PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A PROTEIN-TYROSINE KINASE P72(SYK) FROM PORCINE SPLEEN

We have succeeded in purifying p72(syk), a non-receptor-type protein-tyrosine kinase carrying high susceptibility to proteolysis [Taniguchi, T., Kobayashi, T., Kondo, J., Takahashi, K., Nakamura, H., Suzuki, J., Nagai, K., Yamada, T, Nakamura, S. and Yamamura, H. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 15790-15796] from porcine spleen. The purification procedure involves a sequential column chromatography, following extraction with 0.5 M NaCl from spleen homogenate, on phosphocellulose, Sephacryl S-200, heparin-Sepharose CL-6B, Mono Q and Mono S. SDS/PAGE of the final purified sample revealed a 72-kDa protein band with about 95% purity and immunodepletion analysis showed immunological cross-reactivity with anti-p72(syk) antibody which does not recognize ZAP-70. It was purified approximately 3000-fold with an overall yield of 0.54% according to [Val5]angiotensin II phosphorylation activity and the specific activity of the final sample (30 nmol phosphate min(-1) mg protein(-1)) was relatively lower than that of the 40-kDa kinase, a catalytic fragment of p72(syk) which lacks two src homology regions 2 domains. The p72(syk) had an autophosphorylation activity that was performed by intramolecular catalysis accompanied by a phosphate exchange reaction, and could efficiently phosphorylate tubulin, myelin basic protein and H2B histone. Employing [Val5]angiotensin II as a substrate, the apparent K-m value for the peptide was 0.91 mM and that for ATP was 0.48 mu M. Mn2+, Mg2+ and Co2+ were effective divalent cations and optimum pH was around 8.0-8.5 for the expression of the activity. These results suggest that the purified p72(syk) may exist as a less active form compared with the 40-kDa kinase and that the part of p72(syk) containing two src homology region 2 domains may participate in the regulation of its activity though the enzymic character is quite similar to that of the 40-kDa kinase.