The cAMP-dependent protein kinase in sea urchin sperm tails: Association of the enzyme with the flagellar axonemes

Abstract

When sea urchin spermatozoa were treated with a Triton X-100 solution, cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cA-kinase) activity was extracted. Further extraction with Triton X-100 of axonemes isolated from the Triton-extracted sperm again released a considerable amount of the cA-kinase activity. The activity which remained after extraction three times with Triton X-100 was released by treatment with a low salt solution. These activities found in the various extracts were likely to be due to the same cA-kinase, which was a mammalian type II like enzyme. The cA-kinase activity that remained in the axonemes after the first Triton X-100 extraction may be involved in the regulation of flagellar movement in the Triton-extracted sperm. © 1990 Copyright, 1990 by the Journal of Biochemistry.