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H V Rickenberg

Publications and source records attributed to H V Rickenberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The lysine-rich H1 histones from the slime moulds, Physarum polycephalum and Dictyostelium discoideum lack phosphorylation sites recognised by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in vitro.

Calcium chloride-extracted histones were prepared from nuclei of the slime moulds, Physarum polycephalum and Dictyostelium discoideum, and phosphorylation by purified preparations of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-d PK) and growth-associated H1 histone kinase (HKG) examined and compared. Among the major histone fractions and other proteins in the two preparations, the H1 histones from both organisms were found to be effective and exclusive substrates for HKG. cAMP-d PK, which phosphorylates mammalian H1 histone and certain, in particular H2B, of the mammalian core histones, phosphorylated several of the core histones from both slime moulds but did not phosphorylate H1 histone from either. The slime mould H1s remained ineffective substrates for cAMP-d PK even after extensive alkaline phosphatase treatment of the histone preparations. Additional studies demonstrated that the lack of slime mould H1 phosphorylation by cAMP-d PK was not due to competition of the H1 molecules with the core histones for the kinase. Our studies suggest that H1 histones from these organisms, whilst clearly containing sites for phosphorylation by HKG, apparently lack phosphorylation sites recognised by cAMP-d PK. Thus, the mediation of specific nuclear functions by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of H1 in higher organisms may not occur or be required in these lower eukaryotes.

Animals↗

The occurrence of 2'-5' oligoadenylates in Escherichia coli.

The use of a highly specific radioimmunoassay and of HPLC permitted us to confirm the occurrence of 2'-5' oligoadenylates [p chi (A2'p5')nA] in several strains of Escherichia coli. Cellular concentrations of 2'-5' oligoadenylates ranged from 50 nM to 300 nM. The mixture of 2'-5' oligoadenylates consisted primarily of pppA2'p5'A, pA2'p5'A,A2'p5'Ap and A2'p5'A under normal conditions of growth. None of them activated RNase L. Infection of the bacteria with the single-stranded DNA phage M13 or induction of a heat-inducible, non-lytic mutant of phage lambda led to a significant increase in the total pool of 2'-5' oligoadenylates, paralleling the progressive inhibition of growth. Likewise, the inhibition of protein synthesis with chloramphenicol stimulated the accumulation of 2'-5' oligoadenylates. Furthermore, the inhibition of bacterial growth by either phage or by chloramphenicol brought about a change in the composition of the 2'-5' oligoadenylate pool; 5'-phosphorylated 2'-5' oligoadenylates accumulated and became the major components. The findings indicate a parallelism between the effects of viral infection on the synthesis of 2'-5' oligoadenylates in eukaryotes and similar effects subsequent to phage growth in the bacterium E. coli.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Identification of nuclear substrates of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in Dictyostelium discoideum.

A search for nuclear substrates of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-d PK) of Dictyostelium discoideum led to the identification of several such proteins. Identification was based initially on increased phosphorylation of the proteins in nuclear extracts catalyzed by added cAMP-d PK. One protein of Mr 38,000 was phosphorylated also in intact nuclei and in vivo; the amount of phosphoprotein or the level of phosphorylation increased during development. Both the Mr 38,000 protein and another substrate of Mr 195,000 were found in the nuclei of prespore and prestalk cells. Phosphorylation of other potential substrates of the cAMP-d PK was either prespore or prestalk cell-specific.

Cell Differentiation↗

The occurrence of cyclic AMP in archaebacteria.

Cyclic AMP was found in species representative of the three major groups of the archaebacteria. In Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum starvation for H2 led to a significant increase in cellular cAMP. The findings suggest that the occurrence of cAMP antedates the divergence of the major kingdoms of biology; the observations also imply that cAMP constitutes a very early regulatory molecule.

Archaea↗

Translocation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase to the nucleus during development of Dictyostelium discoideum.

The distribution of the catalytic and regulatory subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase between cytoplasm and nucleus was determined during the development of Dictyostelium discoideum. In vegetative amoebae approximately 2% of the subunits were in the nucleus. During development there was an approximately 5-fold increase in total soluble cAMP-dependent protein kinase and a 15- to 30-fold increase of enzyme in the nuclear fraction. There was a reverse translocation from nucleus to cytoplasm, when Tipped Aggregates were disrupted and the resultant amoebae incubated in single-cell suspension. The addition of cAMP to these single-cell suspensions brought about the reentry of the subunits into the nucleus. The findings are discussed in relation to the potential role of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the regulation of mRNA and protein synthesis.

Biological Transport↗

A cytosolic cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in Dictyostelium discoideum. II. Developmental regulation.

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase of the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, is developmentally regulated; there is an approximately 4-fold increase in activity during development. The incorporation of [3H]leucine into the enzyme demonstrates that there is de novo synthesis of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The activities of the catalytic and regulatory subunits increase in parallel. The maximal rate of increase of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity precedes "tip" formation, a stage of development characterized by a sharp increase in mRNA complexity. The high level of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity, attained at this stage of development, persists when aggregates are dispersed and the amoebae are kept in suspension without added cAMP. The synthesis of the developmentally regulated mRNAs under these conditions is dependent on exogenous cAMP. The increase in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity during development does not require sustained cell-cell contact insofar as it occurs in single cell suspensions of amoebae. Furthermore, the increase does not require exogenous cAMP, although added cAMP stimulates the synthesis of the enzyme to a level higher than that found, when cAMP is not added. These observations support the hypothesis that in D. discoideum cAMP-dependent protein kinase mediates the effects of cAMP on development.

