Deimination, Intermediate Filaments and Associated Proteins.

Deimination (or citrullination) is a post-translational modification catalyzed by a calcium-dependent enzyme family of five peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs). Deimination is involved in physiological processes (cell differentiation, embryogenesis, innate and adaptive immunity, etc.) and in autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus), cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Intermediate filaments (IF) and associated proteins (IFAP) are major substrates of PADs. Here, we focus on the effects of deimination on the polymerization and solubility properties of IF proteins and on the proteolysis and cross-linking of IFAP, to finally expose some features of interest and some limitations of citrullinomes.

Internal epithelia in Drosophila display rudimentary competence to form cytoplasmic networks of transgenic human vimentin.

Cytoplasmic intermediate filaments (cIFs) are found in all eumetazoans, except arthropods. To investigate the compatibility of cIFs in arthropods, we expressed human vimentin (hVim), a cIF with filament-forming capacity in vertebrate cells and tissues, transgenically in Drosophila Transgenic hVim could be recovered from whole-fly lysates by using a standard procedure for intermediate filament (IF) extraction. When this procedure was used to test for the possible presence of IF-like proteins in flies, only lamins and tropomyosin were observed in IF-enriched extracts, thereby providing biochemical reinforcement to the paradigm that arthropods lack cIFs. In Drosophila, transgenic hVim was unable to form filament networks in S2 cells and mesenchymal tissues; however, cage-like vimentin structures could be observed around the nuclei in internal epithelia, which suggests that Drosophila retains selective competence for filament formation. Taken together, our results imply that although the filament network formation competence is partially lost in Drosophila, a rudimentary filament network formation ability remains in epithelial cells. As a result of the observed selective competence for cIF assembly in Drosophila, we hypothesize that internal epithelial cIFs were the last cIFs to disappear from arthropods.-Gullmets, J., Torvaldson, E., Lindqvist, J., Imanishi, S. Y., Taimen, P., Meinander, A., Eriksson, J. E. Internal epithelia in Drosophila display rudimentary competence to form cytoplasmic networks of transgenic human vimentin.

Functional Analysis of Keratin-Associated Proteins in Intestinal Epithelia: Heat-Shock Protein Chaperoning and Kinase Rescue.

A growing body of evidence from several laboratories points at nonmechanical functions of keratin intermediate filaments (IF), such as control of apoptosis, modulation of signaling, or regulation of innate immunity, among others. While these functions are generally assigned to the ability of IF to scaffold other proteins, direct mechanistic causal relationships between filamentous keratins and the observed effects of keratin knockout or mutations are still missing. We have proposed that the scaffolding of chaperones such as Hsp70/40 may be key to understand some IF nonmechanical functions if unique features or specificity of the chaperoning activity in the IF scaffold can be demonstrated. The same criteria of uniqueness could be applied to other biochemical functions of the IF scaffold. Here, we describe a subcellular fractionation technique based on established methods of keratin purification. The resulting keratin-enriched fraction contains several proteins tightly associated with the IF scaffold, including Hsp70/40 chaperones. Being nondenaturing, this fractionation method enables direct testing of chaperoning and other enzymatic activities associated with IF, as well as supplementation experiments to determine the need for soluble (cytosolic) proteins. This method also permits to analyze inhibitory activity of cytosolic proteins at independently characterized physiological concentrations. When used as complementary approaches to knockout, knockdown, or site-directed mutagenesis, these techniques are expected to shed light on molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of IF loss of function.

Divergent and convergent roles for kinases and phosphatases in neurofilament dynamics.

