Preparation, characterization, and bioavailability evaluation of antioxidant phosvitin peptide-ferrous complex.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the commonest global nutritional deficiency diseases, and the low bioavailability of iron is a key contributing factor. The peptide-iron complex could be used as a novel iron supplement to improve iron bioavailability. RESULTS: In this study, antioxidant low molecular weight (<3 kDa) phosvitin peptide (named PP-4) was separated to prepare a phosvitin peptide-ferrous complex (named PP-4-Fe); then the structural conformation of PP-4-Fe was characterized and its bioavailability by in vitro digestion was evaluated. The results showed that PP-4 had good ferrous-binding activity with 96.14 ± 2.86 µg Fe2+ mg-1 , and had a strong antioxidant effect with 995.61 ± 79.75 µmol TE mg-1 in 2,2'-azinobis'3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 62.3 ± 3.95 µmol FeSO4 mg-1 in ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). After ferrous binding, the FRAP activity of PP-4-Fe, enhanced by 1.8 times, formed a more ordered structure with an increase in α-helix and decrease in γ-random coil. The ferrous binding sites of PP-4 involved were the amino, carboxyl, imidazole, and phosphate groups. The PP-4-Fe complex displayed excellent gastrointestinal stability and antioxidant effects during digestion. The iron dialysis percentage of PP-4-Fe was 74.59% ± 0.68%, and increased to 81.10% ± 0.89% with the addition of 0.25 times vitamin C (VC). This indicated that PP-4-Fe displayed excellent bioavailability and VC in sufficient quantities had a synergistic effect on improving bioavailability. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that antioxidant phosvitin peptide was an efficient delivery system to protect ferrous ions and suggested that the phosvitin peptide-ferrous complex has strong potential as a ferrous supplement. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

In vitro and in vivo wound healing-promoting activities of phosvitin-derived peptide Pt5-1c.

The closure of skin wounds is indispensable for resistance against pathogens, and fibroblast plays a critical role in skin wound healing. Our previous study demonstrates that the phosvitin-derived small peptide Pt5-1c not only possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity but also exhibits synergistic effect and antibiofilm activity with traditional antibiotics against bacteria, including multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains. Here we provided the first evidence that Pt5-1c promoted the wound closure of surrogate scratch "wounds" of fibroblasts in vitro, and speeded up the healing and re-epithelialization of murine dermal wounds in vivo. We also showed that Pt5-1c activated migration of fibroblasts via a combined action of inducing migratory phenotype and trans-activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Moreover, Pt5-1c accelerated attachment and proliferation of fibroblasts in vitro. Interestingly, Pt5-1c was able to promote collagen contraction through activation/differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. These data together suggest that Pt5-1c is a promising candidate with therapeutic potential to promote wound healing.

The Golgi 'casein kinase' Fam20C is a genuine 'phosvitin kinase' and phosphorylates polyserine stretches devoid of the canonical consensus.

Egg yolk phosvitins, generated through the fragmentation of vitellogenins (VTGs), are among the most heavily phosphorylated proteins ever described. Despite the early discovery in 1900 that chicken phosvitin is a phosphoprotein and its subsequent employment as an artificial substrate for a number of protein kinases, the identity of the enzyme(s) responsible for its phosphorylation remained a matter of conjecture until present. Here, we provide evidence that phosvitin phosphorylation is catalyzed by a family with sequence similarity 20, member C (Fam20C), an atypical protein kinase recently identified as the genuine casein kinase and responsible for the phosphorylation of many other secreted proteins at residues specified by the S-x-E/pS consensus. Such a conclusion is grounded on the following observations: (a) the levels of Fam20C and phosphorylated VTG rise in parallel upon treatment of zebrafish with oestrogens; (b) zebrafish phosvitin is readily phosphorylated upon coexpression in U2OS cells with Fam20C, but not with its catalytically inactive mutant; (c) a peptide reproducing a stretch of 12 serines, which are phosphorylated in chicken phosvitin despite lacking the C-terminal priming motif S-x-E, is efficiently phosphorylated by both recombinant and native Fam20C. The last finding expands the repertoire of potential targets of Fam20C to include several proteins known to harbor (p-Ser)n clusters not specified by any known kinase consensus.

