Identification of the ATP.Mg-dependent protein phosphatase activator (FA) as a synapsin I kinase that inhibits cross-linking of synapsin I with brain microtubules.

The ATP.Mg-dependent protein phosphatase activating factor (FA) has been identified and purified to near homogeneity from brain. In this report, as evidenced on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography, factor FA has further been identified as a cAMP and Ca(2+)-independent brain 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. Kinetic study further indicated that factor FA could phosphorylate synapsin I with a low Km value of about 2 microM and with a molar ratio of 1 mol of phosphate per mole of protein. Peptide mapping analysis revealed that factor FA specifically phosphorylated the tail region of synapsin I but on a unique site distinct from those phosphorylated by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and cAMP-dependent protein kinase, the two well-established synapsin I kinases. Functional study further revealed that factor FA could phosphorylate this unique specific site on the tail region of synapsin I and thereby inhibit cross-linking of synapsin I with microtubules. The results further suggest the possible involvement of factor FA as a synapsin I kinase in the regulation of axonal transport process of synaptic vesicles via the promotion of vesicles motility during neurotransmission.