DosT and DevS are oxygen-switched kinases in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Exposure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to hypoxia is known to alter the expression of many genes, including ones thought to be involved in latency, via the transcription factor DevR (also called DosR). Two sensory kinases, DosT and DevS (also called DosS), control the activity of DevR. We show that, like DevS, DosT contains a heme cofactor within an N-terminal GAF domain. For full-length DosT and DevS, we determined the ligand-binding parameters and the rates of ATP reaction with the liganded and unliganded states. In both proteins, the heme state was coupled to the kinase such that the unliganded, CO-bound, and NO-bound forms were active, but the O(2)-bound form was inactive. Oxygen-bound DosT was unusually inert to oxidation to the ferric state (half life in air >60 h). Though the kinase activity of DosT was unaffected by NO, this ligand bound 5000 times more avidly than O(2) to DosT (K(d) [NO] approximately 5 nM versus K(d) [O(2)] = 26 microM). These results demonstrate direct and specific O(2) sensing by proteins in M. tuberculosis and identify for the first time a signal ligand for a sensory kinase from this organism. They also explain why exposure of M. tuberculosis to NO donors under aerobic conditions can give results identical to hypoxia, i.e., NO saturates DosT, preventing O(2) binding and yielding an active kinase.

Protein kinase activity associated with a phorbol ester receptor purified from mouse brain.

Protein kinase activity copurified with the receptor for 12-O-[3H]tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate during its purification from mouse brain particulate protein. All attempts to resolve the protein kinase activity from the receptor were unsuccessful. The isolated receptor required phospholipid and divalent calcium for maximal protein kinase activity. The protein kinase was not activated by cyclic nucleotides or calmodulin. There are striking similarities between the receptor-associated protein kinase activity and the calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, which has been suspected of mediating the effects of biological stimuli associated with increased phosphatidylinositol turnover.

The assay of the activity of protein kinase C with the synthetic oligopeptide substrate designed for histone kinase II.

The activity of histone kinase II was determined on the basis of its ability to phosphorylate the nonapeptide Ala-Ala-Ala-Ser-Phe-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-amide designed previously as a specific substrate for this enzyme. Histone kinase II was purified from calf thymus extract by DEAE-cellulose chromatography followed by hydroxylapatite chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography on a Protein Analysis column (I-125). The Mr value of histone kinase II estimated by the latter method was 50,000-55,000, but several observations indicated that histone kinase II was a product of a proteolytic process. Since the substrate specificity determinants for histone kinase II known from our previous investigations are very similar to those for protein kinase C, it was presumable that histone kinase II was the proteolytic fragment of protein kinase C. Therefore, the nonapeptide was tested as a substrate for protein kinase C prepared from rabbit brain extract by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The activity of histone kinase II was also detected in brain extract. Histone kinase II was eluted from the DEAE-cellulose in the known position of the proteolytic fragment of protein kinase C. The nonapeptide Ala-Ala-Ala-Ser-Phe-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-amide proved to be a better substrate than H1 histone for the detection of the activity of protein kinase C because it was not phosphorylated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase and the Vmax of protein kinase C was about one order of magnitude higher with the peptide than with H1 histone. The apparent Km of protein kinase C for the peptide was identical with that of histone kinase II (0.2 mM).

Protein kinase in cultured plant cells.

A protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37) which phosphorylates histones was purified partially from the soluble fractions of cultured plant cells. The optimum pH was 7.5 to 9.0. The activity wasnot stimulated by exogeneous cyclic AMP. It was thermolabile and completely dependent on the presence of Mg2+ or Mn2+ for activity. p-Chloromercuribenzoate inactivated this enzyme and this inactivation was overcome by mercaptoethanol.

Resolution and general properties of different types of ribosomal protein kinases in mouse plasmocytoma.

