The N terminus domain of type VI adenylyl cyclase mediates its inhibition by protein kinase C

Previous results from our laboratory have shown that phosphorylation of type VI adenylyl cyclase (ACVI) by protein kinase C (PKC) caused suppression of adenylyl cyclase activity. In the present study, we investigated the role of the N terminus cytosolic domain of ACVI in this PKC-mediated inhibition of ACVI. Removal of amino acids 1 to 86 of ACVI or mutation of Ser(10) (a potential PKC phosphorylation site) into alanine significantly relieved the PKC-mediated inhibition and markedly reduced the PKC-evoked protein phosphorylation. PKC also effectively phosphorylated a recombinant N terminus cytosolic domain (amino acids 1-160) protein of ACVI and a synthetic peptide representing Ser(10). In addition, the amino acids 1 to 86 truncated mutant exhibited kinetic properties similar to those of the wild type. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the highly variable N terminus cytoplasmic domain of ACVI is a regulatory domain with a critical role in PKC-mediated suppression, which is a hallmark of this adenylyl cyclase isozyme. In addition, Ser(10) was found to serve as an acceptor for the PKC-mediated phosphorylating transfer of ACVI.