PEST sequences in cAMP-dependent protein kinase subunits of the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii are necessary for in vitro degradation by endogenous proteases
Acc. Borges et Sl. Gomes, PEST sequences in cAMP-dependent protein kinase subunits of the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii are necessary for in vitro degradation by endogenous proteases, MOL MICROB, 36(4), 2000, pp. 926-939
During Blastocladiella emersonii germination, the regulatory (R) and the ca
talytic (C) subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) are rapidly
and concurrently degraded, after PKA activation in response to a transient
increase in intracellular cAMP levels. The possibility that PEST sequences
could be acting as proteolytic recognition signals in this process was inv
estigated, and high score PEST sequences were found in both B. emersonii R
and C subunits. Deletions in the PEST sequences were obtained by site-direc
ted mutagenesis and the different PKA subunits were independently expressed
in Escherichia coli. Proteolysis assays of the various R and C recombinant
forms, using B. emersonii cell extracts as the source of proteases, showed
a strong correlation between the presence of high score PEST sequences and
susceptibility to degradation. Furthermore, the amino-terminal sequence of
the proteolytic fragments indicated that the cleavage sites in both subuni
ts are located at or near the PEST regions. The PEST sequence in B. emerson
ii C subunit, which when deleted or disrupted leads to resistance to proteo
lysis, is entirely contained in the 72-amino-acid extension located in the
N-terminus of the protein. C subunit mutants carrying deletions in this reg
ion displayed little difference in their kinetic properties or enzyme therm
ostability. These results suggest that the N-terminal extension may only pl
ay a role in C subunit degradation.