Protein kinase A (PKA) is a family of enzymes whose activity is dependent on cellular levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP). PKA is also known as cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Protein kinase A has several functions in the cell, including regulation of glycogen, sugar, and lipid metabolism. The PKA kinase assay kit (Type II) is a non-radioactive, homogenous, simple, immunoblot type assay. It is designed for kinase solid affinity matrices such as IP kinases or PKAs on GSH beads. It is also useful for the activity analysis of PKA in the solution phase. The principle of the assay is that the PKA kinase phosphorylate the substrate-BSA conjugates (component C) in the presence of ATP. The phosphorylated BSA-substrate is then analyzed using SDS-PAGE resolution and immunoblotting technique.

The kit is stable for 6 months at 4°C from date of shipment.

1. Scientific Reports. 2016. 6: 34374: 1-11. doi: 10.1038/srep34374

1. Preparation of Kinase in Solution: Prepare the purified or partially purified (fractionated) kinase in 10 µL of the kinase assay dilution buffer (component D) with the required concentration in microcentrifuge tubes. For inhibitor screening, serial dilutions (range from 1000 to 50 ng/assay) of kinase should be tested for the optimal working concentration.
2. Preparation of the Immunoprecipitated Kinase: Incubate anti-PKA (able to IP native kinase), or anti-tag (for tag-kinase) with 10 to 20 µL of protein A for 1 hr. Then wash away any unbound antibodies. Incubate the cell lysate sample in 250 µL of lysate buffer with the antibody-protein A complex in a rotor shaker at 4^oC for 2 hrs. The user should select their own cell lysate buffer that contains protease and phosphatase inhibitors. The cell lysate sample should contain >20 ng of active PKA. Centrifuge and aspirate with PBSt twice then with kinase assay dilution buffer (D) twice. After aspiration, re-constitute the immunoprecipitated matrix in 10 µL of kinase assay dilution buffer (D).
3. Preparation of Kinase Purified with Affinity Matrix (GSH, Ni, maltose, etc.): The user should purify therecombinant kinases, such as PKA, following their own protocol. 10-20 µL of affinity matrix/assay is recommended. Do a final wash and aspiration of the matrix with kinase assay dilution buffer (D) then re-constitute the aspired matrix with 10 µL of the kinase assay dilution buffer.

1. Add 2.5-5 µL of the BSA-kinase substrate (component C) to the kinase sample prepared in stage one.
2. Add 5 µL of the ATP (component E) solution to initiate the kinase reaction. Incubate at 37^oC for 60 min with constant shaking or hand shake every 5 min.
3. Stop the kinase reaction with 20 µL of SDS-sample loading buffer and boil for 2 min.

1. Prepare a 8% SDS-acryamide gel.
2. Run the SDS-PAGE until the dye-front is approximately 2-3 cm past entering the separation gel.
3. Perform the normal gel transfer to a nitrocellulose membrane. The membrane only needs to cover between the top of separating gel and the distance to MW marker 60 kDa.

1. Block the membrane with 3% BSA or 3% skimmed milk for 30-60 min
2. Wash the membrane twice with PBSt.
3. Incubate with 10 mL of anti-pSubstrate (component A),  0.25-0.5 µg/mL in antibody dilution buffer (component B) at room temperature for 2-4 hours, or 4^oC overnight.
4. Wash the membrane with PBSt 4 times at 5 min intervals.
5. Incubate with anti-rabbit IgG secondary antibodies for 1-2 hours.
6. The user should select their own method (either colormetric or ECL system) for the signal generation

1. Kinase reaction: BSA-KRREILSRRPSYR + ATP + Kinase -> BSA-RREILSRRPpSYR
2. SDS-PAGE resolution and transfer
3. Specific immunoblotting for detection of the kinase product BSA-KRREILSRRPpSYR probed with anti-pSubstrate antibody

The kits were tested using recombinant PKA.Sensitivity is approximately 5 ng of active /assay in an un-optimized condition.

Assay for activity of kinase using the type II kit (ICP0217)
A,100 ng; B, 50 ng; C,25 ng; D,12 ng; E, 6 ng; F, 0.00 ng