Phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase on at least three sites in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells treated with 56 mM K+: determination of the sites on tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases

Abstract

Incubation of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells with the calcium ionophore, A23187 (10(-5) M), 56 mM K+, or dibutyryl cAMP (2 mM) is associated with increased activity and enhanced phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase in the cells. Both the activation and the increased phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase produced by A23187 and 56 mM K+ are dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium, whereas similar effects produced by dibutyryl cAMP are independent of calcium. The effects of 56 mM K+ plus dibutyryl cAMP or A23187 plus dibutyryl cAMP on the activation and phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase are additive. In contrast, the effects of 56 mM K+ plus A23187 on either the activation or the phosphorylation of the enzyme are not additive. Following stimulation of intact PC12 cells with 32Pi, in order to label ATP stores, and tryptic digestion of the phosphorylated enzyme, separation of the tryptic phosphopeptides by high pressure liquid chromatography yields four distinct 32P-peptide peaks. Incubation of the cells in the presence of either 56 mM K+ or A23187 is associated with increased 32Pi incorporation into three peptides whereas, in the presence of dibutyryl cAMP, increased 32Pi incorporation is observed in only one of these peptides. When tyrosine hydroxylase purified from rat pheochromocytoma tumor is incubated in vitro with [gamma-32P]ATP and either cAMP-dependent or calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase under appropriate conditions, increased phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase is observed. However, even though in vitro phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase is associated with activation of tyrosine hydroxylase, in vitro phosphorylation by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase does not lead to activation of the enzyme. Tryptic digestion of tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase yields three distinct 32P-peptide peaks, which are identical to those phosphorylated by treatment of intact PC12 cells with either high K+ or A23187. In contrast, cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates only one peptide, which is identical to that phosphorylated by treatment of the intact cells with dibutyryl cAMP. These results indicate that tyrosine hydroxylase is activated and phosphorylated at multiple sites in PC12 cells exposed to 56 mM K+ or A23187. The results suggests that the in situ phosphorylation of these sites is catalyzed by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase; however, phosphorylation by this protein kinase is not sufficient to activate the enzyme.