C-terminal neurofilament phosphorylation mediates cation-dependent self-association leading to neurofilament incorporation into the stationary axonal cytoskeleton. Multiple kinases phosphorylate the C-terminal domains of the heavy neurofilament subunit (NF-H), including cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (CDK5), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), casein kinase 1 and 2 (CK1 and CK2) and glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß). The respective contributions of these kinases have been confounded because they phosphorylate multiple substrates in addition to neurofilaments and display extensive interaction. Herein, differentiated NB2a/d1 cells were transfected with constructs expressing GFP-tagged NF-H, isolated NF-H sidearms and NF-H lacking the distal-most 187 amino acids. Cultures were treated with roscovitine, PD98059, Li(+), D4476, tetrabromobenzotriazole and calyculin, which are active against CDK5, MKK1 (also known as MAP2K1), GSK3ß, CK1, CK2 and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), respectively. Sequential phosphorylation by CDK5 and GSK3ß mediated the neurofilament-neurofilament associations. The MAPK pathway (i.e. MKK1 to ERK1/2) was found to downregulate GSK3ß, and CK1 activated PP1, both of which promoted axonal transport and restricted neurofilament-neurofilament associations to axonal neurites. The MAPK pathway and CDK5, but not CK1 and GSK3ß, inhibited neurofilament proteolysis. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of neurofilaments by the proline-directed MAPK pathway and CDK5 counterbalance the impact of phosphorylation of neurofilaments by the non-proline-directed CK1 and GSK3ß.

Phosphatase and actin regulator 4 is associated with intermediate filaments in adult neural stem cells and their progenitor astrocytes.

Phosphatase and actin regulator 4 (Phactr4) is a newly discovered protein that inhibits protein phosphatase 1 and shows actin-binding activity. We previously found that Phactr4 is expressed in the neurogenic niche in adult mice, although its precise subcellular localization and possible function in neural stem cells (NSCs) is not yet understood. Here, we show that Phactr4 formed punctiform clusters in the cytosol of subventricular zone-derived adult NSCs and their progeny in vitro. These Phactr4 signals were not associated with F-actin fibers but were closely associated with intermediate filaments such as nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) fibers. Direct binding of Phactr4 with nestin and GFAP filaments was demonstrated using Duolink protein interaction analyses and immunoprecipitation assays. Interestingly, when nestin fibers were de-polymerized during the mitosis or by the phosphatase inhibitor, Phactr4 appeared to be dissociated from nestin, suggesting that their protein interaction is regulated by the protein phosphorylation. These results suggest that Phactr4 forms functional associations with intermediate filament networks in adult NSCs.

Topographic regulation of neuronal intermediate filaments by phosphorylation, role of peptidyl-prolyl isomerase 1: significance in neurodegeneration.

The neuronal cytoskeleton is tightly regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions mediated by numerous associated kinases, phosphatases and their regulators. Defects in the relative kinase and phosphatase activities and/or deregulation of compartment-specific phosphorylation result in neurodegenerative disorders. The largest family of cytoskeletal proteins in mammalian cells is the superfamily of intermediate filaments (IFs). The neurofilament (NF) proteins are the major IFs. Aggregated forms of hyperphosphorylated tau and phosphorylated NFs are found in pathological cell body accumulations in the central nervous system of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The precise mechanisms for this compartment-specific phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins are not completely understood. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms of neurofilament phosphorylation in normal physiology and neurodegenerative diseases. We also address the recent breakthroughs in our understanding the role of different kinases and phosphatases involved in regulating the phosphorylation status of the NFs. In addition, special emphasis has been given to describe the role of phosphatases and Pin1 in phosphorylation of NFs.

Hyperphosphorylation of intermediate filament proteins is involved in microcystin-LR-induced toxicity in HL7702 cells.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is commonly characterized as a hepatotoxin, which can cause disruption of keratin filaments. Keratins, however, account for only two types of intermediate filaments (IFs), and the potential involvement of other IF proteins in MC-LR-induced toxicity and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the human normal liver cell line HL7702 was used to investigate whether MC-LR can change the transcription, translation, and phosphorylation levels of major IF proteins and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that MC-LR triggered an accumulation of IFs around the nucleus and led to the formation of dense bundles. When the cells were treated with 10µM MC-LR, cell proliferation significantly decreased with an increase in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the mRNA and protein levels of keratin 18, vimentin and lamin A/C were not changed; however, the phosphorylation of K8/18 and vimentin was significantly increased. Furthermore, we found MC-LR exposure caused phosphoactivation of P38, JNK and ERK1/2 in a concentration-dependent manner, and P38 and ERK1/2 were involved in MC-LR-induced hyperphosphorylation of IF proteins. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that MC-LR exerts its potential hepatotoxicity through MAPK pathway activation, which cause hyperphosphorylation of IF proteins and result in cytoskeletal architecture remodeling and cell survival/death regulation. Since IFs serve as signaling platforms and dozens of IF proteins are involved in different signaling pathways, future studies focus on different IFs may provide helpful insights into the mechanisms of MC-LR toxicity.