Cyclic AMP↗

A cytosolic cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in Dictyostelium discoideum. I. Properties.

A cAMP-dependent protein kinase was isolated and partially purified from Dictyostelium discoideum. The cytosolic holoenzyme has an apparent Mr = 160,000-180,000; its activity was stimulated significantly by cAMP when Kemptide served as substrate. The enzyme was dissociated and the regulatory subunit purified by affinity chromatography on 8-aminoethylamino-cAMP. Only one type of regulatory subunit was found; it has an apparent Mr = 41,000 and is a substrate for the in vitro phosphorylation by the homologous catalytic subunit and by purified bovine catalytic subunit. Antibody against the regulatory subunit was prepared. The D. discoideum catalytic subunit was separated from cAMP-independent protein kinase by chromatofocusing. The apparent molecular weight of the catalytic subunit of the D. discoideum cAMP-dependent protein kinase is 33,000 and its pI is 6.4. The enzyme catalyzed the phosphorylation of bovine RII but not of RI regulatory subunit and was inhibited by high concentrations of the inhibitor of mammalian cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The evolution of the functional domains of cAMP-dependent protein kinases is discussed on the basis of a comparison of the analogous D. discoideum and vertebrate enzymes.

Animals↗

An increase of cAMP-dependent protein kinase during development in Polysphondylium pallidum.

Polysphondylium pallidum is a cellular slime mold in which, unlike in Dictyostelium discoideum, cAMP is not the chemotactic agent. The occurrence of a cAMP-dependent protein kinase in D. discoideum was demonstrated earlier and we suggested that it may mediate the intracellular effects of cAMP on the development of the organism, particularly since an increase in the amount of the enzyme during development was noted. In D. discoideum cAMP plays a dual role insofar as it serves both as chemotactic agent and as second messenger; it was of interest therefore, to determine whether a cAMP-dependent protein kinase occurred in P. pallidum. We found a cAMP-dependent protein kinase in P. pallidum using Kemptide as substrate. The regulatory subunit of the enzyme has an apparent molecular weight of 41,000 and seems to be similar in its properties with that isolated earlier from D. discoideum. The cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunits from the two species are also similar. Furthermore, there is a developmentally regulated, parallel, two- to threefold increase in the two subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in P. pallidum. The increase occurs before aggregates are formed. These findings are compatible with a role of the intracellular cAMP and of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the development of P. pallidum.

Darkness↗

Phosphoproteins in Dictyostelium discoideum.

The phosphoproteins of Dictyostelium discoideum were compared at different stages of development of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Certain phosphoproteins of vegetative amoebae were conserved while others appeared and disappeared during development. Four major phosphoproteins with apparent subunit molecular weights of 50,000, 47,000, 38,000, and 34,000 disappeared precociously in response to exogenous of cAMP. Two membranal phosphoproteins, with apparent subunit molecular weights of 80,000 and 81,000, appeared precociously in response to added cAMP. One of these phosphoproteins, molecular weight 80,000, has been identified tentatively as the "contact site A"glycoprotein. Another membranal protein, with apparent subunit molecular weight of 42,000, unaffected in its appearance by cAMP, has been identified tentatively as phosphoactin.

Cyclic AMP↗

Regulation of the synthesis of adenylate cyclase in Escherichia coli by the cAMP -- cAMP receptor protein complex.

The synthesis of the adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphatelyase-(cyclizing), E.C. 4.6.1.1.] of Escherichia coli, appears to be regulated negatively by the cAMP receptor protein, CRP. This conclusion is based on a comparison of adenylate cyclase activities measured in vitro with the rates of cAMP synthesis by intact bacteria. The activity of adenylate cyclase, depending on conditions of growth, is also regulated by CRP; this effect, however, is indirect insofar as it is mediated by a protein or proteins under CRP control.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Effect of sugars on early biochemical events in development of Dictyostelium discoideum.

Metabolizable sugars blocked development of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum; the same sugars also inhibited the formation of contact sites "A", of membranal 3':5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-binding sites, and of total cAMP phosphodoesterase (3':5'-cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase; EC 3.1.4.17; 3':5'-cyclic-nucleotide 5'-nucleotidohydrolase). These inhibitory effects of the sugars on the synthesis of cellular components, required for the aggregation of developing amebae, were paralleled by an inhibition of the accumulation of cAMP which normally accompanies development. The inhibition by sugars could be overcome partially by pulsing the amebae with nanomolar concentrations of cAMP only after the amebae had acquired cAMP-binding sites. The findings suggest that metabolizable sugars inhibit development by blocking the formation of cAMP and, conversely, that development in D. discoideum may be related to the energetic state of the cell.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