Phosphorylation of p40-phox during activation of neutrophil NADPH oxidase.

NADPH oxidase, a superoxide-producing enzyme in phagocytic cells, consists of membrane-associated cytochrome b558 and cytosolic components (p47-phox, p67-phox, p40-phox, rac 1/2). Activation of NADPH oxidase is accompanied by the phosphorylation of cytosolic components (p47-phox and p67-phox). In this study, we have examined whether p40-phox, a newly identified cytosolic component, is phosphorylated during neutrophil activation, and the relationship between p40-phox phosphorylation and NADPH oxidase activation. When 32P-labeled guinea pig neutrophils were stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, p40-phox was phosphorylated as p47-phox. It is interesting that phosphorylation of p40-phox was markedly inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitor, H-7, but not by casein kinase II inhibitor, A-3, and H-7 inhibited translocation of p40-phox and activation of NADPH oxidase. Furthermore, purified protein kinase C but not casein kinase II directly phosphorylated p40-phox of p40-phox/p47-phox/p67-phox complex. Together these observations suggest that p40-phox is phosphorylated by protein kinase C during neutrophil activation, and phosphorylation of p40-phox may be important for the activation of NADPH oxidase.