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The enzyme lyso-platelet-activating factor: acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.67) was assayed in microsomal fractions from rat spleens. The addition of micromolar Ca2+ rapidly enhanced acetyltransferase activity and this activation was reversed by the addition of EGTA in excess of Ca2+. The effect of Ca2+ was on the apparent Km of the enzyme for the substrate acetyl-CoA without showing any significant effect on the Vmax of the acetylation reaction. When microsomes were isolated in the presence of 5 mM EGTA, to remove endogenous calmodulin, the same enhancing effect of Ca2+ on the acetylation reaction was observed. The addition of exogenous calmodulin to this preparation had no effect on the enzyme activity. Preincubation of spleen microsomes with the calmodulin inhibitor trifluoperazine decreased acetyltransferase in both the presence and the absence of Ca2+, indicating an effect of this drug independently of calmodulin. The addition of Mg-ATP to the assay mixture also had no effect on the acetylation reaction. These data suggest that Ca2+ modulates acetyltransferase activity from rat spleen microsomes by a mechanism that seems to be independent of calmodulin or protein phosphorylation.

Incubation of rat splenic microsomes with the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in the presence of Mg-ATP stimulated 2-3-fold lyso-platelet-activating factor: acetyltransferase activity. This activation was due to an increase in the Vmax of the acetylation reaction, whereas the Km for acetyl-CoA was not affected. The ATP derivative, AMPPNP, could not replace ATP and preincubation of the microsomes with the heat-stable inhibitor of protein kinase prevented the activation by Mg-ATP obtained in the presence of the protein kinase. Activation of the acetylation reaction by the protein kinase was reversible. Evidence is provided that the reversal of activation is due to dephosphorylation of the enzyme. These data provide evidence that in vitro lyso-platelet-activating factor: acetyltransferase from splenic microsomes is regulated by phosphorylation.