Zebrafish phosvitin is an antioxidant with non-cytotoxic activity.

Antioxidants, or anti-oxidant agents, have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years because of their roles in prevention of chronic diseases and utilization as preservatives in food and cosmetics. In this study, we clearly demonstrated that zebrafish recombinant phosvitin (rPv) is an antioxidant agent capable of inhibiting the oxidation of the linoleic acid, and scavenging the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. We also showed that zebrafish rPv is a cellular antioxidant capable of protecting radical-mediated oxidation of cellular biomolecules. Importantly, zebrafish rPv is non-cytotoxic to murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. It is the first report that showed the antioxidant activities of Pv in fishes, suggesting that zebrafish Pv can be an important antioxidant, which can be used as preservatives in food and cosmetics and even as supplementary mediator in different diseased states.

Novel bioactivity of phosvitin in connective tissue and bone organogenesis revealed by live calvarial bone organ culture models.

Egg yolk phosvitin is one of the most highly phosphorylated extracellular matrix proteins known in nature with unique physico-chemical properties deemed to be critical during ex-vivo egg embryo development. We have utilized our unique live mouse calvarial bone organ culture models under conditions which dissociates the two bone remodeling stages, viz., resorption by osteoclasts and formation by osteoblasts, to highlight important and to date unknown critical biological functions of egg phosvitin. In our resorption model live bone cultures were grown in the absence of ascorbate and were stimulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH) to undergo rapid osteoclast formation/differentiation with bone resorption. In this resorption model native phosvitin potently inhibited PTH-induced osteoclastic bone resorption with simultaneous new osteoid/bone formation in the absence of ascorbate (vitamin C). These surprising and critical observations were extended using the bone formation model in the absence of ascorbate and in the presence of phosvitin which supported the above results. The results were corroborated by analyses for calcium release or uptake, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity (marker for osteoclasts), alkaline phosphatase activity (marker for osteoblasts), collagen and hydroxyproline composition, and histological and quantitative histomorphometric evaluations. The data revealed that the discovered bioactivity of phosvitin mirrors that of ascorbate during collagen synthesis and the formation of new osteoid/bone. Complementing those studies use of the synthetic collagen peptide analog and cultured calvarial osteoblasts in conjunction with mass spectrometric analysis provided results that augmented the bone organ culture work and confirmed the capacity of phosvitin to stimulate differentiation of osteoblasts, collagen synthesis, hydroxyproline formation, and biomineralization. There are striking implications and interrelationships of this affect that relates to the evolutionary inactivation of the gene of an enzyme L-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase, which is involved in the final step of ascorbate biosynthesis, in many vertebrate species including passeriform birds, reptiles and teleost fish whose egg yolk contain phosvitin. These represent examples of how developing ex-vivo embryos of such species can achieve connective tissue and skeletal system formation in the absence of ascorbate.

Topographical distribution of phosphorylation sites of phosvitins by mass spectrometry.

