Substrate specificity of ribosomal protein S6 kinase II from Xenopus eggs

The substrate specificity of ribosomal protein S6 kinase II (S6 K II) from Xenopus eggs was evaluated using several protein substrates and a synthetic peptide corresponding to two phosphorylation sites in ribosomal protein S6. Previous studies had shown that S6 K II is unable to phosphorylate histones, casein, or phosvitin, proteins commonly used as substrates for protein kinases. In the present study S6 K II was found to phosphorylate with a significant stoichiometry rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase, cardiac and skeletal muscle troponin I, and lamin C. In addition, the S6 peptide was phosphorylated by S6 K II to the same extent as observed with the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Studies with oocytes undergoing progesterone-induced meiotic maturation and with activated or fertilized eggs revealed identical oscillations in both S6 and lamin C kinase activity. These results indicate that S6 K II does not have an absolute specificity for S6 in vitro. Therefore, since this enzyme is regulated during the cell cycle, it may phosphorylate several other proteins of interest during mitogenic stimulation.