PDK1 in apical signaling endosomes participates in the rescue of the polarity complex atypical PKC by intermediate filaments in intestinal epithelia.

Phosphorylation of the activation domain of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms is essential to start a conformational change that results in an active catalytic domain. This activation is necessary not only for newly synthesized molecules, but also for kinase molecules that become dephosphorylated and need to be refolded and rephosphorylated. This "rescue" mechanism is responsible for the maintenance of the steady-state levels of atypical PKC (aPKC [PKCι/λ and ζ]) and is blocked in inflammation. Although there is consensus that phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) is the activating kinase for newly synthesized molecules, it is unclear what kinase performs that function during the rescue and where the rescue takes place. To identify the activating kinase during the rescue mechanism, we inhibited protein synthesis and analyzed the stability of the remaining aPKC pool. PDK1 knockdown and two different PDK1 inhibitors-BX-912 and a specific pseudosubstrate peptide-destabilized PKCι. PDK1 coimmunoprecipitated with PKCι in cells without protein synthesis, confirming that the interaction is direct. In addition, we showed that PDK1 aids the rescue of aPKC in in vitro rephosphorylation assays using immunodepletion and rescue with recombinant protein. Surprisingly, we found that in Caco-2 epithelial cells and intestinal crypt enterocytes PDK1 distributes to an apical membrane compartment comprising plasma membrane and apical endosomes, which, in turn, are in close contact with intermediate filaments. PDK1 comigrated with the Rab11 compartment and, to some extent, with the transferrin compartment in sucrose gradients. PDK1, pT555-aPKC, and pAkt were dependent on dynamin activity. These results highlight a novel signaling function of apical endosomes in polarized cells.

Rescue of atypical protein kinase C in epithelia by the cytoskeleton and Hsp70 family chaperones.

Atypical PKC (PKC iota) is a key organizer of cellular asymmetry. Sequential extractions of intestinal cells showed a pool of enzymatically active PKC iota and the chaperone Hsp70.1 attached to the apical cytoskeleton. Pull-down experiments using purified and recombinant proteins showed a complex of Hsp70 and atypical PKC on filamentous keratins. Transgenic animals overexpressing keratin 8 displayed delocalization of Hsp70 and atypical PKC. Two different keratin-null mouse models, as well as keratin-8 knockdown cells in tissue culture, also showed redistribution of Hsp70 and a sharp decrease in the active form of atypical PKC, which was also reduced by Hsp70 knockdown. An in-vitro turn motif rephosphorylation assay indicated that PKC iota is dephosphorylated by prolonged activity. The Triton-soluble fraction could rephosphorylate PKC iota only when supplemented with the cytoskeletal pellet or filamentous highly purified keratins, a function abolished by immunodepletion of Hsp70 but rescued by recombinant Hsp70. We conclude that both filamentous keratins and Hsp70 are required for the rescue rephosphorylation of mature atypical PKC, regulating the subcellular distribution and steady-state levels of active PKC iota.

Microtubule-independent regulation of neurofilament interactions in vitro by neurofilament-bound ATPase activities.

Neurofilaments (NFs), the major neuronal intermediate filaments, form networks in vitro that mimic the axonal NF bundles. This report presents evidence for previously unknown regulation of the interactions between NFs by NF-associated ATPases. Two opposite effects on NF gelation in vitro occur at low and high ATP concentration. These findings support the hypothesis that NF bundles in situ are dynamic structures, and raise the possibility that ATP-hydrolyzing mechanoenzymes regulate their organization.

Protein kinase Cepsilon: multiple roles in the function of, and signaling mediated by, the cytoskeleton.

