Multiple specificities of brain Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase for substrate.

The purified Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase from rat brain, which has a M.W. of 120,000 by gel filtration analysis, showed a broad substrate specificity. In addition to myosin light chain from chicken gizzard, the enzyme phosphorylated myelin basic protein, casein and two endogenous substrates in a Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent manner. In contrast, chicken gizzard myosin light chain kinase exclusively phosphorylated myosin light chain.