Regulation of Protein Synthesis in Plant Embryo by Protein Phosphorylation

A cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase, which strongly inhibits in vitro protein synthesis, was purified to homogeneity from barley embryo by affinity and ion exchange chromatography. The M(r) of the purified enzyme is 95,000 with two nonidentical subunits of M(r) 58,000 and 39,000. The enzyme activity is not stimulated by cAMP, cGMP, or calmodulin. The endogenous phosphate acceptor of this kinase is a protein of M(r) 52,000, was isolated by purified protein kinase immobilized Sepharose column. Using antibodies raised against this protein kinase, the levels of the enzyme during embryogenesis and germination are determined. An inverse relationship has been observed between protein kinase level and rate of protein synthesis.