Recent studies have established essential roles of protein kinase Cepsilon in signaling pathways controlling various functions of microfilaments and intermediate filaments by modulating multiple cytoskeletal proteins. This review summarizes recent progress in our understanding of the roles of protein kinase Cepsilon in the functions and signaling of microfilaments and intermediate filaments, with a focus mainly on cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions, migrations and contraction, in addition to its relevance in the development of several diseases, such as malignant tumors or cardiac disease.

Melatonin activates PKC-alpha but not PKC-epsilon in N1E-115 cells.

Previous reports have revealed that calmodulin antagonism by melatonin is followed by microtubule enlargements and neurite outgrowths in neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells. In addition, activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by this neurohormone is also followed by increased vimentin phosphorylation, and reorganization of vimentin intermediate filaments (IFs) in N1E-115 cells. In this work, we further characterize the activation of PKC by melatonin in neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells. We studied the Ca(2+)-dependent effects of melatonin on PKC activity and distribution of PKC-alpha in isolated N1E-115 cell IFs. Also, the effects of melatonin on PKC-alpha translocation in comparison to PKC-epsilon, were studied in intact N1E-115 cells. The results showed that both melatonin and the PKC agonist phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate increased PKC activity in isolated IFs. The effects of the hormone were Ca(2+)-dependent, while those caused by the phorbol ester were produced with or without Ca(2+). Also, in isolated in situ IFs, the hormone changed the distribution of PKC-alpha. In intact N1E-115 cells, melatonin elicited PKC-alpha translocation and no changes were detected in PKC-epsilon. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate modified the subcellular distribution of both PKC isoforms. The results showed that melatonin selectively activates the Ca(2+)-dependent alpha isoform of PKC and suggest that PKC-alpha activation by melatonin underlies IF rearrangements and participates in neurite formation in N1E-115 cells.

Expresión de filamentos intermedios durante el desarrollo embrionario de cerdo sus scrofa y bovino bos taurus / Intermediate filaments expression during embryonic development of sus scrofa pig and bos taurus bovine

Utilizando la técnica de inmunoperoxidasa y un panel de anticuerpos monoclonales, se realizó un estudio para caracterizar la expresión de citoqueratinas y vimentina, proteínas constituyentes de los filamentos intermedios, en los tejidos en diferenciación de embriones de cerdo y bovino, en diferentes etapas de la embriogénesis. Ambas especies presentaron características similares en la expresión de citoqueratinas y vimentina. En los embriones prefetales, mayores de 18 mm de longitud cráneo-caudal, ya existe un patrón de citoqueratinas en la mayoría de las células epiteliales, ya que éstas se tiñeron intensamente con los anticuerpos antiqueratinas AE1/AE3 y AE1. En embriones menores, sólo reaccionaron moderadamente con estos anticuerpos, el mesonefros, tubo digestivo y epitelio celómico. La vimentina aparece en embriones más pequeños en el endotelio vascular, en el mesonefros y en algunas células conectivas y del tubo natural. En embriones mayores, además, aparece inmunotinción con este anticuerpo, en el endocardio, dermis, plexos coroídeos, osteoblastos y odontoblasto. La citoqueratina 18 y los controles negativos de las inmunotinciones empleadas, no mostraron reacción positiva en ninguna de las estructuras embrionarias de ambas especies. Nuestros resultados enfatizan la importancia de los filamentos intermedios, especialmente de las citoqueratinas, como marcadores de diferenciación de los tejidos embrionarios y sugieren que en aquellos órganos que comienzan a funcionar tempranamente en el embrión, como el mesonefros y la red vascular, el citoesqueleto se organiza más tempranamente

A cdc2-like kinase distinct from cdk5 is associated with neurofilaments.

An immunoprecipitation assay was used to identify protein kinases which are physically associated with neurofilaments (NF) in mouse brain extracts. Using this approach, we show that a cdc2-related kinase is associated with NF. The cdc2-related kinase was found to be distinct from cdk5 and the authentic cdc2 by a number of criteria. Firstly, it has a molecular mass on SDS-PAGE gels of 34 kDa, similar to that of cdc2, but differing from cdk5 (31 kDa). Secondly, it is not recognized by an antibody specific for cdk5. Thirdly, it is recognized by an antibody raised against the C-terminal region of authentic cdc2, but not by an antibody specific for the PSTAIRE motif. Using immunoblotting, we further show that the cdc2-related kinase copurifies with NF isolated from rat tissues. In vitro kinase assays further demonstrated that immunoprecipitated cdc2-related kinase phosphorylates recombinant NF-H protein. Phosphorylation of NF-H by the cdc2-like activity was not affected by 3 microM olomoucine but was inhibited by 10 microM of this kinase inhibitor. Phosphoamino acid analysis of in vitro phosphorylated NF-H indicates that the immunoprecipitated cdc2-related kinase phosphorylates serine residues.

