Cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-stimulated phosphorylation of isolated neurotubule subunits.

The possible relationship between cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and neurotubules in synaptic transmission has been explored. The neurotubular subunit protein from bovine cerebral cortex has been prepared. The addition of cAMP to this preparation in the presence of ATP stimulates the phosphorylation of serine residue(s) in the principal component of the preparation. The neurotubule subunit thus serves as a substrate for an intrinsic, cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase closely associated with the neurotubule subunit. The significance of this finding is discussed in terms of a general model for cellular secretion involving microtubules, cyclic AMP, protein kinase, and calcium ion.