Phosvitin, derived from the vitellogenin II gene protein, is a highly phosphorylated protein found in egg yolk. A second hypothetical protein has been predicted based on the vitellogenin I gene, but has not been defined at the protein level. Mass spectrometric analysis was used to identify the phosphopeptide sequences and the precise sites of phosphorylation of two phosvitins, phosvitin 1 and phosvitin 2 derived from vitellogenins I and II, respectively. Samples of native phosvitin were subjected to tryptic digestion followed by mass spectrometric analysis: (i) native phosvitin peptides, (ii) after treatment with NaOH, and (iii) after chemical derivatization of P-Ser/P-Thr residues by dithiothreitol under base-catalyzed conditions. A combination of these approaches led to the identification of 68 and 35 phosphopeptides with 89 (81 P-Ser and 8 P-Thr residues) and 62 (57 P-Ser and 5 P-Thr residues) phosphorylation sites of phosvitin 1 and phosvitin 2, respectively. These data for the first time documented on a large scale the major states and sites of phosphorylation of phosvitins with a total of 151 phosphorylation sites. Importantly, the present work also provided the first direct de novo protein amino-acid sequence data for phosvitin 1 protein and evidence for the full expression of vitellogenin I gene. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: We have for the first time generated a large number of phosphopeptides (~100) and identified 151 phosphorylation sites of phosvitin 1 and phosvitin 2, respectively. Importantly, this study also led to the discovery of a novel phosvitin 1 and provided the first direct de novo protein amino-acid sequence data for the full expression of vitellogenin I gene. There is considerable interest in naturally occurring phosphopeptides/phosphoproteins and their application in biomedical fields and in the food industry because of their molecular characteristics and non-toxic nature, hence, our work opens new avenues to pursue such endeavors. In addition, the results provide important fundamental biologic information relevant to evolutionary developments of vertebrate animals beginning with the earliest fish, reptiles, birds and more contemporary mammals. For instance, the abundance of phosvitins with a unique degree of phosphorylation in the egg yolk of fish, reptiles, and birds suggests potential biological functions of phosvitins which are critical to the development of embryos of these distant vertebrates.

Effects of high-pressure processing and enzymatic dephosphorylation on phosvitin properties.

BACKGROUND: Egg phosvitin could be a good source of functional peptides. Enzymatic dephosphorylation and high-pressure processing combined with thermal treatment applied before proteolysis could produce phosvitin hydrolysates with different properties compared to its native form. RESULTS: Phosvitin structure was maintained overall during high-pressure treatment of 600 MPa applied at an initial temperature of 65 °C regardless of the pH and duration of treatment, confirming the high structural stability of this phosphoprotein. Treatment of phosvitin with phosphatase increased the degree of dephosphorylation from 24% to 63%, after 2 and 18 h, respectively. Moderate dephosphorylation of phosvitin prior to proteolytic digestion improved its hydrolysis, allowing formation of peptides with a molecular weight lower than 17,000 kDa as determined by size exclusion chromatography. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and antioxidant activity of dephosphorylated and protease-treated phosvitin was increased by 52% and 39%, respectively, as compared to protease-digested native phosvitin. CONCLUSION: Enzymatic dephosphorylation before proteolysis mimicking in vivo gut conditions improved ACE inhibition and antioxidant activity of phosvitin hydrolysates.

Progesterone-induced changes in the phosphoryl potential during the meiotic divisions in amphibian oocytes: role of Na/K-ATPase.

BACKGROUND: Progesterone triggers resumption of the first meiotic division in the Rana pipiens oocyte by binding to the N-terminal external loop of the catalytic subunit of Na/K-ATPase, releasing a cascade of lipid second messengers. This is followed by internalization of specific membrane proteins, plasma membrane depolarization and nuclear membrane breakdown, culminating in arrest at second metaphase. RESULTS: Progesterone initiates an increase in phosphoryl potential during the first meiotic division, resulting in the accumulation of high energy protein phosphate by second metaphase arrest. 31P-NMR, with saturation transfer, demonstrates that the phosphocreatine level rises ~2 fold and that the "pseudo" first order rate constant for the creatine kinase reaction falls to ~20% of the control by the onset of nuclear membrane breakdown. 32PO4 pulse-labeling reveals a net increase in phosphorylation of yolk protein phosvitin during this period. The increased yolk protein phosphorylation coincides with internalization of membrane Na/K-ATPase and membrane depolarizatio CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that progesterone binding to the catalytic subunit of the Na-pump diverts ATP from cation regulation at the plasma membrane to storage of high energy phosphate in yolk protein. Phosvitin serves as a major energy source during fertilization and early cleavage stages and is also a storage site for cations (e.g. Na+, K+, Ca2+, Fe2+/3+) essential for embryonic development.

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) vitellogenin: characterization of yolk proteins, development of immunoassays and use as biomarker of exposure to environmental estrogens.

