Ontogeny of sarcoplasmic reticulum protein phosphorylation by Ca2+--calmodulin-dependent protein kinase

In the adult myocardium the Ca2+ uptake and release functions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) are known to be regulated by a membrane-associated Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) which phosphorylates the Ca2+-pumping ATPase (Ca2+ pump), Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) and the Ca2+ pump-regulatory protein, phospholamban. The role of CaM kinase during development, however, has not been examined previously. The present study investigated the ontogenetic expression of SR-associated CaM kinase in the rabbit myocardium as well as development-related changes in CaM kinase-mediated phosphorylation of the SR proteins (Ca2+ pump, Ca2+ release channel and phospholamban) involved in transmembrane Ca2+ cycling. For these experiments, cardiac muscle homogenate and SR-enriched membrane fraction derived from fetal (21- and 28-days gestation), newborn (2 days postnatal) and adult New Zealand White rabbits were used. Western immunoblotting analysis detected the presence of phospholamban, Ca2+ pump and Ca2+ release channel in homogenate and SR at all ages tested. The amount of these proteins in the SR increased substantially during fetal and postnatal development. Phosphorylation studies revealed the presence of CaM kinase-dependent phosphorylation of the Ca2+ pump, Ca2+ release channel and phospholamban as early as 21-days gestation. This phosphorylation could be elicited with the addition of only Ca2+ and calmodulin indicating the presence of a SR-associated CaM kinase as early as 21-days gestation. This was confirmed using a delta-CaM kinase II-specific antibody. Phosphorylation per unit amount of each substrate was greater in the fetus and newborn compared to adult. Phosphorylation of phospholamban could be elicited by exogenous cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) at all developmental stages studied. Activation of SR CaM kinase with Ca2+ and calmodulin, or induction of phospholamban phosphorylation by exogenous PKA, resulted in stimulation of the Ca2+ uptake activity of SR in fetal, newborn and adult heart. These results demonstrate early ontogenetic expression of the Ca2+ cycling proteins and CaM kinase in the SR and the concurrent development of phosphorylation-dependent regulation of SR Ca2+ cycling.