Hairy function as a DNA-binding helix-loop-helix repressor of Drosophila sensory organ formation

Sensory organ formation in Drosophila is activated by proneural genes that encode basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors. These genes are antagonized by hairy and other proline-bHLH proteins. hairy has not been shown to bind to DNA and has been proposed to form inactive heterodimers with proneural activator proteins. Here, we show that hairy does bind to DNA and has novel DNA-binding activity: hairy prefers a noncanonical site, CACGCG, although it also binds to related sites. Mutation of a single CACGCG site in the achaete (ac) proneural gene blocks hairy-mediated repression of ac transcription in cultured Drosophila cells. Moreover, the same CACGCG mutation in an ac minigene transformed into Drosophila creates ectopic sensory hair organs like those seen in hairy mutants. Together these results indicate that hairy represses sensory organ formation by directly repressing transcription of the ac proneural gene.

Effect of interferon therapy in a patient with chronic active hepatitis type C associated with interstitial pneumonia and rheumatoid arthritis: a case report

Interferon (IFN) is widely used to treat patients with chronic hepatitis types B and C but has been found to occasionally aggravate rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or cause interstitial pneumonia. We administered 6 MIU/d IFN-beta by intravenous injection for 6 weeks to a 55-year-old man with chronic active hepatitis type C associated with RA and interstitial pneumonia. Transaminase levels rapidly returned to normal after treatment and hepatitis C virus-RNA (nested RT-PCR method) was negative on completion of treatment. No significant adverse reactions or aggravation of RA or interstitial pneumonia occurred. These findings suggest that use of IFN-beta in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis type C associated with RA and/or interstitial pneumonia presents no problem if appropriate precautions are taken.

Expression and function of Fas antigen and bcl-2 in human systemic lupus erythematosus lymphocytes

Studies indicate that autoimmune phenomena might be caused by a failure to eliminate autoreactive lymphocytes. Therefore, we examined Fas antigen and bcl-2 expression and function in lymphocytes from human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Freshly isolated lymphocytes from patients with active SLE expressed more Fas antigen than did lymphocytes from patients with inactive SLE or from normal controls. They also showed characteristic DNA fragmentation after treatment with anti-Fas antibody. Expression of bcl-2 in T cells from active SLE patients was significantly higher than that in cells from inactive SLE patients and from normals. These data suggest that lymphocytes in patients with active SLE maintain an activated state in vivo. However, the role of Fas and bcl-2 expression in the regulation of lymphocyte survival in SLE is still unclear and further investigations concerning the role of these molecules in autoimmune phenomenon in SLE are needed.

Molecular cloning and sequencing of calnexin-t. An abundant male germ cell-specific calcium-binding protein of the endoplasmic reticulum

A mouse testis cDNA expression library was screened using a monoclonal antibody (1C9) that recognized an abundant testis-specific 101-kDa endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein. The screening resulted in the isolation of a 2.3-kilobase cDNA clone (A2/6). The sequence encoded 611 amino acids with a calculated mass of 69,454 Da, that was 60% similar to mouse calnexin. A high affinity calcium binding domain, present in both calnexin and calreticulin, and one transmembrane domain similar to that of calnexin were found in the A2/6 protein domain. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from seven different tissues showed hybridization only to testis RNA. Southern blot analysis indicated that A2/6 was a single copy gene. The calculated molecular mass for A2/6 was unexpectedly lower than the 101-kDa protein recognized by 1C9 on Western blot analysis of total testis protein. However, Escherichia coli and in vitro translation products of A2/6 cDNA yielded a similar 100-kDa protein. Finally, using the recombinant protein, calcium binding activity was detected by a 45Ca2+ overlay assay. These results suggest that spermatogenic cell endoplasmic reticulum has a unique calcium binding protein, calnexin-t, which appears to be a calnexin variant.

