Identification of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) in astrocytes

Ljubisa Vitkovic, Vincent J. Aloyo, Shigeru Maeda, Deborha L. Benzil, Joseph P. Bressler, Dana C. Hilt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have characterized membrane-associated substrates of Ca 2+-dependent kinases in primary rat astrocytes by in vitro phosphorylation, 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The most prominent among these were three acidic, protein kinase C (PKC) substrates. These are important because they likely transduce cytokine and other neuro-immune modulatory signals mediated by PKC. We now show that one of these phosphoproteins is myristoylated alanine-rich PKC kinase substrate (MARCKS) or phosphomyristin C. The identity was corroborated by one- and 2- dimensional immunoblotting with an MARCKS-specific polyclonal antibody. Exposing primary astrocytes to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated phosphorylation of this protein. The level of MARCKS appeared inversely proportional to the proliferative potential of astrocytes because it was lower in spontaneously transformed as compared to passaged or confluent cells. These data are consistent with previous reports and indicate that one of three major acidic membrane-associated PKC substrates in astrocytes is MARCKS. Thus, MARCKS is likely near-proximal transducer of PKC-mediated signals in astrocytes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)160-165
Number of pages6
JournalFrontiers in Bioscience - Landmark
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Astrocytes
  • CNS
  • GAP-43
  • Glia
  • Glial cell
  • MARCKS
  • Nervous system
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Plasma Membrane
  • Review

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