Mapping protein interfaces by a trifunctional cross-linker combined with MALDI-TOF and ESI-FTICR mass spectrometry

Chemical cross-linking of protein complexes has gained renewed interest in combination with mass spectrometric analysis of the reaction products as it allows a rapid mapping of protein interfaces, which is crucial for understanding protein/protein interactions. The identification of cross-linking products from the complex mixtures created after the cross-linking reaction, however, remains a daunting task. To facilitate the identification of cross-linking products, we explore the use of the commercially available biotinylated cross-linking reagent sulfo-SBED (sulfosuccinimidyl-2-[6-(biotinamido)-2-(p-azidobenzamido)-hexanoamido]ethyl-1,3'-dithiopropionate). This trifunctional cross-linker possesses one amine-reactive and one photo-reactive site and, additionally, allows an affinity-based enrichment of cross-linker containing species. As a model system, we chose the Ca(2+)-dependent complex between calmodulin and its target peptide M13, which represents a part of the C-terminal sequence of the skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase. After the cross-linking reaction, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and one-dimensional gel electrophoresis were employed to check for the extent of cross-linking product formation. The cross-linking reaction mixtures were subjected to tryptic in-solution digestion. Biotinylated peptides, e.g., peptides that had been modified by the cross-linker as well as cross-linked peptides, were enriched on monomeric avidin beads after several washing steps had been performed. Peptide mixtures were analyzed by MALDI-TOFMS, nano-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/nano-electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICRMS), and tandem MS. We demonstrate that an enrichment of cross-linker containing species allows a more efficient identification of interacting amino acid sequences in protein complexes. This strategy is expected to be especially beneficial for investigating large protein assemblies.

Myosin regulation in the migration of tumor cells and leukocytes within a three-dimensional collagen matrix

The migration of cells is a complex regulatory process which results in the generation of motor forces through the reorganization of the cytoskeleton. Here we present a comparative study of the expression and involvement of myosin in the regulation of the physiological migration of leukocytes and the pathological migration of tumor cells. We show that the involvement of myosin in the migration is distinct in these two cell types. In leukocytes, the activity of non-muscle myosin II is essential for both the spontaneous (matrix-induced) migration and the migration induced by ligands to G protein-coupled receptors, i.e. chemokines and neurotransmitters. In contrast, spontaneous tumor cell migration is largely independent of non-muscle myosin II activity, whereas the norepinephrine-induced migration is completely inhibited by either direct inhibition of non-muscle myosin II or of the kinases phosphorylating the myosin light chain, namely ROCK or the calcium/calmodulin-dependent myosin light-chain kinase.

Distribution and expression of non-muscle myosin light chain kinase in rabbit livers

AIM: To study the distribution and expression of non-muscle myosin light chain kinase (nmMLCK) in rabbit livers.

METHODS: Human nmMLCK N-terminal cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was inserted into pBKcmv to construct expression vectors. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into XL1-blue. Expression protein was induced by IPTG and then purified by SDS-PAGE and electroelution, which was used to prepare the polycolonal antibody to detect the distribution and expression of nmMLCK in rabbit livers with immunofluorescene techniques.

RESULTS: The polyclonal antibody was prepared, by which nmMLCK expression was detected and distributed mainly in peripheral hepatocytes.

CONCLUSION: nmMLCK can express in hepatocytes peripherally, and may play certain roles in the regulation of hepatic functions.

Caspase-dependent cleavage of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is involved in TNF-alpha-mediated bovine pulmonary endothelial cell apoptosis

Cytoskeletal proteins are key participants in the cellular progression to apoptosis. Our previous work demonstrated the critical dependence of actomyosin rearrangement and MLC phosphorylation in TNF-alpha-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. As these events reflect the activation of the multifunctional endothelial cell (EC) MLCK isoform, we assessed the direct role of EC MLCK in the regulation of TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells expressing either an adenovirus encoding antisense MLCK cDNA (Ad.GFP-AS MLCK) or a dominant/negative EC MLCK construct (EC MLCK-ATPdel) resulted in marked reductions in MLCK activity and TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, a constitutively active EC MLCK lacking the carboxyl-terminal autoinhibitory domains (EC MLCK-1745) markedly enhanced the apoptotic response to TNF-alpha. Immunostaining in GFP-EC MLCK-expressing cells revealed colocalization of caspase 8 and EC MLCK along actin stress fibers after TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha induced the caspase-dependent cleavage of EC MLCK-1745 in transfected endothelial cells, which was confirmed by mass spectroscopy with in vitro cleavage by caspase 3 at LKKD (D1703). The resulting MLCK fragments displayed significant calmodulin-independent kinase activity. These studies convincingly demonstrate that novel interactions between the apoptotic machinery and EC MLCK exist that regulate the endothelial contractile apparatus in TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis.

