosphorylation in regulating ion transport across flounder intestinal mucosa by studying the effects of N-[2(methylamino)-ethyl]-s-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-8), a selective inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase in vitro. Addition of H-8 reversed the inhibitory effects of 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic-monophosphate (8-BrcGMP), 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP), atriopeptin III (AP III), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on the short-circuit current (Isc) and transepithelial potential difference (PD). Flux measurements established that these changes in Isc and PD directly reflected changes in Na and Cl absorption by the intestine. H-8 was unable, however, to reverse the inhibitory effects on Isc and PD of the Ca ionophore ionomycin and of substance P at dosages exceeding those needed to reverse the effects of AP III, VIP, and the cyclic nucleotides. We conclude that 1) H-8 (100 microM or less) does not exert toxic effects, 2) exogenously added cyclic nucleotide analogues inhibit ion transport through activation of cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases resulting in protein phosphorylation, 3) activation of these kinases is an essential intermediate step in the inhibitory action of AP III and VIP on ion transport, and 4) the Ca ionophore ionomycin and substance P appear to inhibit ion transport by a mechanism that is independent of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein phosphorylation.

Characteristics and functions of Na-K-Cl cotransport in epithelial tissues

This review summarizes our present understanding of Na-K-Cl cotransport and its physiological role in absorption and secretion of electrolytes and water in epithelial tissues. In the past several years an extensive literature about this cotransporter has developed due to its widespread distribution in a variety of cell types and its essential role in fluid and electrolyte transport in several epithelial tissues. We summarize this literature and speculate on the future characterization of this transport system. Although this review focuses on cotransport as it relates to absorptive and secretory processes in epithelia, important information concerning the pharmacology, stoichiometry, and regulation of Na-K-Cl cotransport in nonepithelial systems (i.e., erythrocytes, fibroblasts, squid axon, etc.) has been included to supplement areas that are less well established in the epithelial literature.

Effects of adrenaline on ionic equilibria in red blood cells of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Effects of adrenaline on the equilibrium distributions of Na(+) , K(+) , H(+) , Cl(-) , and H2O across the cell membrane of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) erythrocytes were determinedin vitro, as a function of P CO2 (1.76-7.77 torr). CO2-carrying capacity of the blood was also examined. Plasma catecholamine concentrations inunanaesthetized, unrestrained trout were 3.1 nM adrenaline and 1.2 nM noradrenaline. Elevation of the plasma adrenaline concentrationin vitro to 4.6 × 10(3) nM resulted in net gains of Na(+) , Cl(-) and H2O by red cells, a net loss of H(+) from red cells, and a pronounced red cell swelling. Adrenaline also reduced the CO2-carrying capacity of trout bloodin vitro. The magnitudes of these effects increased with PCO2 and, thus, were sensitive to blood HCO3 (-) concentrations. The distribution of K(+) between red cells and plasma was unaffected by adrenaline. Adrenergic-mediated ion movements and red cell swelling were sensitive to both propranolol and SITS. These results are consistent with the symport NaCl uptake model for adrenergic-mediated swelling of Baroinet al. (1984). The adrenergic response of fish erythrocytes may function to ameliorate the effects of blood acidoses on O2-carrying capacity by maintaining red cell pH in the face of a decrease in plasma pH.

Properties of cAMP-induced transmembrane current in mollusc neurons

The effects of different substances affecting some or other chains of cAMP metabolism on the properties of transmembrane current induced by cAMP injection have been studied in Helix pomatia neurons. It was found that preinjection of papaverine or adenosine triphosphate from a microelectrode into the neuron increases the cAMP-current amplitude. Injection of dibutyryl-cAMP does not induce transmembrane current by itself but results in a noticeable reversible inhibition of cAMP-current. Extracellular administration of trifluoperazine produces either an increase or a decrease of the cAMP-current amplitude in different cells but in both cases its removal restores the initial amplitude of cAMP-current. Furosemide has no appreciable effect on cAMP-current. An increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration (by iontophoretic injection through a microelectrode, generation of a burst of action potentials, application of dinitrophenol, tetraphenylphosphonium or caffeine) considerably enhances the amplitude of cAMP-current. The amplitude of cAMP-current remains increased for many minutes after return of the intracellular Ca2+ level to its initial value. A possible physiological role of the observed effect is discussed.

