Hormonal regulation of cAMP-independent protein phosphokinase activities: thyroxine and cortisol control of enzymes from rat liver cytosol.

Thyroxine control of cAMP-independent histone and casein phosphokinase activities was studied in thyroidectomized rats treated with thyroxine. All activities were evaluated in the presence of a thermostable inhibitor of cAMP-dependent enzymes. Cytosol enzymes can be resolved by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation into three peaks of histone kinase activity (3.2S, 5S and 7.2S) and two peaks of casein kinases (3.6S and 7.1S). Neither thyroidectomy nor subsequent treatment of operated animals with thyroxine modifies the total histone kinase activity estimated, either in total cytosol or after its fractionation by the sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. The activity ratios of different peaks were, however, changed. Casein kinase activity was significantly decreased after thyroidectomy (about 50%). Subsequent treatment with thyroxine restored this activity to its initial value. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation analysis showed that thyroxine action on the casein kinase activity is very specific. Only molecules that sediment in the 9S region were significantly stimulated by the hormone. Cortisol action on the casein kinase activity was studied in adrenalectomized animals treated with hormone for 24 h. Cortisol decreases the total casein kinase activity by about 30%. Sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation analysis showed that the population of molecules sedimenting at about 9S was the most sensitive to cortisol. The above data show that both thyroxine and cortisol control, in a selective way, the activities of cAMP-independent protein kinases. The same kinase molecules can be under double control by two different hormones that have opposite effects.