J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 260, Issue 6, 3423-3430, Mar, 1985
The regulatory subunit monomer of cAMP-dependent protein kinase retains the salient kinetic properties of the native dimeric subunit
SR Rannels, CE Cobb, LR Landiss and JD Corbin
Monomeric regulatory subunit (R) fragments of type II cAMP-dependent
protein kinase were compared with the parent dimeric R. The monomeric
fragments were generated by either endogenous proteolysis of rabbit muscle
R or by trypsin treatment of bovine heart R in the holoenzyme form. During
isolation of pure R from rabbit muscle, carboxyl-terminal fragments of Mr =
42,000 (42 K) and Mr = 37,000 by denaturing gels are generated by
endogenous proteolysis. Although the autophosphorylation site is retained,
the 42 K is not dimeric (as is its native 56 K precursor) but, in contrast
to the monomeric 37 K product, actively reassociates with purified
catalytic subunit (C). Several lines of evidence indicate a type II R
origin of the 42 K. N-terminal sequence analysis of the 42 K shows some
homology with known bovine RI, RII, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase
sequences. Both cyclic nucleotide-binding sites (two/42 K or 37 K) and the
site selectivity of cAMP analogs are retained in the monomeric fragments.
When purified bovine heart holoenzyme, which contains a dimeric Mr = 56,000
R (denaturing gel analysis) and two C subunits, is treated with trypsin
followed by separation procedures, the product is a fully recovered active
enzyme with an unaltered ratio of cAMP binding to catalytic activity. From
Mr considerations, the product is a dimer containing one intact C and a
proteolyzed R of Mr = 48,000 on denaturing gels. This dimeric enzyme is not
significantly different from the parent tetramer in cAMP concentration
dependence (Hill constant = 1.63), [3H]cAMP dissociation behavior (both
intrasubunit cAMP-binding sites are present), stimulation of [3H]cIMP
binding by site-selective cAMP analogs, and synergism between two analogs
in kinase activation. The data indicate that 1) proteolytic cleavage of the
native R dimer can cause monomerization without appreciably affecting the
inhibition of C and 2) essentially all of the cAMP binding cooperativity is
an intrasubunit interaction.