Differences in calmodulin and calmodulin-binding proteins in phasic and tonic smooth muscles

To determine whether densities of calmodulin (CaM) and CaM-binding proteins are related to phasic and tonic behavior of smooth muscles, we quantified these proteins in the opossum esophageal body (EB) and lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which represent phasic and tonic smooth muscles, respectively. Gel electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation, Western blot, and hemagglutinin epitope-tagged CaM (HA-CaM) overlay assay with quantitative scanning densitometry and phosphorylation measurements were used. Total protein content in the two smooth muscles was similar (approximately 30 mg protein/g frozen tissue). Total tissue concentration of CaM was significantly (25%) higher in EB than in LES (P < 0.05). HA-CaM-binding proteins were qualitatively similar in LES and EB extracts. Myosin, myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate protein, Ca(2+)/CaM kinase II, and calponin contents were also similar in the two muscles. However, content and total activity of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and content of caldesmon (CaD) were three- to fourfold higher in EB than in LES. Increased CaM and MLCK content may allow for a wide range of contractile force varying from complete relaxation in the basal state to a large-amplitude, high-velocity contraction in EB phasic muscle. Increased content of CaD, which provides a braking mechanism on contraction, may further contribute to the phasic contractile behavior. In contrast, low CaM, MLCK, and CaD content may be responsible for a small range of contractile force seen in tonic muscle of LES.

Modulation of the differentiation status of cultured prostatic smooth muscle cells by an alpha1-adrenergic receptor antagonist

BACKGROUND

Prostatic stromal cells are believed to be a key factor in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The effect of phenylephrine, an alpha1-adrenergic receptor agonist, and doxazosin, an alpha1-adrenergic receptor-specific antagonist, on the expression of smooth muscle myosin-heavy-chain isotypes SM-1 and SM-2 was tested in an in vitro model of prostatic smooth muscle cells (SMC).

METHODS

Primary prostatic stromal cells, grown in SMC-specific medium, were treated with 10 microM of phenylephrine or 1 microM of doxazosin or a combination of both. SM-2 to SM-1 mRNA ratios and expression of alpha1-adrenergic receptor subtypes were determined by means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. Cell growth was measured by a cell viability assay.

RESULTS

SM-1 mRNA and only very low levels of SM-2 mRNA were detected in prostatic SMC cultures grown for 4 days in a serum-free base medium. After 6 days of treatment, SM-2 expression increased, highest in the doxazosin-treated cultures. In comparison to unstimulated cells, a statistically significant 10-fold increase of the SM-2:SM-1 ratio was measured in doxazosin-treated cultures. Analysis of alpha1-adrenergic receptor subtype expression revealed the presence of mRNAs of subtypes 1d and 1b mRNAs. Subtype 1a was not expressed. Phenylephrine and doxazosin showed no significant effect on cell proliferation and on alpha1d-adrenergic receptor expression.

CONCLUSIONS

SMC can differentiate from a proliferative to a contractile phenotype, which is accompanied by increased expression of isotope 2 of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain. Our results suggest that doxazosin seems to have a long-term effect on the differentiation of prostatic stromal cells, indicating that alpha1-adrenergic receptor antagonists do not act solely on SMC contractility.

Myosin light-chain phosphorylation in diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats

The regulatory myosin light chain (MLC) is phosphorylated in cardiac muscle by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent MLC kinase (MLCK) and is considered to play a modulatory role in the activation of myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and the process of force generation. Since the depression in cardiac contractile function in chronic diabetes is associated with a decrease in myofibrillar ATPase activity, we investigated changes in MLC phosphorylation in diabetic heart. Rats were made diabetic by injecting streptozotocin (65 mg/kg intravenously), and the hearts were removed 8 weeks later; some 6-week diabetic animals were injected with insulin (3 U/d) for 2 weeks. Changes in the relative MLC and MLCK protein contents were measured by electrophoresis and immunoblot assay, whereas phosphorylated and unphosphorylated MLCs were separated on 10% acrylamide/urea gel and identified by Western blot. MLC and MLCK contents were decreased markedly (40% to 45%) and MLC phosphorylation was decreased significantly (30% to 45%) in the diabetic rat heart homogenate in comparison to control values. The changes in MLC and MLCK content in diabetic heart were partially reversible, whereas changes in MLC phosphorylation were normalized upon treatment with insulin. These results suggest that decreased protein contents of MLC and MLCK and phosphorylation of MLC may contribute to the depression of cardiac myofibriliar ATPase activity and heart dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Inhibition of agonist-induced Ca2+ entry in endothelial cells by myosin light-chain kinase inhibitor

Identification of the signal which links the depletion of Ca2+ stores to a Ca2+ entry pathway in the plasma membrane remains to be determined. In the present study, effects of ML-9 and wortmannin, inhibitors of myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK), on agonist-stimulated Ca2+ response were investigated in porcine aortic endothelial cells loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura-2. Bradykinin (BK) caused a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i, followed by a sustained increase due to the influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular space. ML-9 almost completely abolished the sustained increase in [Ca2+]i in BK-stimulated cells, while it did not affect the mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. ML-9 also abolished the sustained increase in [Ca2+]i caused by thapsigargin. Wortmannin mimicked the effect of ML-9 on the thapsigargin-stimulated Ca2+ response. These findings document for the first time the involvement of MLCK inhibitor in Ca2+ signaling in endothelial cells.

Expression of a novel myosin light chain kinase in embryonic tissues and cultured cells

A novel, 208-kDa myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) distinct from smooth muscle and non-muscle MLCK has been identified by cross-reaction to two antibodies raised against smooth muscle MLCK. Additional antibodies directed against the amino and carboxyl termini of the smooth muscle MLCK do not react with the 208-kDa MLCK, suggesting these regions are distinct. 208-kDa MLCK phosphorylates 20-kDa myosin light chains in a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent manner, consistent with it being a member of the MLCK family. Expression of 208-kDa MLCK and smooth muscle MLCK appears to be inversely regulated, with 208-kDa MLCK being most abundant during early development and declining at birth. In contrast, expression of smooth muscle MLCK is relatively low early during development and increases to become the predominant MLCK detected in all adult smooth and non-muscle tissues. The developmental expression pattern of the 208-kDa MLCK suggests this form be named, embryonic MLCK.

A protein/peptide assay using peptide-resin adduct: application to the calmodulin/RS20 complex

To obtain equilibrium and kinetic constants of a protein/peptide complex, we have developed a rapid procedure which uses peptides specifically linked to a resin. With this peptide-resin adduct, bound and free 125I-labeled protein could be easily separated by simple centrifugation. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated with the calmodulin/RS20 complex, where RS20 is the putative calmodulin binding peptide of the smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK). In addition to the wild-type calmodulin (SYNCAM) expressed in Escherichia coli, we also examined calmodulin mutants with charge reversals called SYNCAM12A (DEE 118-120-->KKK) and SYNCAM18A (EEE 82-84-->KKK and DEE 118-120-->KKK). The kinetic analysis of the interaction between SYNCAM and RS20 associated with titration experiments allowed us to measure dissociation constants (KD) in the range of 10(-9) M, in good agreement with previously published data. Moreover, the binding assays showed that SYN-CAM18A did not interact with RS20, whereas SYN-CAM12A did with a KD around 10(-8) M. The lack of binding of SYNCAM18A to RS20 provides an explanation for the lack of smMLCK activation by SYNCAM18A. Altogether, these results demonstrate that peptide-resin can be used as a tool for separating bound from free protein, thus enabling a rapid and reliable quantification of the protein/peptide interaction.

