Effects of triethyltin bromide on protein phosphorylation in subcellular fractions from rat and rabbit brain

Phosphorylation of specific proteins in subcellular fractions of rat brain is affected by the presence of low concentrations (1-50 microM) of triethyltin bromide (Et3SnBr), in vitro. SDS-PAGE and autoradiography showed that Et3SnBr increased phosphorylation of an Mr = 42,000 phosphorylation of an Mr = 52,000 component. The Mr = 42,000 and 76,000-80,000 phosphoproteins have been identified as the alpha-subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and synapsin, respectively. Et3SnBr-induced phosphorylation of rabbit brain PDH results in partial inactivation of the PDH complex.