Translocation of phospholipid-sensitive Ca2+-dependent protein kinase and its substrate, Mr 38,000 protein, in chronic myelocytic and acute myelocytic leukemias.

Phospholipid-sensitive Ca2+-dependent protein kinase (PL-Ca-PK) and its substrates were investigated in neutrophils from normal subjects and in chronic myelocytic and acute myelocytic leukemic cells from patients with or without treatment for leukemia. PL-Ca-PK and its substrates were found in total particulate fraction of normal neutrophils, but less in cytosol. In leukemic cells from chronic myelocytic leukemia patients without treatment, PL-Ca-PK and its substrate, Mr 38,000 protein, increased in cytosol but decreased in total particulate fraction as compared with normal neutrophils. In leukemic cells obtained from chronic myelocytic leukemia patients after treatment mainly with busulfan, PL-Ca-PK and Mr 38,000 protein were increased in total particulate fraction but decreased in cytosol. Using leukemic cells from acute myelocytic leukemia patients with or without treatment, similar results were obtained. The change of localization of PL-Ca-PK and Mr 38,000 protein in leukemic cells appeared to be correlated to the increase or decrease of the number of leukemic cells. These results suggested that PL-Ca-PK together with the substrate, Mr 38,000 protein, might be translocated from total particulate fraction to cytosol with the onset of leukemia, and from cytosol to total particulate fraction accompanying treatment for leukemia.