Calponin and SM 22 as differentiation markers of smooth muscle: spatiotemporal distribution during avian embryonic development

Calponin and SM 22 are two proteins related in sequence that are particularly abundant in smooth muscle cells. Here, the distribution patterns of calponin and SM 22 were compared with that of other smooth muscle contractile and cytoskeletal components in the avian embryo using immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblotting. Like myosin-light-chain kinase and heavy caldesmon, both calponin and SM 22 were more or less exclusively found in smooth muscle cells, during embryonic development and in the adult. Labelling of other cell types including striated muscle was not observed. In contrast, tropomyosin, smooth muscle alpha-actin, filamin and desmin could also be detected in many other cell types in addition to smooth muscles, at least during part of embryonic life. Calponin and SM 22 appeared almost synchronously during the differentiation of all smooth muscle cell populations, though with a slight time difference in the case of the aorta. The appearance of calponin, SM 22 and heavy caldesmon was generally delayed in relation to desmin, tropomyosin, smooth muscle alpha-actin, myosin-light-chain kinase and filamin and a marked increase in abundance of these proteins was observed in the late embryo and in the adult. From these observations we can conclude that both calponin and SM 22 belong to a group of late differentiation determinants in smooth muscle and may constitute convenient and reliable markers to follow the differentiation of most, if not all, smooth muscle cell populations.

Myosin light chain kinase occurs in bullfrog sympathetic neurons and may modulate voltage-dependent potassium currents

A polyclonal antibody against myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) of chicken gizzard recognized a 130 kd peptide of bullfrog sympathetic ganglia as MLCK. MLCK immunoreactivity was confined to the neuronal cell body. A synthetic peptide corresponding to an inhibitory domain of MLCK (Ala783-Gly804) was applied intracellularly to isolated sympathetic neurons during whole-cell recordings of ionic currents. The peptide inhibitor reversibly decreased M-type potassium current (IM) while not affecting A-type of delayed rectifier-type potassium currents. Intracellular application of an active fragment of MLCK enhanced IM, whereas application of an inactive MLCK fragment did not. The results suggest that IM can be modulated by MLCK-catalyzed phosphorylation.

Nuclear calmodulin-binding proteins in rat neurons

By using a 125I-calmodulin overlay assay, three major high-affinity calmodulin-binding proteins, showing apparent molecular masses of 135, 60, and 50 kDa, have been detected in purified nuclear fractions isolated from rat neurons. It has been shown that after extraction of the nuclei with nucleases and high salt, all these proteins remain strongly associated with the nuclear matrix. The 60- and 50-kDa proteins have been previously identified as subunits of the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. We report here the immunoblot identification of the 135-kDa calmodulin-binding protein as myosin light chain kinase. We also show that the calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin is present in the neuronal nuclei and associated with the nuclear matrix. The nuclear localization of both calcineurin and myosin light chain kinase has been confirmed by immunocytochemical studies.

Presence and possible involvement of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases in insulin release from the rat pancreatic beta cell

Roles of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca/CaM kinase II) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in insulin release from rat pancreatic islets were investigated. Western blotting using polyclonal antibody to Ca/CaM kinase II suggested the presence of this kinase in the pancreatic islets. Extracts of pancreatic islets phosphorylated exogenous myosin light chain, which was inhibited by ML-9, an inhibitor of MLCK. KN-62 and KN-93, inhibitors of Ca/CaM kinase II, and ML-9 at microM concentrations inhibited insulin release stimulated by glucose or high K+. KN-62 and KN-93, but not ML-9, inhibited insulin release increased by glucose and forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase. These inhibitors had no effect on insulin release evoked by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, an activator of Ca(2+)-sensitive, diacylglycerol-dependent protein kinase. These results suggest that Ca/CaM kinase II and MLCK may participate in the control of insulin release.

