Relationship between RNA polymerase and protein kinase activities in rat mammary gland nuclei

Abstract

1. Extracts from rat mammary gland nuclei contain cyclic AMP -independent protein kinases which phosphorylate casein rather than histone. 2. A major increase in nuclear protein kinase activity occurred during late pregnancy and was maintained with the onset of lactation. 3. Two major peaks of activity were resolved by chomatography of nuclear extracts on DEAE-Sephadex; the first (NI) appeared in the void volume and the second (NII) was eluted by 0.05-0.12 M ammonium sulfate. Several other regions of lesser activity were also present. 4. Protein kinases in the cytosol 105,000 times g supernatant, precipitated by 70 percent ammonium sulfate, dialyzed against buffer, and chromatographed on DEAE-Sephadex, yielded a major components phosphorylated histone in preference to casein, and this was stimulated by cyclic AMP if histone was the substrate, but only the first (void volume) fraction was cyclic AMP-dependent when casein was used. 5. Most of RNA polymerases Ib and II, derived from the nucleolus and nucleoplasm, respectively, appeared in column fractions distinct from those containing the major NI and NII protein kinases. 6. Cyclic AMP altered the amount of RNA product synthesized by polymerases Ib and II, but the explanation for this is unknown. Due to their elution profiles and cyclic AMP-independence, protein kinases NI and NII are excluded from playing a catalytic role in these effects; participation of quantitatively minor protein kinases which co-elute with polymerase Ib and II is not yet excluded.