Analysis for the stage specific antigen of the primordial germ cells in the chick embryo

A monoclonal antibody 2C9 (IgM chi-light chain) was established by fusing the myeloma cells (X63-Ag8-653) with the spleen cells immunized with sexually indifferent gonads from 6-day chick embryos. The 1- to 17-day chick embryos were examined by immunohistochemistry (ABC technique). As a result, the 2C9 antigen first appeared in the cytoplasm of some primordial germ cells (PGCs) of the germinal crescent at 1 day of incubation. The reactivity was also detected in the hypoblastic cells. This antigen may be produced at this stage. After the migrating stage, 2C9-reactive PGCs were increased in number. From this stage to the sexually differentiating stage (7 days of incubation), the 2C9 antibody was reactive all over the cytoplasm of PGCs in both sexes. In the female gonads, the reactivity disappeared at 8 days of incubation, but not in the male. The reactivity of male PGCs was gradually decreased and disappeared until 14 days of incubation. Since the stages of disappearance of this antigen in both sexes seem to depend on the differentiation of the oogonia and spermatogonia, this antigen may disappear in accordance with germ cell differentiation. Cross-reactions were observed in hepatocytes, gastrointestinal endoderm and some mesonephric tubules. By SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting methods, all the extracts from these tissues revealed two bands; 109 kilodalton (kDa) and 64 kDa, suggesting that the 2C9 antibody detects the same molecule in each kind of cells. The 2C9 antibody may be a useful cell-marker and/or probe for analysis of the germ cell differentiation in chick PGCs.

Characterization of a testis specific protein localized to endoplasmic reticulum of spermatogenic cells

BACKGROUND

In order to understand the mechanism of spermiogenesis, it is important to characterize germ cell specific genes and proteins expressed during spermatogenesis. We previously reported that a mouse monoclonal antibody, 1C9, raised against golden hamster testis homogenate, recognized a 103 kDa protein in hamster spermatogenic cells (Ohsako et al.; J. Vet. Med. Sci., 53:969-974, 1991). In the present study, we have determined the precise stage and intracellular localization of this protein.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hamster, mouse, and rat tissues were used for immunocytochemistry, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting. Immunoelectron microscopy was performed using Lowicryl K4M embedded hamster testis and colloidal gold conjugated second antibody. Furthermore, immuno-affinity purification was carried out using a 1C9-Sepharose column.

RESULTS

In immunoblot analysis, 1C9 also recognized a 103 kDa protein and a 101 kDa protein in the rat and the mouse testes, respectively. Ten different hamster tissues other than testis did not show reactivity against 1C9. In immunostained paraffin sections of hamster testis, the initial staining appeared in middle pachytene spermatocytes and persisted until maturation phase spermatids (step 15). However, it was no longer detectable in the subsequent steps of spermatids. In addition, strong staining was observed in the post-nuclear region of elongated spermatids. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis showed that the protein was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope of spermatogenic cells, but not in the other organelles, such as Golgi apparatus and acrosome of the spermatids. This protein appears to be associated with ER membrane. Furthermore, this protein is found exclusively in the testicular microsomal fraction, not in the cytosol. By affinity purification, approximately 320 micrograms of the 103 kDa protein was obtained from 10 hamster testes. The purified 103 kDa protein was unaffected by N-glycanase, indicating it does not have asparagine-linked glycoconjugates.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the protein recognized by 1C9 appears to be a unique protein that is localized in the ER and nuclear envelope of spermatogenic cells.

Identification of an alternative form of the Drosophila Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II that is maternally derived

Four forms of the Drosophila Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II are generated from a single gene by alternative splicing (Ohsako et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 2052-2062). We identified a fifth form of the cDNA encoding the enzyme expressed in the ovary, unfertilized egg and early embryos by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, which suggests that it is maternally derived. The fifth form was also generated from the gene by alternative splicing and was identical to the cDNA encoding the 530-amino-acid polypeptide, the longest of the four forms previously identified, except that it lacked exon 11. Three splicing derivatives which lost one amino acid from the 509- and 530-amino-acid polypeptides were also found in 4 to 10 h embryos.

