Elongation factor 2-specific calcium and calmodulin dependent protein kinase III activity in rat livers varies with...

Elongation factors involved in polypeptide chain elongation are considered to be rate limiting for the slowing down of total protein synthesis during ageing. The activities of elongation factors are themselves regulated by various means, including phosphorylation. Here we have compared the activity of a protein kinase, called calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase III (CaM PK III), specific for the phosphorylation of elongation factor eEF-2, in cell-free extracts prepared from livers isolated from young and old male Fischer 344 rats maintained under freely fed or calorie-restricted dietary regimes. There was a significant increase of more than 70% in the activity of CaM PK III in 24 month old freely fed rat livers as compared with young animals. This age-related increase was found but to a lower extent (46%) in calorie-restricted rats of the same age. Therefore, slowing down of ageing in calorie-restricted animals is also reflected at the level of the regulation of the activity of protein elongation factor eEF-2 by CaM PK III.