The precursor protein of egg yolk, vitellogenin (Vg), is cleaved into three major components (lipovitellin, phosvitin and beta'-component) at the time of incorporation by growing oocytes. We purified three yolk proteins (YP1, YP2 and YP3) from ovaries of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) by a combined method of ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography. Biochemical analyses of the purified proteins of this species suggest that YP1, YP2 and YP3 are lipovitellin, beta'-component and phosvitin, respectively. A specific antiserum against purified carp YP1 (lipovitellin) was used to develop a single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) technique and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for carp Vg. By SRID and ELISA, we measured the circulating carp Vg level to be in the ranges of 12.5-400 microg/ml and 2.0-1000 ng/ml, respectively, which cover a wide range of Vg levels. From 1997-1998, male and female carp were captured at points of effluent discharge from a sewage treatment plant connected to the Tama River, where estrogenic compounds were later detected, and the presence of Vg in their circulation was examined. Vg was detected in both male and female carp at the mg/ml level, suggesting that estrogens such as estrone and estradiol were sufficiently high to induce Vg in male carp inhabiting this area. The result of this study supports the use of carp Vg as a biomarker of fish exposure to environmental estrogens.

Vertebrate yolk complexes and the functional implications of phosvitins and other subdomains in vitellogenins.

In nonplacental or nontrophotenic vertebrates, early development depends on the maternal provision of egg yolk, which is mainly derived from large multidomain vitellogenin (Vtg) precursors. To reveal the molecular nature of the protein pools in vertebrate oocytes, published data on the N-termini of yolk proteins has been mapped to the deduced primary structures of their parent Vtgs. The available evidence shows that the primary cleavage sites of Vtgs are conserved, whereas the cleavage products exist as multidomain variants in the yolk protein pool. The serine-rich phosvitin (Pv) domains are linearly related to the molecular masses of the lipovitellin heavy chain. The 3-D localization of Pv maps to the outer edges of the Vtg monomer, where it is proposed to form amphipathic structures that loop up over the lipid pocket. At this locus, it is proposed that Pv stabilizes the nascent Vtg while it receives its lipid cargo, thereby facilitating the hepatic loading and locking of lipid within the Vtg (C-sheet)-(A-sheet)-(LvL) cavity, and enhances its solubility following secretion to the circulating plasma. The C-terminal regions of Vtgs are homologous to human von Willebrand factor type D domains (Vwfd), which are conserved cysteine-rich molecules with homologous regions that are prevalent in Vtgs, lipophorins, mucins, integrins, and zonadhesins. Unlike human VWFD, lower vertebrate Vwfds do not contain RGD motifs, which are associated with extracellular matrix binding. Although its function in Vtg is unknown, the lubricant properties associated with mucins and the cell adhesion properties associated with integrins and zonadhesins implicate Vwfd in the genesis of hemostatic platelet aggregation. Similarly, the proteolytic inhibitory properties associated with the binding of factor VIII in humans suggest that Vwfd stabilizes Vtg during passage in the systemic circulation.

Identification of two forms of vitellogenin-derived phosvitin and elucidation of their fate and roles during oocyte maturation in the barfin flounder, Verasper moseri.

A new method for visualizing small and multiple phosvitins (Pvs) in oocytes from a marine teleost was developed by a combination of gel filtration, alkaline phosphatase treatment, and SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining. Three distinct Pv polypeptides having molecular masses of 15 kDa, 8 kDa, and 7 kDa were visualized in vitellogenic follicle extract of barfin flounder, Verasper moseri. N-terminal amino acid sequencing identified two different N-termini that fell into the PvA (7 kDa) and PvB (15 kDa and 8 kDa) groups, which were derived from two forms of vitellogenin (Vg), VgA and VgB, respectively. Analysis of time-course change in phosphorus-rich peaks of gel chromatography fractions of follicle extracts from different maturational stages demonstrated a rapid degradation of Pvs during mid-phase of oocyte maturation. Quantitative analysis of free amino acids in maturing follicles revealed an increment of serine content but not of phosphoserine, indicating the occurrence of dephosphorylation concomitant with Pv degradation. Measurement of phosphatase activity in follicles and eggs at different maturational stages demonstrated a significant activation of phosphatase especially under acidic conditions. This suggested that Pv degradation and dephosphorylation are regulated by changes in ooplasm pH during oocyte maturation. Our results also suggested that the Pvs in barfin flounder vitellogenic oocytes bind to much lower amounts of calcium and magnesium than those of masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou. This indicates that the Pvs in the barfin flounder, a marine teleost spawning its eggs in seawater, do not play a role in the transport and deposition of calcium and magnesium into oocytes.