The relative roles of specific N- and C-terminal phosphorylation sites in the disassembly of intermediate filament in mitotic BHK-21 cells.

Previously we identified p34cdc2 as one of two protein kinases mediating the hyperphosphorylation and disassembly of vimentin in mitotic BHK-21 cells. In this paper, we identify the second kinase as a 37 kDa protein. This p37 protein kinase phosphorylates vimentin on two adjacent residues (thr-457 and ser-458) which are located in the C-terminal non-alpha-helical domain. Contrary to the p34cdc2 mediated N-terminal phosphorylation (at ser-55) which can disassemble vimentin intermediate filaments (IF) in vitro, p37 protein kinase phosphorylates vimentin-IF without obviously affecting its structure in vitro. We have further examined the in vivo role(s) of vimentin phosphorylation in the disassembly of the IF network in mitotic BHK cells by transient transfection assays. In untransfected BHK cells, the interphase vimentin IF networks are disassembled into non-filamentous aggregates when cells enter mitosis. Transfection of cells with vimentin cDNA lacking the p34cdc2 phosphorylation site (ser55:ala) effectively prevents mitotic cells from disassembling their IF. In contrast, apparently normal disassembly takes place in cells transfected with cDNA containing mutated p37 kinase phosphorylation sites (thr457:ala/ser458:ala). Transfection of cells with vimentin cDNAs lacking both the N- and C-terminal phosphorylation sites yields a phenotype indistinguishable from that obtained with the single N-terminal mutant. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the site-specific phosphorylation of the N-terminal domain, but not the C-terminal domain of vimentin plays an important role in determining the state of IF polymerization and supramolecular organization in mitotic cells.

Association of a transglutaminase-related antigen with intermediate filaments.

A mouse monoclonal antibody, G92.1.2, raised against guinea pig liver transglutaminase (TGase) recognizes an antigen present in primary mouse dermal fibroblasts. A filamentous pattern, bearing remarkable similarity to the vimentin intermediate filament (IF) network, is seen when these cells are fixed and processed for indirect immunofluorescence with the antibody. Double-label immunofluorescence reveals that the antigen reacting with the antibody colocalizes precisely with vimentin IF and that this colocalization is retained after the treatment of fibroblasts with colchicine, which induces a redistribution of the majority of IFs into perinuclear aggregates. These morphological observations are further supported by the finding that the protein reacting with G92.1.2 is retained in IF-enriched cytoskeletal preparations made by using nonionic detergent-containing high ionic strength solutions. Western blots of the IF fraction show that G92.1.2 recognizes a major band of approximately 280 kDa and does not cross react with vimentin. Furthermore, when the antibody is microinjected into live dermal fibroblasts, it causes a collapse of the vimentin IF network in the majority of injected cells. The results suggest that a form of TGase, or a TGase-related antigen, is closely associated with the vimentin IF network of primary cultures of mouse dermal fibroblasts.

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase is targeted to intermediate filaments and phosphorylates vimentin in A23187-stimulated human neutrophils.

