M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase is a target of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Cyclic AMP arrests T lymphocytes in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, and prolonged exposure results in cytolysis. Both of these effects require cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. We recently observed that some S49 mouse T lymphoma cell lines selected for hydroxyurea resistance were not arrested in G1 by cyclic AMP. Further analysis revealed that these cell lines were cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase deficient, and conversely, other cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase deficient cell lines not selected for hydroxyurea resistance were two- to threefold more hydroxyurea resistant. However, hydroxyurea is a specific inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase and does not inhibit this kinase. We subsequently showed that cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase will phosphorylate the M2 but not the M1 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase in vitro, and this phosphorylation will diminish CDP reductase activity. In vivo phosphorylation of M2 occurred under conditions similar to those that generate cell cycle arrest. We conclude that the M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase can be a target of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The phosphorylated enzyme has diminished activity, and this may play a role in cyclic AMP-induced lymphocyte cell cycle arrest.