Cyclic adenosine monophosphate dependent and independent phosphorylation of sarcolemma membrane proteins in perfused rat heart.

This study was initiated in order to elaborate further on the mechanism by which epinephrine modulates cardiac function via protein phosphorylation. A membrane fraction has been isolated from freeze-clamped perfused rat heart that contains two phosphoproteins. These proteins have molecular weights of 36,000 (A protein) and 27,000 (B protein). The phosphorylation of the A protein occurs during the equilibration of the heart with inorganic [32P]phosphate. The phosphorylation of the B protein occurs in response to epinephrine. The A and B proteins are apparently identical with two phosphoproteins in enriched preparations of sarcolemma. The protein of the sarcolemma preparation equivalent to the A protein is phosphorylated in vitro by both cAMP-independent and cAMP-dependent protein kinases. The phosphorylation of the protein of the sarcolemma preparation equivalent to the B protein is catalyzed by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Thus the patterns of phosphorylation of these proteins in vivo and in vitro are compatible. The phosphorylation of the B protein has been documented in vitro to modulate calcium transport (Will, H., et al. (1973) Acta Biol. Med. Ger. 31, 45-52), but the response to epinephrine in the perfused heart is not apparently coordinated with the catecholamine-induced inotropic effect.