Assay of myosin light chain kinase activity by high-performance liquid chromatography using a synthetic peptide as substrate

The most popular method to determine the activity of myosin light chain kinase is to measure the radioactivity incorporated from [gamma-32P]ATP into phosphoryl-accepting substrates. In this paper, we report a new method for determination of myosin light chain kinase activity without using radioisotopes. Synthetic peptides and nonradiolabeled ATP were used as substrate, and the peptide substrate was phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase purified from chicken gizzard. After terminating the reaction, the reaction mixture was directly injected into a reversed-phase HPLC column without pretreatment, separated with the isocratic solvent system of acetonitrile-H2O-trifluoroacetic acid, and monitored at 220 nm uv absorbance. The reaction rate was determined from the peak areas of phosphorylated and unphosphorylated peptides. One chromatographic separation was achieved within 9 min, and the analysis could be repeated successively more than 100 times without washing the column. Using this method, we measured the differential inhibition of myosin light chain kinase by various inhibitors. With the aid of an automatic injector, the HPLC method with synthetic peptide enables us to handle many samples quickly and is useful for screening new myosin light chain kinase inhibitors.

Potent peptide inhibitors of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase: mapping of the pseudosubstrate and calmodulin binding domains

Smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is activated by calcium-calmodulin and, in turn, phosphorylates and activates the smooth muscle actomyosin ATPase, resulting in muscle contraction. The amino acid sequence of the regulatory domain of MLCK is known, and it contains a region that binds calmodulin and also bears a strong homology to the phosphorylation site in the substrate. Thus, it has been called the "pseudosubstrate". It has been proposed that calmodulin activates MLCK by binding to and reversing the autoinhibitory function of the pseudosubstrate. Synthetic peptides based on this sequence inhibit MLCK both by binding to calmodulin and by competing with the substrate at the active site. In the work reported here, we have synthesized a large number of peptides from the regulatory region of MLCK (MLCK 480-516). The region was systematically analyzed by dividing it into fragments of two to six amino acids, each containing one or more basic residues, in order to map in detail the calmodulin binding site and the autoinhibitory region. It was observed that both calmodulin binding and autoinhibition are mediated by several different fragments of the regulatory sequence. Two nonoverlapping peptides, MLCK 480-493 and MLCK 494-504, are similar in potency in inhibiting the enzyme (IC50's of 2 and 6 microM, respectively). Larger fragments, combining multiple inhibitory regions, are more potent inhibitors. For example, MLCK 480-504 is extremely potent, with an IC50 of 13 nM. The calmodulin binding site and active site directed inhibitory regions overlap, but are not identical. Residues 505-512 are important only for calmodulin binding.

Smooth muscle myosin as a calmodulin binding protein. Affinity increase on filament assembly

Smooth muscle myosin is normally copurified with myosin light chain kinase (MLCKase) and calmodulin (CM). We have now established the binding affinities and stoichiometries of these two components with respect to monomeric and filamentous myosin. The relative amounts of CM and MLCKase in fresh synthetic myosin filaments were approximately stoichiometrical but for both in a molar ratio to myosin of about 1 to 30 or less. A 10(7) dilution of filaments did not result in any significant decrease in the amount of endogenous MLCKase and CM except in the absence of Ca2+ when the CM content was reduced around five-fold. Binding assays were performed with myosin depleted of CM and MLCKase by passage over melittin- and CM-affinity columns, arranged in tandem. For binding to myosin preassembled into filaments three classes of CM binding sites could be demonstrated. (1) A high affinity binding characterized by a dissociation constant of 20-30 nM and a rather low binding stoichiometry of below 1 to 500. (2) An intermediate affinity, characterized by a dissociation constant of 1.2 microM and 1 to 100 binding stoichiometry. (3) A low affinity with a Kd greater than 10 microM and with an approximate 1 to 1 binding ratio relative to myosin. If CM was made available during filament assembly the high affinity binding predominated, with a stoichiometry in the presence of Ca2+ of about 1 to 50. The binding affinity but not the stoichiometry was reduced several fold by the removal of Ca, excluding a non-specific trapping of CM within the filament architecture. Collectively, these data demonstrate an independent and specific association of MLCKase and CM with myosin, that is strengthened by filament assembly.

