Identification of ChChd3 as a novel substrate of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) using an analog-sensitive catalytic subunit.

Due to the numerous kinases in the cell, many with overlapping substrates, it is difficult to find novel substrates for a specific kinase. To identify novel substrates of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), the PKA catalytic subunit was engineered to accept bulky N(6)-substituted ATP analogs, using a chemical genetics approach initially pioneered with v-Src (1). Methionine 120 was mutated to glycine in the ATP-binding pocket of the catalytic subunit. To express the stable mutant C-subunit in Escherichia coli required co-expression with PDK1. This mutant protein was active and fully phosphorylated on Thr(197) and Ser(338). Based on its kinetic properties, the engineered C-subunit preferred N(6)(benzyl)-ATP and N(6)(phenethyl)-ATP over other ATP analogs, but still retained a 30 microm K(m) for ATP. This mutant recombinant C-subunit was used to identify three novel PKA substrates. One protein, a novel mitochondrial ChChd protein, ChChd3, was identified, suggesting that PKA may regulate mitochondria proteins.