Predicted calmodulin-binding sequence in the γ subunit of phosphorylase b kinase

A basic, amphiphilic α helix is a structural feature common to a variety of inhibitors of calmodulin and to the calmodulin‐binding domains of myosin light chain kinases. To aid in recognizing this structural feature in sequences of peptides and proteins we have developed a computer algorithm which searches for sequences of appropriate length, hydrophobicity, helical hydrophobic moment, and charge to be considered as potential calmodulin‐binding sequences. Such sequences occurred infrequently in proteins of known crystal structure. This algorithm was used to find the most likely site in the catalytic (γ) subunit of phosphorylase b kinase for interaction with calmodulin (the δ subunit). A peptide corresponding to this site (residues 341–361 of the γ subunit) was synthesized and found to bind calmodulin with approximately an 11 nM dissociation constant. A variant of this peptide in which an aspartic acid at position 7 in its sequence (347 of the γ subunit) was replaced with an asparagin was found to bind calmodulin with approximately a 3 nM dissociation constant.