Protein kinase activity of purified rat liver glucocorticoid receptor

Molybdate-stabilized nonactivated rat liver glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was purified to near homogeneity using a biospecific affinity adsorbent, Bio Gel A 0.5 m and DEAE-Sephacel. The purified GR sedimented in the 9-10S region in 5-20% sucrose gradients containing 0.10M KCl and 20mM Na2MoO4. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a major single band with an apparent molecular weight of 90,000 +/- 2,000. Affinity labeling of GR with [3H]-dexamethasone mesylate showed association of the radioactivity with a peptide of 90,000 molecular weight. Purified receptor preparation was dialyzed to remove molybdate and was incubated with different protein substrates in the presence of 50 microM [gamma-32P]-ATP and divalent cations. Radioactive phosphate from [gamma-32P]-ATP was seen to be incorporated into calf thymus histones, turkey gizzard myosin light chain kinase and rabbit skeletal muscle kinase in the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions. Addition of steroid ligand exogenously to the reaction mixture appeared to increase the extent of protein phosphorylation. No autophosphorylation of GR was evident under the above conditions. The data suggest that purified rat liver GR displays protein kinase activity.