Three different types of protein kinases (ATP: protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) were isolated and partially purified from a mouse plasmacytoma microsomal KCl wash fraction, then chromatographed on DEAE cellulose and phosphocellulose. The three protein kinase activities designated by protein kinase I, II and III were characterized with respect to their capacity to utilize [gamma-32P]ATP and [gamma-32P]GTP, to interact with cyclic AMP, stimulation by cyclic AMP, substrate specificity and sedimentation behaviour on glycerol gradient centrifugation. Protein kinase I was found to be cyclic AMP dependent and preferentially phosphorylated histones. Protein kinase II and III were insensitive to cyclic AMP, protein kinase II preferentially phosphorylated histones and the protein(s) of a ribosomal KCl wash fraction eluted from DEAE cellulose between 0.2 and 0.35 M KCl and termed "PPx". Protein kinase III phosphorylated casein and ribosomal proteins to a great extent. Studies with glycerol density gradient centrifugation indicated that protein kinase I sediments as a component of about 4.4 S, protein kinase II of 4.3 S and protein kinase III of 3 S. Chromatography on phosphocellulose of the protein kinases isolated from purified free polysomes showed the same type of protein kinases as those from microsomes. So it appears unlikely that protein kinase I and II were contaminants from the cytosol.

Histone phosphorylation in phorbol ester stimulated and beta-adrenergically stimulated mouse epidermis in vivo and characterization of an epidermal protein phosphorylation system.

Under certain physiological conditions a change in the phosphorylation of histones in mouse epidermis in vivo was observed. Thus a single local application of the tumor-promoting mitogen 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate caused a long-lasting increase of histone H1 phosphorylation which paralleled stimulated cell proliferation. Injection of the antimitotic beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol led to a temporary decrease in the rate of phosphorylation of H1, H2A and H2B immediately after cyclic AMP accumulation. A complete protein phosphorylation system could be demonstrated in mouse epidermis homogenates. The following enzyme activities were partially purified and characterized: a cyclic AMP-dependent histone kinase; a 'casein kinase' and an 'unspecific' protein kinase; a histone-specific protein phosphatase; and two 'unspecific' phosphoprotein phosphatases. In addition, a stimulatory effect of cyclic GMP on histone phosphorylation was observed. The enzymes were found to be predominantly localized in the 105000 X g supernatant, but a small proportion of protein kinase and phosphatase activity could be regularly demonstrated in cell nuclei.

In vitro activation of a 60-70 kDa histone H4 protein kinase from neutrophils by limited proteolysis.

Neutrophils stimulated with the chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP) are known to exhibit a rapid and transient activation of a histone H4 kinase that may function in a stimulatory pathway downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. The activity of this histone kinase in unstimulated neutrophils and cells treated with 1.0 microM fMLP for 10 sec was 8.8 +/- 5 and 43 +/- 2 pmol P/min per 10(7) cells, respectively. In this paper, we report that unstimulated neutrophils contain a latent H4 kinase in the 100,000 x g soluble fraction that can be markedly activated by treatment with trypsin. The values for the untreated and trypsin treated enzyme were 5.5 +/- 1.0 and 63.6 +/- 18 pmol P/min per 10(7) cell-equivalents, respectively. This kinase was insensitive to a selective antagonist of protein kinase C (i.e., 50 microM 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7)) but completely blocked by 100 nM staurosporine. Only a single peak of activity was observed for this enzyme when the 100,000 x g supernatant fraction was fractionated on either an exclusion (KW-803) or an anion exchange column (DEAE), or during isoelectric focusing. The molecular weight of the latent kinase was 64 +/- 6 kDa and the isoelectric point was 7.6 +/- 0.1. During all fractionation procedures, the H4 kinase co-chromatographed with a trypsin-activated kinase that catalyzed the phosphorylation of a peptide which corresponds to residues 297-331 of the 47 kDa subunit of the NADPH-oxidase complex (p47-phox). The properties of the trypsin-activated H4 kinase from unstimulated neutrophils are very similar to those reported for this enzyme from fMLP-stimulated cells.

A cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent histone kinase from pig brain. Purification and some properties of the enzyme.

A cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent histone kinase (ATP: protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) was isolated from pig brain. The enzyme has been purified 1140-fold; it is homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. The estimated molecular weight of the enzyme is 120 000. Histone kinase dissociates into a catalytic subunit and a regulatory one (molecular weights 40 000 and 90 000, respectively). The catalytic subunit has been obtained in homogeneous state as evidenced by sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. At all purification steps, enzymatic activity is stimulated 5-fold by cyclic AMP. An apparent Km value for cyclic AMP is about 3.3 - 10- minus 7 M. In the presence of cyclic AMP(5 - 10- minus 6 M), the Km value for ATP and F1 histone were 1.2 - 10- minus five and 3 - 10- minus 5 M, respectively. Optimum pH value for histone kinase is 6.5, its isoelectric point is situated at pH 4.6. The purified enzyme displays high specificity for the lysine-rich and moderately lysine-rich histones F1, F2a2 and F2b. Arginine-rich histones and other known protein substrates for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases (casein, Escherichia coli RNA polymerase, etc.) are extremely poor substrates for this enzyme.

Nucleoside-dependent protein kinase from Trypanosoma gambiense.

A nucleoside-dependent protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37) was partially purified from Trypanosoma gambiense, the pathogenic agent of sleeping sickness. This enzyme catalyzes the phosphorylation of histone and protamine. Various nucleosides at the concentration of 10(-4) M stimulated the histone kinase activity about two-fold, whereas cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were without effect. The pH-optimum for histone phosphorylation was at about pH 7.0. The enzyme activity absolutely depends on Mg2+, Mn2+ or Co2+. The apparent Km-value for histone was 0.3 mg/ml and those for ATP were 2 - 10(-4) M and 6 - 10(-5) M in the absence or presence of 10(-4) M adenosine respectively. IDP and ADP complete with ATP. The inhibition constants were calculated to be 2 - 10(-4) M and 2.5 - 10(-4) M, respectively. The molecular weight of the histone kinase was found to be 95 000 by gel filtration and 88 000 by sedimentation in a sucrose gradient.

MPM-12: a monoclonal antibody that predominantly stains mitotic cells and recognizes a protein kinase.

The monoclonal antibody MPM-12, raised by using partially purified extract of mitotic HeLa cells as the immunogen, preferentially stains the cytoplasm of mitotic cells by indirect immunofluorescence without exhibiting any species specificity. On immunoblots, MPM-12 recognizes three bands, of 155, 88, and 68 kDa, in mitotic HeLa cell extract but only the 68-kDa band in interphase cell extract. The 68-kDa band seems to be associated with chromatin while the other two are not. All three MPM-12 reactive peptides are phosphorylated, and the phosphorylation seems to be required for MPM-12 reactivity. The MPM-12 immunocomplexes exhibit autophosphorylating and histone H1 kinase activity.

Detection of a mammalian histone H4 kinase that has yeast histidine kinase-like enzymic activity.

A well characterized histidine kinase purified from yeast has been shown to phosphorylate histone H4 on a histidine residue. This enzyme is unlike the two-component histidine kinases predominantly found in prokaryotes. Until now, a histidine kinase similar to this yeast enzyme has not been purified from a mammalian source. By using a purification scheme similar to that used to purify the yeast histidine kinase, a protein fraction with histone H4 kinase activity has been isolated from porcine thymus. The yeast histidine kinase was shown to be detectable using an in-gel kinase assay system and using this system, four major bands of histone H4 kinase activity were apparent in the porcine thymus preparation. Through the use of immunoprecipitation, alkaline hydrolysis and subsequent phosphoamino acid analysis it has been demonstrated that this partially purified kinase fraction is capable of phosphorylating histone H4 on histidine. In conclusion, an preparation has been made from porcine thymus that contains histone H4 kinase activity and at least one of the kinases present in this preparation is a histidine kinase.

Characterization and follicle stimulating hormone activation of Sertoli cell cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases.

