Abstract
The absolute levels of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-dPK) subunits (R-I, R-II and C) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGMP-dPK) holoenzyme were studied in neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells before and after dibutyryl-cAMP (Bt2cAMP) treatment which results in differentiation of these cells. The levels were determined by two different techniques utilizing antibodies which had been raised against each individual purified protein kinase subunit (or the holoenzyme in the case of the cGMP-dPK). Electrophoretic transfer of samples from SDS-polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose paper, followed by immunolabeling of protein kinase subunits with their respective antibodies and [125I]Protein A, demonstrated the monospecific nature of the antibodies, and a selective, several-fold increase in the R-I subunit in Bt2cAMP-treated cells, with no change in the level of R-II or C subunits. A simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) capable of measuring nanogram amounts of the various subunits confirmed the selective increase in the R-I subunit. ELISA assay results also indicated that the R-I subunits present before and after Bt2cAMP treatment are antigenically homologous. In conclusion, the specific, sensitive immunological methods described here demonstrate the capacity of neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells to regulate separately the levels of the two distinct subunits (R-I and C) of the Type I cAMP-dPK.