Anion transport systems in the plasma membrane of vertebrate cells

In the case of the red blood cell, anion transport is a highly specific one-for-one exchange catalyzed by a major membrane protein known as band 3 or as capnophorin. This red cell anion-exchange system mediates the Cl-(-)HCO3- exchange responsible for most of the bicarbonate transport capacity of the blood. The rapidly expanding knowledge of the molecular biology and the transport kinetics of this specialized transport system is very briefly reviewed in Section III. Exchange diffusion mechanisms for anions are found in many cells other than erythrocytes. The exchange diffusion system in Ehrlich cells has several similarities to that in red cells. In several cell types (subsection IV-B), there is evidence that intracellular pH regulation depends on Cl-(-)HCO3- exchange processes. Anion exchange in other single cells is described in Section IV, and its role in pH regulation is described in Section VII. Anion exchange mechanism operating in parallel with, and only functionally linked to Na+-H+ or K+-H+ exchange mechanisms can also play a role in cell volume regulation as described in Section VII. In the Ehrlich ascites cell and other vertebrate cells, electroneutral anion transfer has been found to occur also by a cotransport system for cations and chloride operating in parallel with the exchange diffusion system. The cotransport system is capable of mediating secondary active chloride influx. In avian red cells, the cotransport system has been shown to be activated by adrenergic agonists and by cyclic AMP, suggesting that the cotransport is involved in regulatory processes (see subsection V-A.). In several cell types, cotransport systems are activated and play a role during volume regulation, as described in Section V and in Section VII. It is also likely that this secondary active cotransport of chloride plays a significant role for the apparently active extrusion of acid equivalents from certain cells. If a continuous influx of chloride against an electrochemical gradient is maintained by a cotransport system, the chloride disequilibrium can drive an influx of bicarbonate through the anion exchange mechanism, as described in Section VII. Finally, even the electrodiffusion of anions is shown to be regulated, and in Ehrlich cells and human lymphocytes an activation of the anion diffusion pathway plays a major role in cell volume regulation as described in Section VI and subsection VII-B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phorbol ester stimulation of active anion secretion in intestine

Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) stimulates electrogenic anion secretion in rabbit and chicken distal ileum. The 50% effective dose in each case was 15 nM, and the maximal short-circuit current (Isc) responses seen at 10(-6) M were 20 and 140 microA/cm2, respectively. Isc was also stimulated by the diacylglycerol 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol (10(-5) M) but not by the inactive phorbol ester analogue 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate. Removal of Ca from the serosal bathing medium and pretreatment of tissues with atropine (10(-6) M) or tetrodotoxin (2 X 10(-7) M) did not affect PDB-stimulated responses. PDB also did not alter basal intracellular free Ca levels in isolated chicken enterocytes loaded with quin 2 or basal adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels in intact tissues from rabbit and chicken. In the presence of PDB, Ca- and phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation of several proteins in particulate and soluble fractions from isolated chicken enterocytes were seen. Pretreatment of chicken and rabbit tissues with indomethacin or mepacrine inhibited the Isc responses to PDB and carbamylcholine, suggesting a role for prostaglandins. These results suggest that electrogenic anion secretion stimulated by phorbol esters and diacylglycerol may be mediated by activation of protein kinase C.

The effect of cyclic AMP on Na+ and K+ transport systems in mouse macrophages

Exogenous cyclic AMP (cAMP) inhibits the Na+, K+-cotransport system and stimulates the Na+, K+-pump and Na+, Ca2+ exchange in mouse macrophages. These effects are enhanced by inhibition of phosphodiesterase with methylisobutylxanthine (MIX). MIX alone showed little or no effect. A similar response was observed after stimulation of endogenous production of cAMP by isoproterenol.

Expression and assembly of the erythroid membrane-skeletal proteins ankyrin (goblin) and spectrin in the morphogenesis of chicken neurons

The membrane-skeleton of adult chicken neurons in the cerebellum and optic system is composed of polypeptides structurally and functionally related to the erythroid proteins spectrin and ankyrin, respectively. Neuronal spectrin comprises two distinct complexes that share a common alpha subunit (Mr 240,000) but which have structurally distinct polymorphic subunits (beta' beta spectrin; Mr 220/225,000; gamma spectrin, Mr 235,000); the brain-specific form (alpha gamma spectrin or fodrin) and an erythrocyte-specific form (alpha beta' beta spectrin). Two structurally related isoforms of ankyrin have also been identified and are termed alpha (Mr 260,000) and beta (Mr 237,000) ankyrin. Immunofluorescence demonstrates that the variants of spectrin and ankyrin, respectively, have different distributions within neurons. On the one hand, alpha gamma spectrin and beta ankyrin are present throughout the neuron, in the perikaryon, dendrites, and axon, whereas alpha beta' spectrin and alpha ankyrin are localized exclusively in the perikaryon and dendrites where they are actively segregated from alpha gamma spectrin and other components of axonal transport. This asymmetric distribution of spectrin and ankyrin isoforms is established in distinct stages during neuronal morphogenesis. Early in cerebellar and retinal development, alpha gamma spectrin is expressed in mitotic cells. Subsequently beta ankyrin and alpha gamma spectrin are coexpressed in postmitotic cells and gradually accumulate on the plasma membrane in a uniform pattern throughout the neuron during the phase of cell growth. At the onset of synaptogenesis and the cessation of cell growth, their levels of synthesis decline sharply while the assembled proteins remained as stable membrane components. Concomitantly, there is a dramatic induction in the accumulation of alpha ankyrin and alpha beta' spectrin, whose assembly is limited to the plasma membrane of the perikarya and dendrites. These results demonstrate that two successive, developmentally regulated programs of ankyrin and spectrin expression and patterning on the plasma membrane are involved in the assembly of the spectrin-based asymmetry in the neuronal membrane-skeleton, and that their asymmetric distribution is actively maintained throughout the life of the neuron.

