Calmodulin-dependent multiprotein kinase and protein kinase C phosphorylate the same site on HMG-CoA reductase as the AMP-activated protein kinase.

Calmodulin-dependent multiprotein kinase and protein kinase C phosphorylate and inactivate both intact, microsomal HMG-CoA reductase, and the purified 53 kDa catalytic fragment. Isolation of the single phosphopeptide produced by combined cleavage with cyanogen bromide and Lys-C proteinase reveals that this is due to phosphorylation of a single serine residue near the C-terminus, corresponding to serine-872 in the human enzyme. This is identical with the single serine phosphorylated by the AMP-activated protein kinase. The nature of the protein kinase responsible for phosphorylation of this site in vivo is discussed.