Identification of a Mitochondrial Phosphoprotein in Brain Synaptic Membrane Preparations

A 41,000-dalton phosphoprotein in crude synaptosomal membrane fractions is characterized by its unique divalent and monovalent cation regulation. It is identified by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis as the phosphoprotein whose phosphorylation is enhanced by repetitive electrical stimulation of hippocampal brain slices. After sucrose-gradient ultracentrifugation, this phosphoprotein is found in the mitochondrial subfraction. This suggests that the electrically produced changes in the level of phosphorylation of the 41,000-dalton polypeptide are probably effects on cellular energetics rather than on specialized neural membrane function.