Identification of a novel CaMKK substrate

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK) phosphorylates and activates specific downstream protein kinases including CaMKI, CaMKIV and 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase. In order to examine the variety of CaMKK-mediated signaling pathways, we searched for novel CaMKK substrate(s) using N6-(1-methylbutyl)-ATP and genetically engineered CaMKKα mutant, CaMKKα (Phe230Gly), that was capable of utilizing this ATP analogue as a phosphate donor. Incubation of rat brain extracts with recombinant CaMKKα (Phe230Gly), but not with wild-type kinase, in the presence of N6-(1-methylbutyl)-ATP and Ca2+/CaM, induced significant threonine phosphorylation of a 50 kDa protein as well as CaMKI phosphorylation at Thr177. The 50 kDa CaMKK substrate was partially purified by using serial column chromatography, and was identified as Syndapin I by LC-MS/MS analysis. We confirmed that recombinant Syndapin I was phosphorylated by CaMKKα and β isoforms at Thr355in vitro. Phosphorylation of HA-Syndapin I at Thr355 in transfected HeLa cells was significantly induced by co-expression of constitutively active mutants of CaMKK isoforms. This is the first report that CaMKK is capable of phosphorylating a non-kinase substrate suggesting the possibility of CaMKK-mediated novel Ca2+-signaling pathways that are independent of downstream protein kinases.

► CaMKKα Phe230Gly mutant, but not wild-type enzyme, is capable of utilizing N6-(1-methylbutyl)-ATP as a phosphate donor. ► CaMKKα Phe230Gly mutant could phosphorylate Syndapin I in brain extracts as well as CaMKI with N6-(1-methylbutyl)-ATP. ► CaMKKα and β isoforms are capable of phosphorylating Thr355 in Syndapin I in vitro and in transfected cells.