Isolation and properties of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from Dictyostelium discoideum

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (ATP:protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) in Dictyostelium discoideum was shown to be developmentally controlled. No activity was measured in vegetative cells, but activity increased rapidly during differentiation. A simple procedure for the isolation of the catalytic subunit of the kinase from aggregating cells is presented. The cyclic AMP-dependent holoenzyme could be reconstituted by adding purified D. discoideum cyclic AMP-binding protein. Molecular weight, kinetic parameters, pH dependence and affinity for cyclic AMP were determined for the enzyme. Most properties are similar to those of cyclic AMP-dependent kinase from mammalian cells.