The patterns of expression of two ankyrin isoforms demonstrate distinct steps in the assembly of the membrane skeleton in neuronal morphogenesis

We have identified in chicken neurons two membrane-bound isoforms of goblin (ankyrin), the specific membrane attachment protein for spectrin in avian erythrocytes, which exhibit distinct patterns of expression and assembly during neuronal morphogenesis. Early in cerebellar and retinal development, neither goblin isoform is detected in mitotic cells. Subsequently, beta-goblin (Mr 237,000) is expressed in postmitotic cells, and gradually accumulates with alpha gamma (brain) spectrin on the neuronal plasma membrane during the phase of cell growth. At the onset of synaptogenesis and the cessation of cell growth, their levels of synthesis decline sharply while the assembled proteins remain as stable membrane components. Concomitantly, there is a dramatic induction in the accumulation of alpha-goblin (erythroid goblin; Mr 260,000) and alpha beta (erythroid) spectrin, whose assembly is limited to the plasma membrane of perikarya and dendrites.

Mechanism, regulation and physiological significance of the loop diuretic-sensitive NaCl/KCl symport system in animal cells

Investigations in numerous laboratories have characterized a salt transport system, present in many animal cell types, which catalyzes the transmembrane transport of NaCl and KCl in a tightly coupled process. The system is inhibited by loop diuretics such as furosemide and bumetanide. This transport system has been designated the loop diuretic-sensitive NaCl/KCl symporter. It has been implicated in transepithelial salt secretion and absorption as well as in cell volume regulation, and it may be defective in patients suffering from essential hypertension. This review serves to evaluate research conducted to date regarding the mechanism, mode of regulation, and physiological significance of the transport system. Ion binding specificities and absolute binding constants for all three naturally occurring ions have been determined in one cell system, the MDCK kidney epithelial cell line. In that same cell line, substrate binding was shown to exhibit apparent cooperativity. although a few reports suggest unidirectional transport of ions via this system under certain conditions, the consensus of reports indicates fully reversible, bidirectional salt transport with the direction of net flux determined by the magnitudes of the gradients of the three transported ions. Growth of cells in media containing a low concentration of K+ (less than 0.25 mM) allows selection of mutants lacking or defective in the symporter. Kinetic analyses with the MDCK cell line have shown that the symporter catalyzes accelerative exchange transport. However, exchange transport of one ion in the absence of one of the other two ionic substrates has not been documented. Comparison with other well-characterized transmembrane transport systems has shown that the characteristics of the NaCl/KCl symporter most resemble those of two-species facilitators (chemiosmotically-coupled symporters) found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes alike. these two-species facilitators consist of a single transmembrane protein and may function by a carrier-type mechanism as originally proposed by Peter Mitchell. A molecular model for the NaCl/KCl symporter is presented and discussed. Activation of symport activity requires ATP and probably occurs by a protein kinase-catalyzed mechanism. In some cell types activation is cyclic AMP dependent. ATP hydrolysis is not stoichiometric with transport. Phosphorylation of an integral membrane protein with an apparent size of 240 000 daltons correlates with activation of transport. It is postulated that this protein is the loop diuretic-sensitive NaCl/KCl symporter.

Inhibition by isoproterenol of the passive potassium efflux from pigeon erythrocytes

Pigeon erythrocytes were carefully washed in an isotonic neutral buffer, devoid of potassium, and the rate of passive unidirectional efflux of potassium from the cells into a K+-free medium was measured after 20 min, at 40 degrees C. Isoproterenol inhibits K+-efflux by 35-45%, at a cell concentration of 1%; the isoproterenol effect is mediated by beta-adrenergic receptors. Cyclic AMP mimics the effect of isoproterenol, but at 4-5 orders of magnitude higher concentrations. Cyclic AMP increases 20-fold the phosphorylation of purified cell membranes by [gamma 32P]ATP.

