Partial purification and characterization of cAMP-dependent protein kinase from Fasciola hepatica

Three cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinases, designated A1, A2, and B, were isolated from the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica using Phenyl-Sepharose and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. These enzymes differed with respect to activation by cAMP and their molecular weights. The half-maximal activation constant for cAMP-dependent protein kinases A1 and B was 20 nM, while that of A2 was about five-fold higher (110 nM). The estimated molecular weights for cAMP-dependent protein kinases A1 and A2 (both 98,000) suggest a dimeric form for these enzymes; whereas, the higher molecular weight for cAMP-dependent protein kinase B (187,000) indicates that this enzyme is a tetramer. The physical and kinetic properties of the catalytic subunit of fluke cAMP-dependent protein kinase were similar to those reported for the mammalian enzyme. The molecular weight of the catalytic subunit was estimated to be 41,000. The pH optimum for the enzyme was 6.0, 6.5, or 7.0 when casein, histone, or protamine were used as substrates. The protein substrate specificity was in the order histone greater than arginine-rich histone greater than casein greater than protamine greater than lysine-rich histone. Free Mg2+ 'stimulated' enzyme activity at low concentrations (0.5 to 5 mM), whereas at higher concentrations (greater than 5 mM) it became inhibitory. Of the divalent cations tested, only Co2+ and Mn2+ could substitute for Mg2+. Kinetic studies indicated that the reaction mechanism of this enzyme is sequential and that MgATP and MgADP are competitive ligands. Reconstitution experiments using the subunits of fluke and bovine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase showed that there is sufficient structural homology between these enzymes such that the catalytic subunit from one species can combine with the regulatory subunit of the other species to form inactive holoenzyme. Thus, the present results indicate that cAMP-dependent protein kinase from F. hepatica is similar but not identical to the mammalian enzyme.