H1 histone stimulates limited proteolysis of protein kinase C subspecies by calpain II.

Limited proteolysis of protein kinase C (PKC) subspecies with Ca2(+)-dependent neutral protease II (calpain II) was remarkably stimulated by basic polypeptides, such as H1 histone and poly-L-lysine. This stimulatory effect was observed for proteolysis of the active form of PKC, which was associated with phospholipid and diacylglycerol. The inactive form of PKC was far less susceptible to proteolysis, both in the presence and absence of the basic polypeptides. The basic polypeptides did not appear to interact with calpain II, but made the PKC molecule more susceptible to proteolysis. The relative rates of cleavage of type I (gamma), II (beta), and III (alpha) PKC were 2:2:1. The available evidence suggests that, like calpain I, calpain II may also contribute to the down-regulation or depletion of PKC.