Autophosphorylation of the alpha subunit of phosphorylase kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle

Autophosphorylation: a salient feature of protein kinases

Most protein kinases catalyze autophosphorylation, a process which is generally intramolecular and is modulated by regulatory ligands. Either serine/threonine or tyrosine serves as the phosphoacceptor, and several sites on the same kinase subunit are usually autophosphorylated. Autophosphorylation affects the functional properties of most protein kinases. Members of the protein kinase family exhibit diversity in the characteristics and functions of autophosphorylation, but certain common themes are emerging.

Characterization of three casein kinases type I from Dictyostelium discoideum

Three different casein kinases type I have been characterized and partially purified from vegetative cells of Dictyostelium discoideum. The enzymes have been classified as type I because they are excluded from DEAE cellulose columns and do not utilize GTP as phosphoryl donor. We have named these activities as casein kinases IA, IB and IC respectively, according to the elution profile on phosphocellulose chromatography. The three activities differ in: the sensitivity to heparin inhibition; the salt optimum for activity and the amino acids phosphorylated, using casein as substrate. Experiments carried out in conditions that favor autophosphorylation indicate that casein kinase IB could have a 53 kDa subunit, susceptible to autophosphorylation in vitro.

Myopathic evolution of an exertional muscle pain syndrome with phosphorylase b kinase deficiency

The symptoms of a myopathy permanently affecting limb girdle muscles are reported in a 31-year-old woman who has been presenting an exertional muscle pain syndrome with myoglobinuria for 20 years. Investigations revealed a slightly decreased utilization of glycogen in muscle, while its storage affected only rare type 2 fibers. Active phosphorylase was undetectable and phosphorylase b kinase activity was clearly decreased in muscle cells, but normal in erythocytes, lymphocytes and cultured fibroblasts.