Holoenzymes of cAMP-dependent protein kinase containing the neural form of type I regulatory subunit have an increased sensitivity to cyclic nucleotides.

Specific isoforms of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase are preferentially expressed within discrete neuronal regions in mouse brain (Cadd and McKnight (1989) Neuron 3, 71-79) suggesting that these subunits might have different functional properties. We have used recombinant techniques to express and purify the type I regulatory subunits, RI alpha and RI beta, the catalytic subunits C alpha and C beta, and then reconstituted holoenzymes with the various combinations of R and C subunits. The ability of the subunits to form inactive holoenzymes and then to be activated in the presence of cyclic nucleotides was examined. Holoenzymes containing C beta had essentially the same activation properties exhibited by C alpha holoenzymes. However, the presence of the neural form of RI, RI beta, led to formation of a holoenzyme which was activated at a 3-7-fold lower concentration of cyclic nucleotides compared to holoenzymes containing RI alpha. Expression of the RI beta protein in discrete regions of the central nervous system may provide a mechanism for increasing the sensitivity of the kinase to what would otherwise be subthreshold levels of stimulation. Two mutant forms of RI beta were constructed that converted the RI beta sequence to that of RI alpha at position 98 (RI beta Ala) or positions 98 and 99 (RI beta Ala/Ile). These sequences form part of a pseudosubstrate site thought to interact with the C subunit. Wild type and mutant R subunits were combined in vitro with purified bovine C subunits and half maximal activation constants (Ka) were determined with cyclic nucleotides. Holoenzymes containing RI beta Ala and RI beta Ala/Ile gave Ka values which were higher than wild type RI beta, with the double mutant shifting toward the Ka value of RI alpha holoenzymes by about 30%. These results suggest that amino acid differences in the pseudosubstrate site may account for some, but not all, of the increased sensitivity to cyclic nucleotides exhibited by RI beta.