Phosphorylation of a bovine cardiac actin complex

Abstract

A bovine cardiac actin-tropomyosin-troponin complex was phosphorylated in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP, Mg2+, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP), and bovine cardiac cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase. Approximately 81% of the [32P]phosphate incorporated was identified as phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. Gel electrophoresis studies showed that 55% of the [32P]phosphate was associated with the inhibitory component of troponin (Tn-I) and 24% with a protein resembling the tropomyosin-binding component of troponin in the actin complex, respectively. The phosphorylation of Tn-I in the actin complex was inhibited 30% when Ca2+ was increased from 0.1 to 50 muM, but phosphorylation of other components was not affected by increasing Ca2+ concentration. Half-maximal calcium activation of the ATPase activity of reconstituted actomyosins made with the [32P]phosphorylated cardiac actin complex and cardiac myosin was shifted to Ca2+ values higher than those of actomyosins made with the nonphosphorylated actin complex.