Phosphorylation of adrenal medulla cell proteins in conjunction with stimulation of catecholamine secretion.

Enhanced phosphorylation of two specific protein bands accompanied catecholamine secretion from cultured bovine adrenal medulla cells stimulated by different secretagogues. Cells preincubated with 32Pi were treated with nicotine, veratridine, Ionomycin, or barium. Each of these secretagogues stimulated the phosphorylation of two protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 60,000 and 95,000. Phosphorylation of the 60,000 M. W. protein band was two- to threefold higher than that of the 95,000 M. W. band on stimulation with nicotine, veratridine, or barium, but Ionomycin stimulated phosphorylation of each protein band to the same extent. In general, the increase in phosphorylation was most rapid during the first minute of stimulation and occurred prior to detectable secretion. Phosphorylation reached a relatively constant level within 5 min after onset of stimulation at a time when catecholamine release was still proceeding at a rapid rate. Nicotine-stimulated phosphorylation and catecholamine secretion were calcium-dependent and blocked by d-tubocurarine, whereas tetrodotoxin inhibited veratridine-stimulated secretion and phosphorylation. We conclude that catecholamine secretion and protein phosphorylation occur under similar conditions and that Ca2+-dependent incorporation of phosphate into specific proteins may be a link in stimulus-secretion coupling.