The catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase induces expression of genes containing cAMP-responsive enhancer elements

Karl T. Riabowol, J. Stephen Fink, Michael Z. Gilman, Donal A. Walsh, Richard H. Goodman, James R. Feramisco

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

162 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transcriptional regulation of eukaryotic genes by cyclic AMP requires a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A kinase)1. Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain how the holoenzyme of the A kinase induces transcription. The regulatory subunits of the A kinase, which bind cAMP2 and DNA3, and have amino-acid homology with the Escherichia coli catabolite activator protein4 could directly stimulate gene expression5,6. Alternatively, phosphorylation by the catalytic subunits could induce transcription by activating proteins involved in gene transcription7,9. To distinguish between these models, we microinjected purified preparations of the catalytic and regulatory subunits of A kinase into tissue culture cells and monitored expression of a stably integrated fusion gene containing a cAMP-responsive human promoter10 fused to a bacterial reporter gene, or of the endogenous c-fos gene. The catalytic subunit stimulated expression of these genes, whereas the regulatory subnnit did not. These results indicate that the catalytic subunit of A kinase is sufficient to induce expression of two cAMP-responsive genes, without increasing levels of cAMP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)83-86
Number of pages4
JournalNature
Volume336
Issue number6194
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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