C2. Protein Kinase A (PKA)

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Cascade of events: A transmembrane receptor WITHOUT ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY binds an extracellular chemical signal, causing a conformational change in the receptor which propagates through the membrane. The intracellular domain of the receptor is bound to an intracellular heterotrimeric G protein (since it binds GDP/GTP) in the cell. The G protein dissociates and one subunit interacts with and activates an enzyme - adenylate cyclase- which converts ATP into a second messenger - cyclic AMP (cAMP) - in the cell. cAMP activates protein kinase A (PKA) which phosphorylates proteins at specific Ser or Thr side chains.

Figure: cyclic AMP

Receptors which work through an intermediary G protein usually are single polypeptide chains that span the membrane seven times in a serpentine fashion.

Figure: G PROTEINS AND ADENYLATE CYLASE ACTIVATION

Updated Gs-alpha/adenylate cyclase complex Jmol14 (Java) | JSMol (HTML5)

Some signals that activate adenylate cyclase and use cAMP as a second messenger include: corticotrophn, dopamine, epinephrine (β-adrenergic), follicle-stimulating hormone, glucagon, many odorants, prostaglandins E1and E2, and many tastants.

Some enzymes regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation by PKA
Enzyme	Pathway
Glycogen Synthase	glycogen synthesis
Phosphorylase Kinase	glycogen breakdown
Pyruvate Kinase	Glycolysis
Pyruvate Dehydrogensae	Pyruvate to acetyl-CoA
Hormone-sensitive Lipase	Triacylglyeride breakdown
Tyrosine Hydroxylase	Synthesis of DOPA, dopamine, norepinephrine
Histone H1	Nucleosome formation with DNA
Histone H2B	Nucleosome formation with DNA
Protein phosphatase 1 Inhibitor 1	Regulation of protein dephosphorylation
CREB	cAMP regulation of gene expression
PKA cosensus sequence	XR(R/K)X(S/T)B (B = hydrophobic amino acid)

An example of how epinephrine (a flight/fight hormone) can lead to breakdown of glycogen (your main carbohydrate reserves in muscle and liver) is shown below. A cascade of events, starting with the binding of the hormone to its receptor, followed by activation of adenylate cyclase, which forms cAMP, which activates PKA, which leads to the activation of the enzyme that breaks down glycogen (glycogen phosphorylase) is shown. (For simplicity, G protein involvement is not shown.)

Figure: Activation of glycogen phosphorylase through activation of PKA.

Contributors and Attributions

Prof. Henry Jakubowski (College of St. Benedict/St. John's University)