Specific regulation by steroid hormones of protein kinases in the endometrium. 2. Alteration in levels of protein kinases in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

The alteration in the levels of multiple protein kinases has been studied in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle. Protein kinases were examined in the cytosol fraction and separated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The level of type I adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent (cAMP-dependent) protein kinase was higher than that of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase at the proliferative phase. At the late secretory phase, type I cAMP-dependent protein kinase markedly decreased, whereas type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase remained at the same level. Therefore, type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase was exclusively predominant at this phase. cAMP-dependent and cAMP-independent protein kinases with protamine increased more at the late secretory phase than at the proliferative phase. The results presented demonstrate a specific alteration in protein kinase activities during the menstrual cycle and are compatible with those obtained in rabbit endometrium (the preceding paper).