Overexpression of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in Neuro2a and NG108-15 neuroblastoma cell lines promotes neurite outgrowth and growth cone motility

To elucidate the functional role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) in neuronal cells, we studied the phenotypic effects of overexpression of the CaM kinase II wild-type alpha subunit and a mutant enzyme alpha isoform (Ala-286), in which formation of the Ca(2+)-independent form by autophosphorylation is markedly suppressed by replacement of Thr-286 with Ala, using Neuro2a (Nb2a) and NG108-15 neuroblastoma cell lines. The cDNAs inserted into the EcoRI site of pEF321 expression vector were introduced into Nb2a and NG108-15 cells with pEF321-neo (neo). Stable clones were obtained by G418 selection. The specific activities of CaM kinase II in alpha and Ala-286 transfectants were two to four times higher than those in non-transfectants and in cells transfected with neo alone. Indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody specific to the CaM kinase II alpha isoform revealed that CaM kinase II was mainly localized in the perikaryal and dendritic cytoplasm of the alpha and Ala-286 transfectants. Immediately after plating, Nb2a and NG108-15 cells transfected with neo, alpha and Ala-286 cDNAs appeared round. Several hours after plating, alpha transfectants showed cell flattening and initiation of neurite outgrowth, and thereafter extended numerous long and branching neurites. Numerous filopodia protruded from flat growth cones, some of which were accompanied by extensive veil formation. Non- and neo transfectants remained round. In Ala-286 transfectants, however, the phenotypic changes were remarkably less than in alpha transfectants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Molecular characterization and expression of the Drosophila Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II gene. Identification of four forms of the enzyme generated from a single gene by alternative splicing

Four cDNA sequences encoding Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) were isolated from a Drosophila adult head cDNA library using rat CaM kinase II alpha and beta cDNA sequences under low stringency hybridization conditions. These cDNA clones encoded polypeptides of 490, 509, 516, and 530 amino acids, which are identical to one another except for amino acid insertions or deletions near the carboxyl-terminal of the putative "link" segment. These polypeptides showed considerable similarity to rat brain CaM kinase II with more than 70% of the amino acids being identical. The Drosophila adult head contains three major species of CaM kinase II with molecular masses of 55, 58, and 60 kDa. These cross-react with anti-rat CaM kinase II antibody. An expression study of the four cDNA sequences in mammalian cells revealed that the polypeptides of 490, 509, and 530 amino acids that had been predicted from the cDNA sequences correspond to the 55-, 58-, and 60-kDa polypeptides found in the head, respectively, and all exhibited enzymatic properties similar to those of rat brain CaM kinase II, including self-regulation. The Drosophila CaM kinase II gene was located in segment 102E-F on the fourth chromosome and consisted of at least 16 exons spanning approximately 20 kilobase pairs. Four forms of the enzyme are generated from a single gene by alternative splicing. Transcripts of CaM kinase II are expressed in great quantities in the central nervous system in the late embryonic stage of development and are more abundant in the head than in the body of the adult fly.

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the rat cerebellum: an immunohistochemical study with monoclonal antibodies specific to either alpha or beta subunit

Monoclonal antibodies specific to either alpha or beta subunit of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) of the rat brain were produced and the distribution of each subunit in the rat cerebellum was examined immunohistochemically. Each antibody detected solely the corresponding subunit in immunoblot analysis of crude homogenates of the rat forebrain and cerebellum, and purified CaM kinase II from the rat forebrain. Immunoreactivity for alpha subunit was present selectively in Purkinje cells: perikarya, dendrites with their spines, axons and their terminal-like structures in the cerebellar cortex, cerebellar nuclei and lateral vestibular nucleus. Many of these alpha subunit-immunoreactive axons from the cerebellum were traced only through the inferior cerebellar peduncle. beta Subunit was detected in perikarya and dendrites of a limited number of Purkinje cells, many granule cells and neurons in the cerebellar nuclei. Thus, different distributions of alpha and beta subunits of CaM kinase II in the cerebellum were demonstrated.

