[Limited proteolysis and phosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase from chicken skeletal muscles]

The changes in the quaternary structure of chicken skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase during limited proteolysis by trypsin and chymotrypsin were studied. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate of the products of phosphorylase kinase limited proteolysis revealed a similarity in the structure of the alpha'- and beta-subunits and some differences in the structure of the gamma-subunits of the chicken and rabbit enzymes. Phosphorylation with the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (up to 2 mol of 32P/mol of alpha' beta gamma' sigma monomer) and autophosphorylation (up to 8 mol of 32P/mol alpha' beta gamma' delta monomer) increased the activity of chicken phosphorylase kinase 1.5-fold and 2.0-fold, respectively. The incorporation of phosphate into the alpha' and beta-subunits in the course of the protein kinase-catalyzed reaction was demonstrated.