Monoclonal antibody assessment of tissue- and species-specific myosin light chain kinase isozymes

Monoclonal antibodies raised against chicken gizzard smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase were used for immunological and structural studies of this enzyme. Epitope mapping of trypsin-digested chicken gizzard enzyme showed that MM-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 bind to 65 kDa (trypsin-digested) and 60 kDa (chymotrypsin-digested) fragments which contain the catalytic domain of the kinase. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that MM-7 inhibited kinase activity competitively with respect to ATP and noncompetitively with respect to myosin light chain, thereby indicating that MM-7 binds at or near the ATP binding site of the enzyme. Immunoblot analysis revealed that all these antibodies (MM-1 to 12) reacted with the enzyme (130 kDa) from intestinal and vascular smooth muscles, whereas 5 (MM-1, 3, 4, 6, and 9) or 3 (MM-1, 3, and 4) of 12 antibodies did not cross-react with chicken cardiac muscle or with blood platelet myosin light chain kinase (130 kDa), respectively. None of these antibodies showed cross-reactivity against skeletal muscle myosin light chain kinase. As for mammalian species, MM-11 and 12 reacted with myosin light chain kinase of vascular smooth muscle (140 kDa) and MM-11 cross-reacted with the enzyme (140 kDa) from cardiac muscle of rat and rabbit. These data suggest the existence of at least 4 subspecies of myosin light chain kinase in chicken tissues and the heterogeneity of tissue- and species-specific isozyme forms.

Expression of human calmodulin cDNA in Escherichia coli and characterization of the protein

A cDNA clone of human calmodulin, isolated from liver, was subcloned into the expression vector pKK233-2. The resulting expression plasmid, designated pCWCaM1, produced human calmodulin in Escherichia coli SG5. The cDNA was sequenced using novel primers designed for use in plasmid-sequencing protocols with pKK233-2 and pKK223-3. The expressed calmodulin was purified and subjected to NMR analysis which revealed a structure essentially the same as natural calmodulin isolated from human tissue. The activation of myosin light chain kinase by the genetically engineered human calmodulin and bovine brain calmodulin was studied and found to be comparable to a high degree. The expressed calmodulin appears to be comparable to normal calmodulin and can be used for site-directed mutagenesis and structure/function investigations.

Autoregulation of enzymes by pseudosubstrate prototopes: myosin light chain kinase

The myosin light chain kinase requires calmodulin for activation. Tryptic cleavage of the enzyme generates an inactive 64-kilodalton (kD) fragment that can be further cleaved to form a constitutively active, calmodulin-independent, 61-kD fragment. Microsequencing and amino acid analysis of purified peptides after proteolysis of the 61- and 64-kD fragments were used to determine the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal sequences of the 64-kD fragment. Cleavage within the calmodulin-binding region at Arg505 generates the catalytically inactive 64-kD fragment, which is incapable of binding calmodulin. Further digestion removes a carboxyl-terminal fragment, including the pseudosubstrate sequence Ser484-Lys-Asp-Arg-Met-Lys-Lys-Tyr-Met- Ala-Arg-Arg-Lys-Trp-Gln-Lys-Thr-Gly-His-Ala-Val-Arg505 and results in a calmodulin-independent 61-kD fragment. Both the 61- and 64-kD fragments have the same primary amino-terminal sequences. These results provide direct support for the concept that the pseudosubstrate structure binds the active site and that the role of calmodulin is to modulate this interaction. Pseudosubstrates may be utilized in analogous ways by other allosterically regulated enzymes.

Calcium dependence of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-induced force and myosin light chain phosphorylation in arterial smooth muscle

Phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) is an activator of protein kinase C and has been observed to cause a slow developing contraction in vascular smooth muscle. The mechanism of phorbol ester-induced contraction is unknown. We studied the Ca++-dependence of, and the degree of myosin light chain phosphorylation (MLC-P), during PDB-induced contractions in rabbit aortic rings. PDB elicited concentration-dependent contractions (3 X 10(-8) to 10(-6) M) in rabbit aortic rings incubated in normal (1.6 mM Ca++) physiologic salt solution (PSS). Addition of the Ca++-channel blocker nifedipine (0.1 microM) to PSS or removal or Ca++ from PSS significantly reduced the contractile responses to PDB. Depletion of Ca++ by repeated washes in O Ca++-PSS containing 10(-3) M ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid reduced, but did not eliminate, the responses to PDB. In PSS, PDB significantly increased the fraction of phosphorylated MLC/total MLC to 0.33 from a resting value of 0.20. Ca++ depletion reduced the resting fraction (MLC-P/MLC) to 0.14. PDB-stimulated contractions in Ca++-depleted tissues occurred in the absence of significant increases in MLC-P. Sodium nitroprusside partially relaxed PDB-induced contractions by approximately 50% whether elicited in the presence of 1.6 mM Ca++ or after Ca++ depletion. In both cases relaxation occurred in the absence of statistically significant decreases in MLC phosphorylation. Ca++-dependent MLC phosphorylation may account for a component of the PDB contractile response in rabbit aorta. Studies in the absence of Ca++ suggest that PDB may activate contraction without concomitant MLC-P.