Analysis of various antigens in golden hamster testis by monoclonal antibodies

A total of 38 hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was established by immunizing BALB/c mice with extracts of the golden hamster testis. Six mAbs stained the acrosome of developing spermatids by immunofluorescence. Two mAbs (1A11 and 4D8) reacted with spermatid components other than acrosome. The mAbs 1C9 and 4D3 recognized a 103 kilodalton (kDa) protein on immunoblots, and were reactive to spermatocytes and early spermatids, but not to late spermatids and spermatozoa. This finding suggests that the protein functions for meiosis or early spermiogenesis. Four mAbs (3G2, 2E5, 2G3, and 3F10) stained all stages of spermatogenic cells. The remaining 24 mAbs showed a positive reaction to the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule. Two of them, 3D6 and 3E5, recognized approximately 150 kDa major proteins, indicating that the antigen is an extracellular matrix.

Production of an antiserum using a fusion protein produced by a cDNA for rat choline acetyltransferase

A fusion protein produced by a cDNA for rat choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) inserted into a translation vector was used for immunization of rabbits. An antiserum was obtained that could recognize a single protein band in immunoblot analysis of a partially purified enzyme preparation of the rat brain. The antiserum revealed ChAT immunoreactivity in the motoneurons and terminal-like structures in the neuropil of the ventral horn in cryostat sections of the cervical spinal cord of the rat. This antiserum may be of particular use to study the development of the cholinergic neuron.

Studies on the regulatory domain of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II by expression of mutated cDNAs in Escherichia coli

The cDNAs encoding the alpha and beta subunits of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) were ligated into the bacterial expression vector pET and expressed in Escherichia coli. The bacterially expressed alpha and beta subunits exhibited Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent activity and were easily purified to apparent homogeneity from cell extracts. To determine the minimum size required for catalytic activity and the properties of the calmodulin-binding domain, mutated CaM kinase II cDNAs were expressed in E. coli and the enzymatic property of expressed proteins was examined. The replacement of Thr-286 of the alpha subunit with the negatively charged amino acid Asp or that of Arg-283 with the neutral amino acid Gly induced the partially Ca2+ independent activity. The mutant enzymes alpha-I(delta 283-478) and alpha-II(delta 359-478), which truncated the C-terminal region of the alpha subunit, exhibited CaM kinase II activity and the activities of alpha-I(delta 283-478) and alpha-II(delta 359-478) were completely independent of and partially dependent on Ca2+ and calmodulin, respectively. However, the truncated protein alpha(delta 250-478), which was only 33 amino acids shorter than the alpha-I(delta 283-478) protein had no enzymatic activity, indicating that alpha-I(delta 283-478) was close to the minimum size of the active form. The mutant enzyme alpha(delta 291-315), which lacked the calmodulin-binding domain exhibited Ca2+ independent activity. The molecular mass was, however, smaller than that expected from the amino acid sequence. The mutant enzyme alpha(delta 304-315), which lacked the C-terminal half of the calmodulin-binding domain of the alpha subunit, however, exhibited Ca(2+)-independent activity without a reduction in molecular size, indicating that residues 304-315 of the alpha subunit constituted the core calmodulin-binding domain.

Molecular and genetic analyses of arylamine N-acetyltransferase polymorphism of rabbit liver

A cDNA clone encoding the full coding region of polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase was isolated from rabbit liver and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The expressed enzyme acetylated 2-aminofluorene, procainamide, sulfamethazine, and p-aminobenzoic acid at equivalent rates. N-Acetyltransferase activity was measured in 17 rabbits from an inbred colony which were classified into rapid, intermediate, and slow acetylators. The livers of the rapid and intermediate acetylators efficiently acetylated all four substrates, while the liver from the slow acetylator showed a low but significant activity with p-aminobenzoic acid. Immunoblot and Northern blot analyses of rabbit livers indicated that the differences in N-acetyltransferase activity were due to differences in N-acetyltransferase protein and mRNA content. Genomic clones of N-acetyltransferase were isolated from the rapid and slow acetylator rabbits. The nucleotide sequence of the gene from rapid acetylator rabbit was identical to that of the cDNA, while the sequence of the gene from slow acetylator rabbit was homologous, but not identical, to the cDNA sequence. Genomic Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction analyses of the genomic DNAs and cDNAs from the three types of acetylator indicated that the gene for polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase is totally deleted in the slow acetylator rabbit, while the gene from slow acetylator rabbit is expressed in all rabbits and might encode another N-acetyltransferase. Thus the genetic mechanism of N-acetyltransferase polymorphism in rabbit liver is essentially different from that of human liver as demonstrated in this laboratory (Ohsako, S., and Deguchi, T. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 4630-4634; Deguchi, T., Mashimo, M., and Suzuki, T. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 12757-12760).

