Phosphorylation of histone catalyzed by a bovine brain protein kinase

The use of polyethyleneimine-cellulose thin layer sheets to follow the phosphorylation of histone and decomposition of ATP catalyzed by an adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-stimulated protein kinase, protein kinase I, has made possible a more detailed analysis of the time course of these reactions than has been achieved previously be observing only recovered phosphorylated protein. When [gamma-32P] ATP was employed, significant error was introduced by the presence of 32Pi at the solvent front on these sheets, and this limited the accuracy of the available information. However, the analysis of assays performed with [U-14C] ATP was straightforward and appeared to have an accuracy comparable to that of the present standard assay. This appears to be the first use of [U-14C] ATP to assay protein kinases. Our physical characterization of protein kinase I showed it to be a homogeneous protein species by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation. Kinetic studies with protein kinase I indicated the absence of histone phosphatase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. Furthermore, the ATPase activity seen is believed to be intimately associated with the protein kinase action, particularly in view of the observed dependence of the rate of Pi production on the presence of cyclic AMP. The kinetic data for the phosphorylation of histone catalyzed by protein kinase I under full stimulation by cyclic AMP are consistent with a double displacement mechanism.