Activation of protein phosphatase 2A by cAMP-dependent protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation of the 74-kDa B'' (delta) regulatory subunit in vitro and identification of the phosphorylation sites.

Human erythrocyte protein phosphatase 2A, which comprises a 34-kDa catalytic C subunit, a 63-kDa regulatory A subunit and a 74-kDa regulatory B'' (delta) subunit, was phosphorylated at serine residues of B'' in vitro by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase). In the presence and absence of 0.5 microM okadaic acid (OA), A-kinase gave maximal incorporation of 1.7 and 1.0 mol of phosphate per mol of B'', respectively. The Km value of A-kinase for CAB'' was 0.17 +/- 0.01 microM in the presence of OA. The major in vitro phosphorylation sites of B'' were identified as Ser-60, -75 and -573 in the presence of OA, and Ser-75 and -573 in the absence of OA. Phosphorylation of B'' did not dissociate B'' from CA, and stimulated the molecular activity of CAB'' toward phosphorylated H1 and H2B histones, 3.8- and 1.4-fold, respectively, but not toward phosphorylase a.