Characterization of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II isoforms from forebrain and cerebellum

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) is composed of two distinct but related subunits, alpha and beta, in various ratios. To investigate the physiological significance of this variation, we have studied the effect of autophosphorylation of CaM kinase II isoforms purified from forebrain and cerebellum on the activity, and analyzed their endogenous protein substrates. Autophosphorylation of two kinases resulted in the appearance of Ca2(+)-independent activity and the substrate specificity of the Ca2(+)-independent form differed from that of the Ca2(+)-dependent, non-phosphorylated form of the enzyme. Increased phosphorylation of two kinases resulted in a decrease in the enzyme activity. The decrease in the enzyme activity of forebrain CaM kinase II was larger than that of cerebellar kinase. Phosphorylated forms of two kinases were less stable than the non-phosphorylated forms, and the phosphorylated form of forebrain kinase was less stable than that of cerebellar kinase. Many endogenous protein substrates of respective CaM kinase II were found in both soluble and particulate fractions of forebrain and cerebellum using gel electrophoresis. Although the major protein substrates of CaM kinase II were almost the same in forebrain and cerebellum, some of the endogenous protein substrates of respective CaM kinase II were found to be different in both soluble and particulate fractions of forebrain and cerebellum.

Role of threonine-286 as autophosphorylation site for appearance of Ca2(+)-independent activity of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha subunit

To confirm directly the role of Thr-286 as the autophosphorylation site responsible for the appearance of Ca2(+)-independent activity of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha subunit, we constructed two mutated cDNAs of Thr-286 to Pro or Ala using site-directed mutagenesis and introduced into Chinese hamster ovary cells. The mutant enzymes expressed in stable cell lines were partially purified and their catalytic properties were confirmed to be similar to those of wild-type kinase, except that the mutant kinase which were deprived of Thr-286 as an autophosphorylation site could not be converted to Ca2(+)-independent forms upon autophosphorylation. Other autophosphorylation sites of the mutants were essentially unchanged from those of the wild-type kinase and phosphorylation of such sites did not convert them to Ca2(+)-independent forms. The results indicate that Thr-286 is the only indispensable autophosphorylation site for the appearance of Ca2(+)-independent activity of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha subunit.

Expression of a catalytically active polypeptide of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha subunit in Escherichia coli

Two cDNAs, one containing the entire coding region of alpha subunit of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) and the other containing only its protein kinase domain, were separately ligated into the bacterial expression vector pET3a and expressed in Escherichia coli. The activity of the recombinant alpha subunit protein was dependent on Ca2+/calmodulin, whereas the activity of the recombinant protein containing only the protein kinase domain (recombinant alpha-I protein) was absolutely independent of Ca2+/calmodulin. These proteins showed similar enzymatic properties to brain CaM kinase II with some minor differences. These results directly demonstrated that the protein kinase domain alone without the rest of the subunit was sufficient to exhibit its activity.

Subcellular distribution of alpha and beta subunit proteins of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells

When two cDNAs respectively encoding the entire coding regions of alpha and beta subunits of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) were introduced into Chinese hamster ovary cells, the expressed alpha and beta subunits were differently associated with subcellular structure. Although alpha subunit was loosely associated with subcellular structure, about 80% of CaM kinase II activity of alpha subunit was found in soluble fraction. More than 50% of the beta subunit bound to the membrane, and the remainder was soluble but was loosely associated with subcellular structure. The relative rate of phosphorylation for substrate proteins of the beta subunit bound to membrane was significantly different from that of the soluble form.