The Sertoli cell of the rat testis contains two cytoplasmic forms of adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase, designated as Peak I and Peak II, which change in relative proportion during Sertoli cell maturation. Peak I and Peak II differ in their subunit interaction. Thus, while the substrates, ATP and histone, affect cyclic AMP binding to Peak I, neither of these compounds affect the binding of cyclic AMP to the Peak II enzyme. The effects of cyclic AMP binding to Peak I appear to be due to the fact that histone and high ionic strength cause dissociation of the Peak I holoenzyme, whereas ATP stabilizes the holoenzyme complex against dissociation. The Peak II holoenzyme is not affected by either salt of histone and is only dissociated by cyclic AMP. Once dissociated, the subunits of Peak II will rapidly reassociate under low salt conditions whereas the subunits of Peak I will not reassociate. By utilizing the distinct properties of Peak I and Peak II, it is possible to demonstrate the activation of both Peak I and Peak II Sertoli cell protein kinase in response to FSH.

Purification and characterization of a novel protamine kinase in HL60 cells.

A protamine kinase from HL60 cells was purified to near homogeneity by DEAE-Sephacel, protamine-agarose, Hydroxylapatite, and S-200 chromatography. It was purified by 75.8-fold through four chromatographic steps, and 0.67% of total activity was recovered. The purified enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa and was activated by Mg(2+) or Mn(2+), but inhibited by Ca(2+). Neither phospholipid nor phorbol ester significantly affected the enzyme activity. Staurosporine was the most potent inhibitor of the enzyme among the protein kinase inhibitors tested, K(252a), H(7), heparin, and staurosporine. The purified protamine kinase exhibited a maximum velocity of 5,000 pmol/min/mg and K(m) of 1.3 mM for protamine sulfate as a substrate. Myelin basic protein and protamine sulfate served as the best substrates for the protamine kinase among those tested. The activity of the protamine kinase remained unchanged upon treatment with PMA, retinoic acid, dimethyl sulfoxide, or 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D(3) for 15 min, while treatment with a differentiating agent, 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D(3), for one week increased its activity. These results suggest that protamine kinase in HL60 cells is involved in the late stage of the macrophage-monocytic differentiation pathway and may play a role in maintenance of the differentiation after HL60 cells are committed.

Properties of a resiniferatoxin-stimulated, calcium inhibited but phosphatidylserine-dependent kinase, which is distinct from protein kinase C isotypes alpha, beta 1, gamma, delta, epsilon and eta.

We have separated a resiniferatoxin-stimulated histone-kinase activity from human neutrophils, elicited mouse macrophages and murine alveolar macrophages by hydroxyapatite chromatography. The assay conditions for resiniferatoxin kinase were optimized as part of this study and in the presence of phosphatidylserine but absence of Ca2+ the Ka for histone IIIs phosphorylation by resiniferatoxin was calculated as 16 nM. Using a phosphate gradient of 20-500 mM, peaks of protein kinase C activity could be washed from the hydroxyapatite column in 300 nM phosphate and resiniferatoxin kinase recovered in 500 mM phosphate. At the optimum concentration of 160 nM, the ability of resiniferatoxin to induce enzyme activity was compared with a range of phorbol esters all at the same concentration. These related compounds failed to activate resiniferatoxin kinase although they have previously been shown to activate protein kinase C isotypes. Similarly sn-1,2,-dioleoylglycerol and the potent irritant capsaicin at 30 microM failed to activate the kinase. A Scatchard analysis of [3H] phorbol dibutyrate binding produced a linear plot (Kd 41.6 nM; Bmax 11.6 fmol unit-1) and binding was inhibited by resiniferatoxin and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), with resiniferatoxin 700 times more potent than TPA in this respect. A radiolabelled resiniferatoxin binding assay was also used to demonstrate specific binding of [3H]resiniferatoxin which could be inhibited by unlabelled compound. Resiniferatoxin kinase activity was shown to be distinct from the protein kinase C isotypes alpha, beta 1, gamma, delta and epsilon by means of immunological analysis and from the eta isotype, because that isotype was not stimulated by resiniferatoxin but was stimulated by TPA when a pseudosubstrate was used. In addition the resiniferatoxin-stimulated activity was inhibited in-vitro by the addition of Ca2+ (Ki 0.1-0.5 nM free Ca2+). Further purification of resiniferatoxin kinase by Superose chromatography indicated a major activity fraction of about 70-90 kDa. Thus resiniferatoxin kinase, isolated from human and mouse inflammatory cells is distinct from the known isotypes of protein kinase C and is a major resiniferatoxin receptor.

