Novel Phosphospecific Antibodies for Monitoring Phosphorylation of Proteins Encoded by the Myosin Light Chain Kinase Genetic Locus

A. Yu. Khapchaev¹, M. A. Krymsky¹, M. V. Sidorova², Zh. D. Bespalova², C.-L. A. Wang³, V. P. Shirinsky¹, and A. V. Vorotnikov^1*

¹Laboratory of Cell Motility, Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Cardiology Research Center, 3-ya Cherepkovskaya ul. 15a, Moscow 121552, Russia; fax: (7-095) 414-6719; E-mail: A.Vorotnikov@cardio.ru

²Laboratory of Peptide Synthesis, Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Cardiology Research Center, 3-ya Cherepkovskaya ul. 15a, Moscow 121552, Russia

³Boston Biomedical Research Institute, 64 Grove Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received January 14, 2004; Revision received February 24, 2004

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Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and the kinase-related protein (KRP), also known as telokin, are the major independent protein products of the smooth muscle/non-muscle MLCK genetic locus. They share a common C-terminal part and major sites phosphorylated in vivo. Whereas MLCK is critically involved in myosin activation and contraction initiation in smooth muscle, KRP is thought to antagonize MLCK and to exert relaxation activity. Phosphorylation controls the MLCK and KRP activities. We generated two phosphorylation and site-specific antibodies to individually monitor levels of MLCK and KRP phosphorylation on critical sites. We quantified the level of KRP phosphorylation in smooth muscle before and after an increase in intracellular free Ca²⁺ and stimulation of adenylate cyclase, protein kinase C, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP-kinases). Forskolin and phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate increased KRP phosphorylation at Ser13 from 25 to 100% but did not produce contraction in rat ileum. The level of Ser13 phosphorylation was not altered during Ca²⁺-dependent contraction evoked by KCl depolarization or carbachol, but subsequently increased to maximum during forskolin-induced relaxation. These data suggest that several intracellular signaling pathways control phosphorylation of KRP on Ser13 in smooth muscle and thus may contribute to relaxation. In contrast, phosphorylation level of Ser19 of KRP increased only slightly (from 30 to 40-45%) and only in response to MAP-kinase activation, arguing against its regulatory function in smooth muscle.

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KEY WORDS: smooth muscle, contraction, relaxation, myosin light chain kinase, KRP, telokin, MAP-kinase, protein kinase A, phosphorylation

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