Molecular characterization of three forms of vitellogenin and their yolk protein products during oocyte growth and maturation in red seabream (Pagrus major), a marine teleost spawning pelagic eggs.

Full-length cDNAs encoding three forms of vitellogenin (Vg) were obtained from a liver cDNA library of estrogen-treated red seabream, Pagrus major. Two of the three Vg sequences had high homology with type-A and -B Vgs (VgA and VgB) of other teleosts. The third red seabream Vg was classified as a type-C or phosvitinless (Pvl) Vg due to its lack of a phosvitin (Pv) domain. Two Vg preparations (610 and 340 kDa) from blood serum of estradiol-treated fish were biochemically characterized. Analyses of precursor-product relationships by examination of N-terminal amino acid sequences verified cleavage of the 610 kDa Vg into a 540 kDa lipovitellin (Lv) and a 32 kDa beta'-component. Each of these yolk preparations comprising both VgA- and VgB-derived polypeptides. The 340 kDa Vg, which was immunologically verified to be a PvlVg, was accumulated by vitellogenic oocytes with no alterations to its native molecular mass. During oocyte maturation, the VgA- and VgB-derived yolk proteins were differentially processed, presumably to generate a pool of free amino acids for oocyte hydration or for allocation of specific types of nutrients, amino acids, and proteins, to the developing embryo. Conversely, the 340 kDa Vg-derived yolk protein is unlikely to contribute to oocyte hydration or diffusible nutrients since the molecule underwent only minor proteolytic nicking during oogenesis. The present study elucidates for the first time specific functions of three different forms of Vg and their product yolk proteins in a higher taxonomic group of marine teleosts that spawn pelagic eggs.

Protective effect of egg yolk phosvitin against ultraviolet- light-induced lipid peroxidation in the presence of iron ions.

It is known that nonheme iron accumulates and free radicals are generated in skin exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Iron ions have a role in skin photodamage by participating in the formation of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we evaluated the effect of egg yolk phosvitin on UV-light-induced oxidative stress. Mouse dorsal skin homogenate was exposed to UVA light in the presence or absence of ferric nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA). Lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). The TBARS concentration increased with increasing FeNTA concentration and UV-light-exposure time. In the presence of FeNTA, phosvitin more effectively inhibited in vitro lipid peroxidation than did bovine serum albumin. According to results of electron spin resonance studies using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trapping agent, phosvitin suppressed the formation of hydroxyl radicals. These results suggest that UV-light-induced oxidative stress can be reduced by phosvitin.

A nucleoside diphosphate kinase from Paramecium tetraurelia with protein kinase activity.

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase) from Paramecium was purified to homogeneity. The native enzyme was 80 kDa (by gel filtration), with subunits of 18 and 20 kDa. Near the amino terminus, 15 of 20 residues were identical with those in human NDP kinase, and 17 of 20 with the awd gene product from Drosophila. NDP kinase bound alpha-labeled ATP and GTP, and a photoreactive GTP analog labeled both subunits. Purified NDP kinase underwent autophosphorylation on a histidine and a serine residue using either ATP or GTP as a substrate. The enzyme also catalyzed acid-stable phosphorylation of casein and phosvitin. This protein kinase activity is distinct from the histidine phosphorylation that is part of the NDP kinase catalytic cycle. Antiserum against the purified protein from Paramecium cross-reacted with 16- to 20-kDa proteins in most species tested, and with a larger protein (44 kDa) in Paramecium, Xenopus, and two human lines. The multiple forms (20 and 44 kDa) of the NDP kinase in Paramecium and its protein kinase activity, suggest that the protein is more than a housekeeping enzyme; it may have regulatory roles such as those of the NDP kinase-like awd protein of Drosophila and Nm23 protein of humans.

