Multiple molecular forms of phosphoprotein phosphatase. III. Phosphorylase phosphatase and phosphohistone phosphatase...

1. Phosphoprotein phosphatase (phosphoprotein phosphohydrolase EC 3.1.3.16) in the soluble fraction of rabbit liver which catalyzes the dephosphorylation of muscle phosphorylase a and phosphohistone (P-histone) was resolved into three active fractions by NaCl gradient elution from a DEAE-cellulose column (Fraction I, 11 and III in order of elution). They have different relative reaction rates for the two substrates and different degrees of stimulation by Mn-2+. Apparent Km values of Fraction I, II and III were 15, 20 and 16 muM for phosphorylase a, and 6.9, 5.3 and 4.4 muM for P-histone, respectively (with Mn-2+ in the assay mixture). 2. On sucrose density gradient centrifugation Fraction I and II were revealed to contain a major peak (7.0 S and 7.8 S, respectively) and a minor peak (4.0 S) of activity, while Fraction III contained only one peak (5.8 S). Freezing and thawing in the presence of 0.2 M mercaptoethanol dissociated all three fractions into subunits of similar molecular size (3.4 S), with concomitant enhancement of phosphorylase phosphatase activity. The Km values all became essentially the same (20 muM for phosphorylase a and 16 muM for P-histone). 3. The phosphorylase phosphatase and P-histone phosphatase activities could not be separated with any of the procedures described. Competition between the two phosphoprotein substrates was observed with some of the fractions.?