Molecular Identification of I1PP2A, a Novel Potent Heat-Stable Inhibitor Protein of Protein Phosphatase 2A

Abstract

The amino acid sequences of two tryptic peptides derived from purified preparations of I₁^PP2A indicated that this potent heat-stable protein inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) may be equivalent to putative histocompatibility leukocyte antigens class II-associated protein I (PHAP-I). Experiments using purified preparations of recombinant human PHAP-I confirmed that this protein inhibited PP2A. Half-maximal inhibition of the phosphatase occurred at about 4 nM PHAP-I, similar to the half-maximal inhibition obtained with purified preparations of bovine kidney I₁^PP2A. In addition, PHAP-I did not affect the activities of protein phosphatase 1, 2B, and 2C in a manner analogous to that of I₁^PP2A. Together, the results establish the identity of I₁^PP2A on a firm basis.