Partial purification and characterization of cyclic adenosine monophosphate dependent protein kinase from mycobacterium smegmatis.

Adenosine 3' 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) - dependent protein kinase was purified about 42 fold from the M. smegmatis by ammonium sulphate fractionation followed by DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose column chromatography. SDS-PAGE revealed two prominent bands, with molecular masses of 55 KDa and 58 KDa. The enzyme preferentially utilized phosvitin and Histones as exogenous phosphate acceptor. Mg2+ ions were essential for enzyme activity, other metal ions like Ca2+, Zn2+, Co2+ and Mn2+, could not substitute for Mg2+. Inhibition of enzyme activity by thiol reagents, 5-5'-dithio bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) and N-ethylmaleimide suggest that the cystein residues in the protein kinase might be located at or near the active site of the enzyme.

Precursor-product relationship between chicken vitellogenin and the yolk proteins: the 40 kDa yolk plasma glycoprotein is derived from the C-terminal cysteine-rich domain of vitellogenin II.

Chicken vitellogenin, a serum lipoprotein specific for laying hens, has been thought to be proteolytically cleaved into the heavy and light chain lipovitellins and phosvitin, the major yolk granule proteins, during or after transportation into oocyte. In this study, another proteolytic product of vitellogenin has newly been isolated from the 'beta-livetin' fraction of yolk plasma. It is a yolk glycoprotein of 40 kDa (YGP40) with asparagine-linked carbohydrate chain(s) recognized by Concanavalin A and castor bean lectin (RCA-I), and it is identified as a C-terminal cysteine-rich fragment of the major vitellogenin (vitellogenin II), the cysteine-rich domain homologous to D2 region of von Willebrand factor. Another yolk plasma glycoprotein of 42 kDa is suggested to be one of the proteolytic products of the minor vitellogenin (vitellogenin I). Both 40 kDa and 42 kDa glycoproteins were shown to be present in growing oocytes but absent in laying hen's serum. Limited proteolysis of vitellogenin II with cathepsin D produced a 40 kDa protein with reactivity to anti-YGP40 antibody. Gel filtration analysis of vitellogenin II digested with cathepsin D showed that YGP40 dissociated from lipovitellin-phosvitin complex after the proteolytic cleavage. These results suggest that after incorporation from serum via a specific receptor vitellogenin II is cleaved in the oocyte into four fragments, heavy and light chain lipovitellins, phosvitin and YGP40, and that YGP40 is released into the yolk plasma before or during compartmentation of lipovitellin-phosvitin complex into the yolk granule.

Ectoprotein kinase activities on non-differentiated and differentiated U-937 cells.

Incubation of intact U-937 cells with 1 micron [gamma-32P] ATP resulted in rapid (10 min) incorporation of radioactivity into phosvitin, kemptide and protein kinase C (PKC)-peptide. The amount of incorporation was dependent on substrate type and concentration, and on incubation time. Staurosporine, H-7 and Mg(2+)-exclusion abolished phosphorylation of kemptide and PKC-peptide but not phosvitin. Cyclic AMP and phorbol ester enhanced kemptide and PKC-peptide phosphorylation. Protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) inhibits only kemptide phosphorylation. Cell differentiation enhanced 2-fold the phosphorylation of phosvitin and PKC-peptide without significant effect on kemptide phosphorylation. ATP concentrations sufficient to trigger changes in intracellular Ca2+ were sufficient to support extracellular phosphorylation reactions. The results suggest the presence of at least three ectokinase activities on U-937 cells that may play important roles in regulating membrane associated specific functions of developing and mature monocytes.

Shedding of tyrosine and serine/threonine ecto-protein kinases from human leukemic cells.

