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Acidic luminal pH and low [HC[O.sup.-.sub.3]] maintain sperm quiescent during maturation in the epididymis. The vacuolar [H.sup.+]-ATPase (V-ATPase) in clear cells is a major contributor to epididymal luminal acidification. We have shown previously that protein kinase A (PKA), acting downstream of soluble adenylyl cyclase stimulation by alkaline luminal pH or HC[O.sup.-.sub.3], induces V-ATPase apical membrane accumulation in clear cells. Here we examined whether the metabolic sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates this PKA-induced V-ATPase apical membrane accumulation. Immunofluorescence labeling of rat and nonhuman primate epididymides revealed specific AMPK expression in epithelial cells. Immunofluorescence labeling of rat epididymis showed that perfusion in vivo with the AMPK activators 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-l-[beta]-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) or A-769662 induced a redistribution of the V-ATPase into subapical vesicles, even in the presence of a luminal alkaline (pH 7.8) buffer compared with that of controls perfused without drug. Moreover, preperfusion with AICAR blocked the PKA-mediated V-ATPase translocation to clear cell apical membranes induced by [N.sup.6]-monobutyryl-cAMP (6-MB-cAMP). Purified PKA and AMPK both phosphorylated V-ATPase A subunit in vitro. In HEK-293 cells [[sup.32]P]orthophosphate in vivo labeling of the A subunit increased following PKA stimulation and decreased following RNA interference-mediated knockdown of AMPK. Finally, the extent of PKA-dependent in vivo phosphorylation of the A subunit increased with AMPK knockdown. In summary, our findings suggest that AMPK inhibits PKA-mediated V-ATPase apical accumulation in epididymal clear cells, that both kinases directly phosphorylate the V-ATPase A subunit in vitro and in vivo, and that AMPK inhibits PKA-dependent phosphorylation of this subunit. V-ATPase activity may be coupled to the sensing of acid-base status via PKA and to metabolic status via AMPK. vas deferens; male reproductive tract; metabolism; soluble adenylyl cyclase; acid secretion

The vacuolar [H.sup.+]-ATPase (V-ATPase) in the apical membrane of blowfly (Calliphora vicina) salivary gland ceils energizes the secretion of a KCl-rich saliva in response to the neurohormone serotonin (5-HT). We have shown previously that exposure to 5-HT induces a cAMP-mediated reversible assembly of [V.sub.0] and [V.sub.1] subcomplexes to V-ATPase holoenzymes and increases V-ATPase-driven proton transport. Here, we analyze whether the effect of cAMP on V-ATPase is mediated by protein kinase A (PKA) or exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac), the cAMP target proteins that are present within the salivary glands. Immunofluorescence microscopy shows that PKA activators, but not Epac activators, induce the translocation of [V.sub.1] components from the cytoplasm to the apical membrane, indicative of an assembly of V-ATPase holoenzymes. Measurements of transepithelial voltage changes and microfluorometric pH measurements at the luminal surface of cells in isolated glands demonstrate further that PKA-activating cAMP analogs increase cation transport to the gland lumen and induce a V-ATPase-dependent luminal acidification, whereas activators of Epac do not. Inhibitors of PKA block the 5-HT-induced [V.sub.1] translocation to the apical membrane and the increase in proton transport. We conclude that cAMP exerts its effects on V-ATPase via PKA. vacuolar [H.sup.+]-adenosine 5'-triphosphatase; adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate; exchange protein directly activated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate; insect

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the serine-threonine protein kinase activity of Dbf2p is required for tolerance to the weak organic acid sorbic acid. Here we show that Dbf2p is required for normal phosphorylation of the vacuolar [H.sup.+]-ATPase (V-ATPase) A and B subunits Vma1p and Vma2p. Loss of V-ATPase activity due to bafilomycin treatment or deletion of either VMA1 or VMA2 resulted in sorbic acid hypersensitivity and impaired vacuolar acidification, phenotypes also observed in both a kinase-inactive dbf2 mutant and cells completely lacking DBF2 (dbf2[DELTA]). Crucially, VMA2 is a multicopy suppressor of both the sorbic acid-sensitive phenotype and the impaired vacuolar-acidification defect of dbf2[DELTA] cells, confirming a functional interaction between Dbf2p and Vma2p. The yeast V-ATPase is therefore involved in mediating sorbic acid stress tolerance, and we have shown a novel and unexpected role for the cell cycle-regulated protein kinase Dbf2p in promoting V-ATPase function.