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Abstract
A soluble protein kinase from the promastigote form of the parasitic protozoon Leishmania donovani was partially purified using DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-200 and phosphocellulose columns. The enzyme preferentially utilized protamine as exogenous phosphate acceptor. The native molecular mass of the enzyme was about 85 kDa. Mg2+ ions were essential for enzyme activity; other metal ions, e.g. Ca2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+, could not substitute for Mg2+. cAMP, cGMP, Ca2+/calmodulin and Ca2+/phospholipid did not stimulate enzyme activity. The pH optimum of the enzyme was 7·0–7·5, and the temperature optimum 37 °C. The apparent K m for ATP was 60 µm. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that the protein kinase transferred the γ-phosphate of ATP to serine residues in protamine. The thiol reagents p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid, 5–5′-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited enzyme activity; the inhibition by p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid and 5–5′-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) was reversed by dithiothreitol.
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