Identification of multiple protein kinases in normal human lymphocytes.

The protein kinase activity of a 10,000 g supernatant of purified human lymphocytes can be resolved by DEAE-cellulose chromatography into six protein kinase fractions: three of them phosphorylate casein preferentially, and three histones. The same procedure with the corresponding nuclear fraction yields only two casein kinases. All these fractions, except one casein kinase of the cytosol, have been studied with respect to protein and nucleotide specificity, effect of salts and of cyclic nucleotides, sedimentation, etc. The results obtained indicate that the enzyme fractions of the cytosol have distinct characteristics, suggesting that they are different protein kinases, and that the nuclear kinases are similar to the two main casein kinases of the cytosol.