Phorbol diester receptor copurifies with protein kinase C.

The phorbol diester receptor present in the particulate fraction of rat brain was solubilized by divalent ion chelation in the absence of detergents. The soluble receptor was partially purified by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, DEAE-cellulose, and gel filtration chromatography. The purified receptor required exogenous phospholipid for activity and displayed a Kd of 7 nM for [3H]phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate. Biologically active phorbol analogs inhibited binding, whereas inactive analogs did not. The Ca2+-dependent, phospholipid-sensitive protein kinase C copurified with the phorbol receptor. Purified protein kinase C was activated directly by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in the presence of phospholipid.