Cloning and expression of cDNAs for polymorphic and monomorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferases from human liver

To elucidate the molecular basis of human N-acetylation polymorphism, cDNA clones encoding human liver N-acetyltransferases (EC 2.3.1.5) were isolated from lambda gt10 cDNA libraries using the 32P-labeled cDNA of rabbit liver N-acetyltransferase recently cloned in this laboratory. Three types of cDNAs (D-14, O-7, and D-24) were isolated and their nucleotide sequences were determined, from which the amino acid sequences of human N-acetyltransferases were deduced. All the cDNAs coded for 290 amino acids. Between D-14 and O-7 cDNAs, there was only a single-base substitution in the coding region, which replaced glutamic acid in D-14 cDNA for glycine in O-7 cDNA. There were considerable differences between O-7/D-14 and D-24 cDNAs, with 80% homology in amino acid sequences. When the cDNAs were inserted into pEF321 expression vector and introduced into Chinese hamster ovary cells, N-acetyltransferase activity was expressed in three groups of the transfected cells. The activity in cells transfected with D-14 cDNA was only 9-17% of the activity in O-7 cells. Immunoblot analysis of the transfected cells indicated that the difference in the enzyme activity between O-7 and D-14 cells was possibly due to a difference in the amount of enzyme proteins. The substrate specificity of the expressed enzymes indicated that O-7 and D-14 cDNAs code for polymorphic N-acetyltransferase whereas D-24 cDNA codes for monomorphic enzyme. Southern blot analysis indicated that the polymorphic and monomorphic N-acetyltransferases were encoded in separate genes and that there was restriction fragment length polymorphism with KpnI digestion in the polymorphic N-acetyltransferase gene.

Expression and characterization of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II from cloned cDNAs in Chinese hamster ovary cells

cDNAs containing the entire coding regions of the alpha and beta subunits of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) were isolated from a rat cerebrum cDNA library, ligated into an expression vector under the control of SV40 early promoter and introduced into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. To investigate the role of the alpha and beta subunits and their functional domains in CaM kinase II activity, the properties of the kinases expressed in the transfected cells were studied. CaM kinase II activity was detected in the transfected cells when the alpha and beta cDNAs were introduced into CHO cells simultaneously. RNA transfer blot and protein immunoblot analyses demonstrated the expression of the mRNAs and proteins of both alpha and beta subunits in the cloned cells. When alpha or beta cDNA was introduced into CHO cells separately, a significant level of the enzyme activity was also expressed, indicating that the alpha and beta subunits exhibited enzyme activity individually. The apparent Km values for ATP and MAP 2 were almost the same for the alpha subunit, beta subunit, alpha beta complex, and brain CaM kinase II. However, there was a slight difference in the affinity for calmodulin between the expressed proteins. The alpha and beta subunits expressed in the same cells polymerized to form alpha beta complex of a size similar to that of brain CaM kinase II. The alpha subunit also polymerized to form an oligomer, which showed almost the same S value as that of alpha beta complex and brain CaM kinase II. In contrast, the beta subunit did not polymerize. The alpha subunit, beta subunit, alpha beta complex, and brain CaM kinase II were autophosphorylated with [gamma-32P]ATP in the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin, which resulted in the appearance of Ca2+-independent activity. The Ca2+-independent activity was 60-75% of the total activity as measured in the presence of Ca2+ plus calmodulin. To examine the functional relationship of peptide domains of the subunits of CaM kinase II, deleted cDNAs were introduced into CHO cells and the properties of the expressed proteins were studied. In cells transfected with alpha or beta cDNA from which the association domain was deleted, a significant level of kinase activity was expressed. However, the expressed proteins showed hardly any autophosphorylation and the appearance of Ca2+-independent enzyme activity was very low, indicating that the association domain was essential for the autophosphorylation and for the appearance of the Ca2+-independent activity.