Cyclic inhibition-potentiation of the crosslinking of synapsin I with brain microtubules by protein kinase FA (an activator of ATP.Mg-dependent protein phosphatase).

The ATP.Mg-dependent type-1 protein phosphatase activating factor (FA) was identified as a protein kinase that could phosphorylate synapsin I, a neuronal protein that coats synaptic vesicles, binds to cytoskeleton and is believed to be involved in the modulation of neurotransmission. More importantly, more than 90% of the phosphates in 32P-synapsin I phosphorylated by FA could be removed by the activated ATP.Mg-dependent type-1 protein phosphatase and the synapsin I phosphatase activity was found to be strictly FA-dependent. Functional study further revealed that as a synapsin I kinase, factor FA could phosphorylate synapsin I and thereby inhibits crosslinking of synapsin I with tubulin, while as a synapsin I phosphatase activator, FA could promote the crosslinking copolymerization of synapsin I with tubulin. Taken together, the results provide initial evidence that a cyclic modulation of the crosslinking copolymerization of synapsin I with brain microtubules can be controlled by factor FA, representing an efficient cyclic cascade control mechanism for the regulation of axonal transport process during neurotransmission.