Characterization of an immune complex kinase in immunoprecipitates of avian sarcoma virus-transformed fibroblasts.

Kinase activity detected in immune complexes containing the src gene product of the avian sarcoma virus has been reported. To further characterize this immune complex kinase, we developed a routine quantitative assay involving trichloroacetic acid precipitation on filters. The enzyme reaction required either Mg2+ or Mn2+, but was inactive with Ca2+. The kinetics of the phosphorylation reaction indicated a transient enzyme activity limited by rapid substrate-dependent inactivation of the enzyme. A variety of nucleoside and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dATP, ATP, GTP, CTP, dGTP, TTP, dCTP) served as phosphoryl donors. The phosphorylation of immunoglobulin G was inhibited by the presence of nucleoside diphosphates. Deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates can either stimulate or inhibit the kinase reaction depending upon the concentration used. The unusual enzymatic properties of the immune complex kinase raise the possibility that the enzyme does not function as a protein kinase in vivo, but rather belongs to a different class of kinases (nucleotide kinases) which adventitiously phosphorylates immunoglobulin G when immunoprecipitated with immune serum.