Abstract

The effects of polyamines on the catalytic activity of casein kinase II have been studied. Of the three polyamines tested (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine), spermine was the most effective at stimulating the enzyme. When physiological concentrations of potassium and magnesium were utilized, 50% activation was observed at 0.28 mM spermine or 0.70 mM spermidine. With mixtures of spermine and spermidine at physiological concentrations for the reticulocyte (0.04 and 1.06 mM, respectively), a 2.5-fold stimulation of casein kinase II activity was observed. In general, stimulation of the enzyme was dependent on salt concentration and it was necessary to hold ionic strength constant in order to separate specific activation by the polyamines from general salt activation. Optimum activation by polyamines was observed at low ionic strength and physiological concentrations of Mg2+. When beta-casein and eukaryotic initiation factors 2 or 3 were used as substrates, up to 3.5-fold stimulation of casein kinase II was observed. In the absence of polyamine, half-saturation of the enzyme by Mg2+ was observed at 1-3 mM MgCl2, a concentration much higher than required for ATP-Mg2+ complex formation. This dependence of the enzyme on Mg2+ was greatly diminished in the presence of spermine. Spermine decreased the apparent Km for casein and increased the maximum velocity of the reaction. Spermidine and spermine also effectively reversed inhibition by 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. The significant activation by polyamines observed under conditions similar to those measured for the red cell suggest that the polyamines, spermidine and to a lesser extent spermine, function to regulate casein kinase II in vivo.