Benzodiazepine inhibition of the calcium-calmodulin protein kinase system in brain membrane.

Benzodiazepines inhibit Ca2+-calmodulin-stimulated membrane protein phosphorylation. The effects of the benzodiazepines on protein phosphorylation are stereospecific and produced by membrane-bound benzodiazepine. The potency of benzodiazepine kinase inhibition is correlated with the ability of the benzodiazepines to inhibit electric shock-induced convulsions. These findings provide evidence that some of the anticonvulsant and neuronal stabilizing effects of benzodiazepines may be modulated by the Ca2+-calmodulin protein kinase system and indicate that this calmodulin-kinase system represents an identifiable benzodiazepine receptor in brain that is distinquishable by several criteria from the previously described high affinity benzodiazepine receptor.