Ecto-protein kinases (ecto-PK), primarily of the serine/threonine kinase type, have been previously described on the surface of various normal, transformed, and tumor cells. We have found that in the presence of ATP and Mg2+, exogenously added substrates such as phosvitin and poly(Glu4-Tyr) are phosphorylated by intact K562 erythroleukemia, HL60 promyelocytic leukemia, and U937 histiocytic leukemia human cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis indicated that phosvitin, histone H2B, casein, and protamine are phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues, whereas poly(Glu4-Tyr) is phosphorylated on tyrosine. We also present evidence showing that the C9 complement protein, a key component of the membranolytic protein complex of the complement system, is exclusively phosphorylated by the K562 cells on serine residues. Phosphorylation of poly(Glu4-Tyr) is markedly enhanced by Mn2+, whereas C9 phosphorylation is rather inhibited by Mn2+. It is concluded that human leukemic cells express on their surface two types of ecto-PK, one phosphorylating serines and threonines and one specific to tyrosines. The ecto-PKs are spontaneously shed from fully viable cells into the medium in a temperature-dependent manner. Upon sedimentation of cell supernatants at 100,000g, the ecto-PKs are found sedimented with small membrane vesicles. Treatment of intact K562 cells or of released membrane vesicles with bacterial phospholipase C, but not with trypsin or pronase, releases the two types of ecto-PK from the cell or vesicle membrane, respectively. This is accompanied by a marked increase in the released phosphorylating activity. It is, therefore, suggested that these ecto-PKs are either covalently linked to phospholipids or strongly attached to lipid-anchored molecules in the cell surface membrane. Several endogenous proteins in the released membranes are phosphorylated by the ecto-PKs on serines and to a lesser extend on threonines. Two proteins (PTP79 and PTP54) are phosphorylated in a manganese-dependent manner on tyrosines.

Interaction of aluminum ions with phosvitin.

We studied the effects of aluminum ions on the dephosphorylation of phosvitin catalyzed by acid phosphatase, and the metachromasia resulting from the interaction of phosvitin with toluidine blue. In both cases the action of Al3+ was inhibitory and the extent of inhibition was dependent on Al3+ concentration and the length of incubation of Al3+/phosvitin mixtures. The inhibition profiles of dephosphorylation of phosvitin (50 micrograms/ml) showed IC50 values of 15 and 2 microM Al3+ at 1 and 48 hr incubation time, respectively. The effect was proved to be substrate directed, while the inhibition was not reversed by EDTA. In contrast, the action of other divalent or trivalent cations on the dephosphorylation process, when inhibitory, was completely reversible by EDTA. Exposure of fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate-labeled phosvitin to Al3+ resulted in: a) the failure of the protein to migrate into sodium dodecyl sulfate containing polyacrylamide gels and b) the decrease of the fluorescence emission of the bound fluorescein. These findings suggest that phosvitin can be used as a model for studying interactions of aluminum with multiphosphorylated proteins and other polyanionic biopolymers.

Characterization of a proline-directed casein kinase from bovine brain.

A messenger-independent ser/thr casein kinase, p45 casein kinase (p45 CK), was purified to homogeneity from bovine brain. The enzyme is specific for ATP with a Km value of 3.50 microM, one of the lowest values identified for protein kinases, p45 casein kinase is active over broad NaCl concentrations from 30 to 300 mM. The enzyme activity is inhibited by polylysine, spermine, transition metal ions, ADP, and AMP. The kinase completely lost its activity in the presence of 1 mM p-chloromercuric benzoate in a reaction that is reversed by 1 mM dithiothreitol. The enzyme prefers serine over threonine in its substrate bradykinin, the Vmax/Km ratio for the serine peptide (RPPGFSPFR) being 7.5-fold higher than for the threonine analog (RPPGFTPFR). Assays, performed by utilizing synthetic peptides, suggest that p45 CK prefers serine/threonine residues with a proline residue immediately carboxy-terminal to the site of phosphorylation. Distinction between p45 CK and other protein kinases found to contain a proline residue within their substrate recognition sites can be made based on phosphorylation site specificity and chromatographic and biochemical behavior. It is concluded that p45 CK is a proline-directed protein kinase recognizing the sequence X-Ser/Thr-Pro-X or Ser/Thr-Pro-X.