Inability of the estrogen-induced uterine protein to serve as a substrate for the endogenous phosphokinase(s).

We have studied the phosphorylation of soluble proteins from uterine extracts by an endogenous protein kinase. The analysis of phosphorylation patterns by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis did not reveal any significant difference in this respect between the soluble proteins from control or 17-beta-estradiol stimulated uteri. In both cases, three main components with mol. wt of about 120,000, 60,000 and 45,000 appear preferentially phosphorylated. Estrogen-induced protein did not coincide with any phosphorylated component, although some migrated very closely to it. This was observed whether phosphorylation was performed on uterine extract incubated with [gamma-3 2P]ATP or on intact organs incubated in the presence of 3 2Pi. We conclude that whatever the role of estrogen-induced protein, it is unlikely to be subjected to regulation through the phosphorylation process.