Chloroform markedly stimulates the phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins

We have investigated the effect of chloroform on the phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins because tumor-promoting agents such as phorbol esters and chloroform are known to enhance the activity of protein kinase C. We report that the presence of chloroform, at a concentration known to enhance protein kinase C activity, stimulated the phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins 15-17 fold over control conditions. The phosphorylation of a 50 kiloDalton myelin protein was also stimulated but to a lesser extent. The concentration of chloroform required for the maximal phosphorylation of myelin basic proteins and the 50 kiloDalton protein was approximately 2% (v/v).