N pi-methylhistidine in myosin-light-chain kinase

The identification and localization of N pi-methylhistidine (1-methylhistidine) within the primary structure (His 157) of rabbit skeletal muscle myosin-light-chain kinase is described. The data show for the first time that N pi-methylhistidine, known as a rare mammalian urine amino acid, is a protein constituent.

Distribution of calmodulin and calmodulin-binding proteins in bovine pituitary: association of myosin light chain kinase with pituitary secretory granule membranes

Calcium is necessary for secretion of pituitary hormones. Many of the biological effects of Ca2+ are mediated by the Ca2+-binding protein calmodulin (CaM), which interacts specifically with proteins regulated by the Ca2+-CaM complex. One of these proteins is myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), a Ca2+-calmodulin dependent enzyme that phosphorylates the regulatory light chains of myosin, and has been implicated in motile processes in both muscle and non-muscle tissues. We determined the content and distribution of CaM and CaM-binding proteins in bovine pituitary homogenates, and subcellular fractions including secretory granules and secretory granule membranes. CaM measured by radioimmunoassay was found in each fraction; although approximately one-half was in the cytosolic fraction, CaM was also associated with the plasma membrane and secretory granule fractions. CaM-binding proteins were identified by an 125I-CaM gel overlay technique and quantitated by densitometric analysis of the autoradiograms. Pituitary homogenates contained nine major CaM-binding proteins of 146, 131, 90, 64, 58, 56, 52, 31 and 22 kilodaltons (kDa). Binding to all the bands was specific, Ca2+-sensitive, and displaceable with excess unlabeled CaM. Severe heat treatment (100 degrees C, 15 min), which results in a 75% reduction in phosphodiesterase activation by CaM, markedly decreased 125I-CaM binding to all protein bands. Secretory granule membranes showed enhancement for CaM-binding proteins with molecular weights of 184, 146, 131, 90, and 52,000. A specific, affinity purified antibody to chicken gizzard MLCK bound to the 146 kDa band in homogenates, centrifugal subcellular fractions, and secretory granule membrane. No such binding was associated with the granule contents. The enrichment of MLCK and other CaM-binding proteins in pituitary secretory granule membranes suggest a possible role for CaM and/or CaM-binding proteins in granule membrane function and possibly exocytosis.

Purification of caldesmon and myosin light chain (MLC) kinase from arterial smooth muscle: comparisons with gizzard caldesmon and MLC kinase

We have developed a simple and conventional purification method for caldesmon and MLC kinase from bovine arterial smooth muscle, and compared the arterial and gizzard proteins. Arterial caldesmon shares the alternative binding to calmodulin or F-actin in a Ca2+-dependent manner and the antigenic determinants with the gizzard protein. Both caldesmons have the same association constant with F-actin (1.3-1.7 X 10(7) M-1) and the same maximum binding (1 caldesmon per 12-14 actins). However, the molecular weight of arterial caldesmon (dimer of a 148 kDa polypeptides) was slightly different from that of gizzard caldesmon (heterodimer of 150/147 kDa polypeptides). The molecular weight of arterial MLC kinase (160 kDa) was much larger than that of the gizzard enzyme (135 kDa). The enzyme activities of both MLC kinases were comparable (Km = 9.5 microM, Vmax = 12.5 mumol/min X mg). The association constant of the arterial enzyme to F-actin (5.1 X 10(6) M-1) was much larger than that of the gizzard enzyme (9.0 X 10(5) M-1) but the maximum binding was the same (1 enzyme per 12-13 actins). Immunocytochemical examinations showed that caldesmon and MLC kinase in cultured arterial cells have a restricted localization along the stress fibers, suggesting functional linkages between both proteins and actin filaments in vivo.