Activation of endogenous phosphorylase kinase in liver glycogen pellet by cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Liver glycogen phosphorylase associated with the glycogen pellet was activated by a MgATP-dependent process. This activation was reduced by 90% by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, not affected by the inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and increased 2.5-fold by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Low levels of free Ca2+ (8 x 10(-8) M) completely prevented the effects of the chelator. The activation of phosphorylase by MgATP was shown not to be due to formation of AMP. DEAE-cellulose chromatography of the glycogen pellet separated phosphorylase from phosphorylase kinase. The isolated phosphorylase was no longer activated by MgATP in the presence or absence of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The isolated phosphorylase kinase phosphorylated and activated skeletal muscle phosphorylase b and the activation was increased 2- to 3-fold by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Mixing the isolated phosphorylase and phosphorylase kinase together restored the effects of MgATP and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase on phosphorylase activity. These findings demonstrate that the phosphorylase kinase associated with liver glycogen has regulatory features similar to those of muscle phosphorylase kinase.