Evidence for catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in frog and rabbit corneal epithelium and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and its protein substrates in frog corneal epithelium

Evidence was obtained for catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in particulate fractions of frog and rabbit corneal epithelium. Epinephrine (10(-5)M) stimulated adenylate cyclase by 22 and 53% in the frog and rabbit, respectively. The corresponding changes were statistically significant (P less than 0.01) when the data was analyzed using paired variates. Preincubation with 10(-4)M propranolol eliminated any stimulatory effect by 10(-5)M isoproterenol. Adenylate cyclase activity derived from either source was activated several fold by either 10 mM NaF or 10(-5)MGpp (NH)p. Soluble fractions of homogenized frog corneal epithelium contained cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity which was half-maximally stimulated by about 6 nM cyclic AMP. Evidence was also obtained for the presence of protein substrates of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase in frog corneal epithelium. With exogenous cyclic AMP and protein kinase, a rapid 32P labelling of proteins having approximate molecular weights of 56, 46, 23 and 21 K was obtained with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A less marked and slower increase in phosphoprotein formation was observed when corneal membranes were incubated with cyclic AMP in the absence of added protein kinase.

Synaptic junctional glycoproteins are phosphorylated by cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase

Synaptic junctions (SJs) isolated from rat brain are associated with protein kinase activity and a unique complement of high molecular weight gglycoproteins. Incubation of SJs with [gamma-32P]A+ glycoproteins which were retained by concanavalin A agarose (con A+ glycoproteins). Three major (apparent mol. wt. 180 K, 130 K and 110 K) and 2 minor (apparent mol. wt. 230 K and 145 K) glycoproteins were identified in the con A+ fraction. Of these, GP180 incorporated the most 32P and GP145 was not labeled. Peptide mapping experiments showed that each molecular weight class of glycoprotein was associated with a unique set of phosphorylated peptides. Cyclic AMP stimulated the incorporation of 32P into total SJ proteins and con A+ lycoproteins by 38% and 58%, respectively. GP130 showed the greatest increase in labelling in the presence of cyclic AMP (198% of control levels) although incorporation into all 4 glycoproteins was increased. Cyclic AMP selectively stimulated the incorporation of 32P into only 2 of the 6 phosphorylated peptides derived from GP130. These studies demonstrate that endogenous glycoproteins serve as substrates for intrinsic SJ protein kinases and identify this reaction as a potential means of modifying postsynaptic membrane function.

Studies on endogenous phosphorylation of chicken erythrocyte membranes. Calcium-dependent phosphorylation of specific proteins

In this work, endogenous phosphorylation of chicken erythrocyte membranes was investigated. The membrane proteins were rapidly phosphorylated endogenously (half maximum time was 30 s) in the presence of millimolar concentration of Mg2+ under physiological conditions. As an exogenous substrate, protamine was phosphorylated most rapidly of those tested, and histone, casein and bovine serum albumin were rather poor substrates. Cyclic nucleotides had no effect on the endogenous membrane phosphorylation. EGTA inhibited the phosphorylation of a membrane protein having an approximate molecular weight of 43000, and this inhibition was reversed by the addition of a stoichiometric amount of Ca2+. Furthermore, trifluoperazine, an inhibitor of calmodulin, was found to have the same effect as that of EGTA. The phosphorylated 43 kDa protein could be extracted from the membranes under high salt conditions, and was precipitated specifically with anti-actin antibody. These results suggest that the phosphorylation of a peripheral membrane protein (which has an approximate molecular weight of 43000) of chicken erythrocytes by membranous protein kinase(s) depends on Ca2+ and possibly on calmodulin.

Inhibition of the Na+/K+ cotransport system by cyclic AMP and intracellular Ca2+ in human red cells

Human erythrocytes are able to incorporate cyclic AMP (cAMP) in amounts larger than those required to saturate cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In contrast to previous observations in avian red blood cells in which cAMP stimulates the Na+/K+ cotransport system, we demonstrate that cAMP inhibits this system in human erythrocytes. The cotransport inhibition is enhanced by addition of phosphodiesterase inhibitor 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine to the incubation medium. The cAMP concentration giving half-maximal cotransport inhibition showed a wide variation among different individuals (from 0.1 to 5 mM external cAMP concentration). In contrast to cAMP, cyclic GMP showed little effect on the cotransport system. Ca2+ introduced into the cell interior was an inhibitor of the Na+/K+ cotransport system. These results suggest that in human cells in which endogeneous levels of cAMP and Ca2+ are modulated by hormones, the Na+/K+ cotransport system may be under hormonal regulation.

The role of protein phosphorylation in neural and hormonal control of cellular activity

Protein phosphorylation is now recognized to be the major general mechanism by which intracellular events in mammalian tissues are controlled by external physiological stimuli. However, only recently has the idea that different cellular functions are controlled by common protein kinases and protein phosphatases started to gain widespread acceptance. Thus there is an integrated network of regulatory pathways, mediated by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, that allows diverse cellular events to be coordinated by neural and hormonal stimuli. The evidence that supports this concept is reviewed, with emphasis on the role of protein phosphorylation in enzyme regulation.