Localization of cAMP-dependent protein kinase subunits along the secretory pathway in pancreatic and parotid acinar cells and accumulation of the catalytic subunit in parotid secretory granules following beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Catalytic (C) and regulatory (RI and RII) subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinases were localized by immunoelectron microscopy in cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and in the Golgi complex of rat pancreas or parotid cells. Zymogen granules of the exocrine pancreas showed C- and RI-immunoreactivity, secretory granules of parotid acinar cells only RII-immunoreactivity. Injection of rats with isoproterenol (IPR) increased in the parotid gland the number of acinar cells with RII-labeled granules. In addition, it led to the appearance of C-immunoreactivity in the condensing vacuoles and secretory granules with a maximum at 24 h after stimulation. This was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determinations of C- and RII-subunits in secretory granules isolated from stimulated and control parotid glands. The amount of immunoreactive C-subunits in the secretory granules increased further following repeated injections of the beta-agonist. These findings suggest the existence of secretory forms of cAMP-dependent protein kinase R- and C-subunits and their separate regulation.