Polymeric structure of a cyclic adenosine 3', 5',-monophosphate dependent protein kinase from the dimorphic fungus Mucor rouXII.

Adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) dependent protein kinase from yeast cells of Mucor rouxii was partially purified and examined by sedimentation in sucrose density gradients. In the presence of histone and cAMP this procedure allowed the separation of the catalytic moiety from the cAMP binding activity, indicating that the enzyme had dissociated into subunits. The dissociation was accompanied by conversion of the enzyme activity from a cAMP dependent to a cAMP independent form.

M-phase-specific histone H1 kinase in fish oocytes. Purification, components and biochemical properties.

We demonstrate, for the first time in fish, that a Ca(2+)-independent and cyclic-nucleotide-independent histone H1 kinase activity oscillates according to the cell cycle of the oocyte, peaking at the first and the second meiotic metaphase with a transient drop between them. The kinase, M-phase-specific histone H1 kinase (M-H1K), was purified from mature carp oocytes by using two exogenous substrates for assaying its activity: histone H1 and a synthetic peptide (SP peptide, KKAAKSPKKAKK) containing the sequence KSPKK, which includes the consensus sequence of the site phosphorylated by a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase encoded by the fission yeast cdc2+ gene (cdc 2 kinase). The M-H1K and maturation-promoting factor (MPF) activities coincided closely throughout four steps of purification, strongly suggesting the identity of M-H1K and MPF. The final preparation was purified 5000-fold with a recovery of 4%, when histone H1 was used for the kinase assay, and 10,000-fold with a recovery of 7% when SP peptide was used. The purified molecular mass of the kinase was estimated to be 100 kDa by gel filtration and contained four proteins of 33, 34, 46 and 48 kDa. Anti-PSTAIR antibody recognizing cdc2 kinase cross-reacted with the 33-kDa and 34-kDa proteins, while the 46-kDa and 48-kDa bands cross-reacted with monoclonal antibodies raised against cyclin B. The 33-kDa protein was also recognized by an antibody against a goldfish cdk2 (Eg1) kinase, a cdc2-related kinase which has the PSTAIR sequence and binds to p13suc1 but does not form a complex with cyclin B. M-H1K activity corresponded well to the 34-kDa, 46-kDa and 48-kDa proteins but not to the 33-kDa protein. These results strongly suggest that M-H1K consists of cdc2 kinase forming a complex with cyclin B, and that cdk2 kinase is not a component of M-H1K, although it is found in the highly purified M-H1K. The purified M-H1K utilized Mg2+, Mn2+, ATP and GTP, and had a wide pH optimum ranging over 8.0-10.5. The kinase was thermolabile and sensitive to freezing/thawing.

Purification and characterization of a specific histone H1 protein kinase from mouse plasmacytoma.

A protein kinase with high specificity for histone H1 was purified from a plasmacytoma microsomal fraction by a high-salt wash, ammonium sulfate precipitation, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, hydroxyapatite and Sephadex G-200 columns, and the main properties of this kinase were studied. A sulfhydryl compound, such as 2-mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol, was necessary for full activity. The optimum pH was 7.4-7.8. After purification, the histone H1 kinase was not stimulated by cAMP or cGMP. It was not inhibited by the heat-stable cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor from beef heart. It utilized preferentially GTP over ATP as phosphate donor. Km values for ATP and GTP were 58 microM and 1.4 microM respectively; the Km for histone H1 was 14 microgram ml-1. The molecular weight was approximately 90 000 by gel-exclusion chromatography. Analysis of the purified H1-specific protein kinase by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in dodecylsulfate showed two bands having molecular weights of approximately 64 000 and 54 000. Many characteristics of this kinase were similar to those of the chromatin-bound protein kinase reported by other workers in rapidly proliferating cells.