Neurabin I is a brain-specific actin-binding protein. Here we show that neu
rabin I binds protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and inhibits PP1 activity. Neurab
in I interacted with PP1 alpha in an overlay assay, in yeast two-hybrid int
eraction analysis, and in coprecipitation and co-immunoprecipitation experi
ments. Neurabin I also copurified with both the alpha and gamma isoforms of
PP1. A glutathione S-transferase (GST)-neurabin I fusion protein (residues
318-661) containing the putative PP1 binding domain (residues 456-460) inh
ibited PP1 activity (K-i = 2.7 +/- 1.2 nM). This fusion protein was also ra
pidly phosphorylated in vitro by PKA (K-m = 6 mu M) to a stoichiomtry of 1
mol/mol. The phosphorylated residue was identified as serine 461 by HPLC-MS
analysis of a tryptic digest. Phosphorylation of GST-neurabin I (residues
318-661) by PKA significantly reduced its binding to PP1 by overlay and by
glutathione-Sepharose coprecipitation assays. A 35-fold decrease in inhibit
ory potency was also observed using a S461E mutant, which mimics phosphoryl
ation of S461. These findings identify a signaling mechanism involving the
regulation of PPI activity and localization mediated by the cAMP pathway.