Membrane targeting of cGMP-dependent protein kinase is required for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl- channel activation

A recently cloned isoform of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (cGK), designated type II, was implicated as the mediator of cGMP-provoked intestinal Cl- secretion based on its localization in the apical membrane of enterocytes and on its capacity to activate cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl- channels, In contrast, the soluble type I cGK was unable to activate CI;TR in intact cells, although both cGK I and cGK II could phosphorylate CFTR in vitro. To investigate the molecular basis for the cGK II isotype specificity of CFTR channel gating, we expressed cGK II or cGK I mutants possessing different membrane binding properties by using adenoviral vectors in a CFTR-transfected intestinal cell line, and we examined the ability of cGMP to phosphorylate and activate the Cl- channel, Mutation of the cGK II N-terminal myristoylation site (Gly(2) --> Ala) reduced cGK II membrane binding and severely impaired cGK II activation of CFTR, Conversely, a chimeric protein, in which the N-terminal membrane-anchoring domain of cGK II was fused to the N terminus of cGK IF, acquired the ability to associate with the membrane and activate the CFTR Cl- channel, The potency order of cGK constructs for activation of CFTR (cGK II > membrane-bound cGK I chimer much greater than nonmyristoylated cGK II > cGK I beta) correlated with the extent of P-32 incorporation into CFTR observed in parallel measurements. These results strongly support the concept that membrane targeting of cGK is a major determinant of CFTR Cl- channel activation in intact cells.