Two complementary DNA's, encoding the complete sequences of 671 and 673 amino acids for subspecies of rat brain protein kinase C, were expressed in COS 7 cells. The complementary DNA sequence analysis predicted that the two enzymes are derived from different ways of splicing and differ from each other only in the short ranges of their carboxyl-terminal regions. Both enzymes showed typical characteristics of protein kinase C that responded to Ca2+, phospholipid, and diacylglycerol. The enzymes showed practically identical physical and kinetic properties and were indistinguishable from one of the several subspecies of protein kinase C that occurs in rat brain but not in untransfected COS 7 cells. Partial analysis of the genomic structure confirmed that these two subspecies of protein kinase C resulted indeed from alternative splicing of a single gene.

Three types of protein kinase C, designated types I, II, and III, were purified from rat brain cytosol, and have been shown to correspond to the cDNA clones gamma, beta, and alpha, respectively. Their relative activities in the whole brain tissue were roughly 26, 49, and 25% with H1 histone as a substrate. Type II enzyme was an unequal mixture of two subspecies (roughly 1:7) encoded by beta I and beta II sequences which differ from each other only in a short range of their carboxyl-terminal end regions. Although the three types have closely similar structures, they showed slightly different modes of activation and kinetic properties. Type I enzyme was less sensitive to diacylglycerol but was significantly activated by low concentrations of free arachidonic acid. Type II enzyme exhibited substantial activity without elevated Ca2+ levels, and responded well to diacylglycerol and, to some extent, arachidonic acid. The type III enzyme responded to diacylglycerol as well as to arachidonic acid. The mode of activation of the enzyme by arachidonic acid required elevated levels of Ca2+ but not phospholipid. In the presence of phospholipid, phorbol esters could activate all three types in a manner similar to diacylglycerol. Among various phospholipids tested, phosphatidylserine was the most effective for all three types. Type III enzyme was most sensitive to 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonylglycerol for activation. Conversely, type I enzyme was activated most efficiently by synthetic permeable diacylglycerols, such as 1,2-didecanoylglycerol and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol. Many heavy metal ions exerted variable and distinct effects on the catalytic activities of these three types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Protein kinase C in the developing rat brain was investigated by a biochemical assay and by light-microscopic immunocytochemistry. The protein kinase was resolved on hydroxyapatite column chromatography into 3 fractions, designated types I, II, and III. Type I, with structure encoded by a gamma-sequence, was not detected early postnatally, maintained a low level of activity during the first week, which increased gradually, and reached its maximum around postnatal day 28. This type of enzyme was expressed specifically in nervous tissues, and was not found in any other tissues thus far tested. Type II enzyme activity, a mixture of the 2 subspecies encoded by the beta I- and beta II-sequences, was found at birth, increased rapidly, and reached a plateau level between postnatal days 14 and 28. This type was the predominant subspecies of protein kinase C in the brain. Type III, its structure encoded by the alpha-sequence, was also detected at birth, and reached its maximum level on postnatal day 7. Immunocytochemical studies with a monoclonal antibody, which recognized preferentially the type I enzyme, visualized the developmental pattern of type I subspecies in the Purkinje cell, a typical cell having a large quantity of type I protein kinase C.

Elucidation of the complete sequences of four cDNA clones (a, @I, fl1, and y) of the rat brain protein kinase C family has revealed their common structure composed of a single polypeptide chain with four constant (C,-C,) and five variable (VI-V,) regions. Although these sequences are highly homologous and closely related to one another Vj-, Vd-, and Vs-regions of y-subspecies are slightly bigger than the corresponding regions of the other three subspecies. The first constant region, C,, contains a tandem repeat of cysteine-rich sequence (6, total 12 cysteine residues). The third constant region, Cj, has an ATP-binding sequence which is found in many protein kinases. In adult rat whole brain, the relative activities of tl-, /3I-, /III-, and y-subspecies are roughly 16, 8, 55, and 21%, respectively. y-Subspecies is expressed after birth apparently only in the central nervous tissue, implying its role in the regulation of specific neuronal functions.Protein kinase C: Complementary DNA

Immunohistochemical and biochemical studies with subspecies-specific antibodies have revealed that beta I- and beta II-subspecies of protein kinase C, which result from alternative splicing of a single RNA transcript, show different regional expression in rat CNS. In the cerebellar cortex, beta I-subspecies is localized mainly in the granular layer, whereas beta II-subspecies is found predominantly in the molecular layer, most apparently in the presynaptic nerve endings that terminate at Purkinje cells. These distribution patterns are in sharp contrast to that of gamma-subspecies, which is most abundant within the Purkinje cells. The different patterns of expression imply that the multiple subspecies of protein kinase C may each have a specific function in modulating the neuronal activity of particular cell types.

Three monoclonal antibodies were prepared against rat brain soluble protein kinase C. Two of the antibodies, CKI-97 (IgG2b subclass) and CKII-90 (IgG1 subclass), showed weak binding to native protein kinase C. The third antibody, CKI-33 (IgG2b subclass), showed no binding. However, the mixture of CKI-97, CKII-90, and CKI-33 exhibited much stronger binding activity to this protein kinase than any of the antibodies alone. Although none of these antibodies showed protein kinase C-neutralizing activity, Western blot analysis indicated that these antibodies reacted specifically with protein kinase C, presumably its subspecies, that is present predominantly in nervous tissues. Immunocytochemical studies shows that these antibodies can be used for identification of this enzyme in nervous tissues. In rat Purkinje cells, the immunoreactive material was present throughout the cytoplasm, including dendrites and axons, but was poorly represented in the cell nucleus. In cerebellum, the localization of protein kinase C appears to be very similar to that of cGMP-dependent protein kinase.

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