The effects of the calcium ionophore, A23187, on human neutrophil activation were studied in relation to the signaling mechanism of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (G-kinase). Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that G-kinase translocated from a diffuse localization in the cytoplasm to the cytoskeleton after stimulation with A23187. Over a period of 5 minutes, G-kinase was transiently colocalized with the intermediate filament protein, vimentin. At 3 minutes' stimulation with A23187, colocalization of G-kinase and vimentin was predominantly confined to filaments that extended into the uropod. The time of colocalization of G-kinase and vimentin was reduced in the A23187-stimulated cell from 3 minutes to 1 minute by 8-Br-cGMP. Coincident with colocalization was an increase in cGMP levels and transient phosphorylation of vimentin in adhered A23187-stimulated cells. Phosphorylation of vimentin was maximal after 3 minutes with A23187, and was essentially over at 5 minutes. The time of phosphorylation of vimentin was also reduced from 3 minutes to 1 minute when cells were preincubated with 8-Br-cGMP and then stimulated with A23187, which suggests that cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase does not phosphorylate vimentin in A23187-treated neutrophils. Phosphorylation of vimentin was not observed in nonactivated cells treated only with 8-Br-cGMP. The presence of the protein kinase C inhibitors, staurosporine or H-7, did not inhibit vimentin phosphorylation in A23187-treated cells, which provides supportive data that protein kinase C is not the phosphorylating enzyme. These results suggest that vimentin and G-kinase are colocalized in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner in neutrophils, and that vimentin is transiently phosphorylated by G-kinase in response to the colocalization of the two proteins. The transient redistribution of compartmentalized G-kinase represents one type of neutrophil activation mechanism.

Co-localization of the beta-subtype of protein kinase C and phosphorylation-dependent immunoreactivity of neurofilaments in intact, decentralized and axotomized rat peripheral neurons.

The localizations of protein kinase C-beta-immunoreactivity and phosphorylation-dependent immunoreactivity of neurofilaments were compared in rat dorsal root, hypogastric, and superior cervical ganglia. In all the ganglia studied, protein kinase C-beta and phosphorylation-dependent immunoreactivity of neurofilaments were co-localized in nerve fibres, and no fibres with only protein kinase C-beta-immunoreactivity or phosphorylation-dependent immunoreactivity of neurofilaments were observed. Most intense perikaryal protein kinase c-beta and phosphorylation-dependent neurofilament-staining were seen in large dorsal root ganglion neurons, whereas in the superior cervical ganglion only very faint protein-kinase C-beta and no phosphorylation-dependent staining was seen in the neuronal cell bodies. Both decentralization and axotomy of the superior cervical ganglion induced an accumulation of protein-kinase C-beta-immunoreactivity and phosphorylation-dependent immunoreactivity of neurofilaments in the majority of neuronal perikarya. The accumulation was first observed at 1-2 days postoperation and it persisted up to 6-10 days postoperation. In strongly labelled decentralized neuronal perikarya, precipitation of immunoreactivity was seen near the cell and nuclear membranes, whereas in axotomized neurons, immunoreactivity was often concentrated as a unipolar clump in the cytoplasm. The results show that protein kinase C-beta-immunoreactivity and phosphorylation-dependent immunoreactivity of neurofilaments are colocalized in intact rat peripheral ganglia and that both accumulate transiently in cell bodies of the superior cervical ganglion after decentralization and axotomy.

Bovine neurofilament-enriched preparations contain kinase activity similar to casein kinase I--neurofilament phosphorylation by casein kinase I (CKI).

Neurofilament (NF)-enriched preparations from bovine spinal cord contain regulator-independent kinase activities that phosphorylate NF subunits as well as alpha-casein. CKI-7 (N-2-amino ethyl, 5-chloroisoquinoline, 8-sulfonamide), a specific inhibitor of casein kinase I (CKI), inhibits the phosphorylation of NF subunits in the neurofilament preparation. This inhibition occurs at a concentration range identical to concentrations where CKI-7 inhibits rabbit reticulocyte CKI phosphorylation of alpha-casein. Heparin, a specific inhibitor of casein kinase II (CKII), produced only 20% inhibition of 32P incorporation into NF subunits, and only at concentrations 5 to 10-fold higher than those required to inhibit CKII from reticulocytes. CKI from rabbit reticulocytes phosphorylated all three NF subunits (NF-H, NF-M and NF-L). Comparison of the tryptic phosphopeptide maps of NF-M, phosphorylated by the NF-associated kinase and CKI, indicates that the casein kinase I phosphorylates many of the peptides phosphorylated by the NF-associated kinase and this phosphorylation occurs at the carboxy terminal tail domain of the NF-M subunit. These studies suggest that the major independent kinase activity associated with NFs is CKI.