Bovine brain contains two types of phosphatidylinositol kinase.

Two phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinases from bovine brain were separated by rate zonal sucrose gradient centrifugation of detergent-solubilized membranes. Of the total PI kinase activity, 43% migrates on sucrose gradients with a size of approximately 55 kilodaltons (kDa); this kinase has properties similar to one of two PI kinase activities characterized in fibroblasts [Whitman, M., Kaplan, D. R., Roberts, T., & Cantley, L. (1987) Biochem. J. (in press)] and has been termed type 2. The remainder of the activity migrates in a second peak with a size of approximately 230 kDa. This enzyme possesses properties which are unlike both fibroblast PI kinase activities and has been termed type 3. The type 2 and type 3 enzymes have very different affinities for adenine nucleotides and are readily distinguishable by their sensitivities to inhibition by adenosine. The KMs of types 2 and 3 kinases for ATP are 54 and 742 microM, and the Kis for adenosine are 18 and 1520 microM, respectively. The two enzymes also differ in their affinities for PI, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, and Mg2+ as well as in stimulation and inhibition by other phospholipids. When PI kinase from erythrocyte ghosts is fractionated by sucrose gradient centrifugation, only one peak of activity is observed which is indistinguishable from brain type 2 PI kinase.