Autophosphorylation of Arabidopsis nucleoside diphosphate kinase 2 occurs only on its active histidine residue

Arabidopsis nucleoside diphosphate kinase 2 (NDPK2) is a component in the phytochrome-mediated light signaling. In the present study, its autophosphorylation was investigated. Acid-stable and alkali-stable phosphorylated residues were analyzed under two different conditions. Results revealed that NDPK2 is phosphorylated only on its active histidine residue His197 and the presence of serine/threonine phosphorylation is an experimental artifact due to the harsh condition applied in the treatment of the phosphorylated protein sample. To resolve the controversy of whether serine/threonine phosphorylation of NDPK occurs as has been suggested by other NDPK studies, NDPK2 putative phosphorylation site mutants were generated and examined. No serine/threonine phosphorylation was identified in NDPK2 or implicated in its enzymatic activity. Further studies indicated that the low enzymatic activity and autophosphorylation level of NDPK2 mutant S199A are shown to be due to a damaged H-bonding with the active histidine residue His197 in the nucleotide-binding pocket. In addition, NDPK2 Kpn loop mutant T182A was found to possess an extremely low enzymatic activity and almost no autophosphorylation, suggesting the importance of the oligomeric states of NDPK2 in NDPK2 functioning.