Enhancement of the phosphorylation of membrane bound myosin light chain by antigen stimulation in rat basophilic leukemia cells.

We have found that phosphorylation of the 18,000 mol. wt protein in rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3 cells) is enhanced by stimulation by an antigen. This phenomenon was also observed when cells were treated with phorbol myristate (TPA) and a calcium ionophor, A23187. The phosphorylated 18,000 mol. wt protein was mainly located in the membrane fraction. It was identified as one of the myosin light chains as follows: (1) the mol. wt of one of the major myosin light chains of RBL-2H3 cells was 18,000; (2) more than half of the phosphorylated 18,000 mol. wt protein was recovered in an actomyosin fraction; (3) this phosphorylated 18,000 mol. wt protein was immunoprecipitated with anti-myosin antibody. Since the presence of Ca2+ in the cell culture medium was essential for the phosphorylation of the 18,000 mol. wt protein and, since trifluoperazine (a potent inhibitor of calmodulin as well as of the degranulation process of RBL-2H3 cells) inhibited the reaction, the phosphorylation may be catalyzed by a Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent process, most likely by myosin light chain kinase. These results, together with our previous observation [Teshima et al. Molec Immun. 23, 279-284 (1986)], suggest that simultaneous phosphorylation of the 18,000 mol. wt myosin light chain and a 36,000 mol. wt membranous protein is a prerequisite for the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells.