SUBSTRATES OF CGMP KINASE IN VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE AND THEIR ROLE IN THE RELAXATION PROCESS

G1 is a hitherto unidentified substrate (molecular mass about 120 kDa) of the cGMP-dependent kinase, although its presence in vascular smooth muscle sarcolemma has been known for many years. Since it represents the major target of the G-kinase in smooth muscle, its physicochemical and biochemical properties were investigated. Solubilization of G1 required a detergent: with Triton X-100, however, its extraction only occurred in the presence of high salt concentrations or millimolar ATP. These properties are typical for a membrane protein interacting with a nonmembraneous sedimentable moiety. Cupric phenanthroline-catalyzed oxidation revealed that the G1 phosphoprotein could be oxidatively cross-linked to a sedimentable moiety. The latter was identified by two-dimensional (nonreduced/reduced) gel electrophoresis as actin which is attached to the sarcolemma. Furthermore, DNase I affinity chromatography demonstrated an interaction of solubilized G1 with actin. The results suggest a role of G1 in the plasma membrane-cytoskeleton interaction in smooth muscle cells. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.