title: Ca++/calmodulin-regulated protein phosphorylation in the Aplysia nervous system.
abstract: Protein substrates for an endogenous CA++/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase were characterized in the Aplysia nervous system. Ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-washed membrane fractions from Aplysia ganglia contain an endogenous Ca++/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase which phosphorylates a number of membrane proteins. Such washed membrane preparations exhibit little or no adenosine 3':5'-cyclic phosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase activity but do contain substrates for exogenously added catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Low concentrations of catalytic subunit rapidly stimulate the phosphorylation of a protein of Mr 70,000 and of a 52,000-dalton doublet, indicating that these proteins are major substrates for this enzyme. Phosphopeptide patterns obtained after limited proteolysis suggest that the 70,000-dalton protein and the 52,000-dalton doublet are similar in structure and that their phosphorylation is stimulated both by Ca++/calmodulin and by catalytic subunit. The 52,000-dalton doublet consists of two closely spaced bands: the phosphorylation of the upper band is stimulated by catalytic subunit, whereas the phosphorylation of the lower band is stimulated by the endogenous Ca++/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. The results suggest that in Aplysia membranes a number of proteins can be phosphorylated by both Ca++/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. This convergence of biochemical effects of Ca++ and cAMP may play a role in some of their physiological actions in molluscan neurons.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology; D001345:Autoradiography; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000502:physiology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009420:Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002147:Calmodulin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D011494:Protein Kinases