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Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Identification of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 1 Specific Phosphorylation Sites by an In Vitro Kinase Assay
Published on: May 3, 2018
Fyn Regulates Binding Partners of Cyclic-AMP Dependent Protein Kinase A
Anna M Schmoker1, Samuel A Barritt2,3, Marion E Weir4
1Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. aschmoke@uvm.edu.
Abstract:
The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is a serine/threonine kinase involved in many fundamental cellular processes, including migration and proliferation. Recently, we found that the Src family kinase Fyn phosphorylates the catalytic subunit of PKA (PKA-C) at Y69, thereby increasing PKA kinase activity. We also showed that Fyn induced the phosphorylation of cellular proteins within the PKA preferred target motif. This led to the hypothesis that Fyn could affect proteins in complex with PKA. To test this, we employed a quantitative mass spectrometry approach to identify Fyn-dependent binding partners in complex with PKA-C. We found Fyn enhanced the binding of PKA-C to several cytoskeletal regulators that localize to the centrosome and Golgi apparatus. Three of these Fyn-induced PKA interactors, AKAP9, PDE4DIP, and CDK5RAP2, were validated biochemically and were shown to exist in complex with Fyn and PKA in a glioblastoma cell line. Intriguingly, the complexes formed between PKA-C and these known AKAPs were dependent upon Fyn catalytic activity and expression levels. In addition, we identified Fyn-regulated phosphorylation sites on proteins in complex with PKA-C. We also identified and biochemically validated a novel PKA-C interactor, LARP4, which complexed with PKA in the absence of Fyn. These results demonstrate the ability of Fyn to influence the docking of PKA to specific cellular scaffolds and suggest that Fyn may affect the downstream substrates targeted by PKA.
Insights
The Src family kinase Fyn enhances the binding of protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKA-C) to cytoskeletal regulators, influencing PKA
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Protein kinase A (PKA) regulates fundamental cellular processes like migration and proliferation.
- The Src family kinase Fyn phosphorylates PKA's catalytic subunit (PKA-C) at Y69, increasing its activity.
- Fyn-induced phosphorylation of PKA target motifs suggests Fyn may influence PKA-associated proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether Fyn affects proteins complexed with PKA.
- To identify Fyn-dependent binding partners of PKA-C using quantitative mass spectrometry.
- To validate Fyn-PKA interactions and identify novel PKA interactors.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative mass spectrometry to identify PKA-C binding partners.
- Biochemical validation of identified protein complexes.
- Analysis of Fyn-dependent phosphorylation sites and interactions in glioblastoma cells.
Main Results:
- Fyn enhances PKA-C binding to cytoskeletal regulators AKAP9, PDE4DIP, and CDK5RAP2, which localize to the centrosome and Golgi.
- These Fyn-induced PKA complexes are dependent on Fyn's catalytic activity and expression levels.
- A novel PKA-C interactor, LARP4, was identified, which complexes with PKA independently of Fyn.
Conclusions:
- Fyn modulates PKA's association with specific cellular scaffolds, influencing its localization and function.
- These findings suggest Fyn plays a role in directing PKA activity towards specific downstream substrates.
- The study reveals a novel mechanism by which Fyn regulates PKA complex formation and cellular signaling.
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