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A synthetic peptide corresponding to the autophosphorylation site of Ca 2؉ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) (residues 281-289) was conjugated to paramagnetic particles, and phosphorylated by a constitutively active CaMKII fragment. Using this phosphopeptide conjugate as a substrate, a calyculin A-insensitive, Mn 2؉ -dependent, and poly-L-lysine-stimulated protein phosphatase activity was detected in the crude extract of rat brain. The protein phosphatase (designated as CaMKII phosphatase) (CaMKIIPase) was purified to near homogeneity from rat brain. CaMKIIPase showed apparent molecular weights of 54,000 and 65,000, on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel-filtration analysis, respectively. It was not inhibited by 100 nM calyculin A or 10 M okadaic acid. Mn 2؉ , but not Mg 2؉ , was absolutely required for activity. CaMKIIPase was potently activated by polycations. Autophosphorylated CaMKII was dephosphorylated by CaMKIIPase, whereas phosphorylase kinase, mixed histones, myelin basic protein, and ␣-casein (which had been phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase) and phosphorylase a (phosphorylated by phosphorylase kinase) were not significantly dephosphorylated. No other proteins than CaMKII in rat brain extract which had been phosphorylated by CaMKII were dephosphorylated. The stimulated Ca 2؉

Daily behavioral rhythms in mammals are governed by the central circadian clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The behavioral rhythms persist even in constant darkness, with a stable activity time due to coupling between two oscillators that determine the morning and evening activities. Accumulating evidence supports a prerequisite role for Ca 2+ in the robust oscillation of the SCN, yet the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we show that Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity is essential for not only the cellular oscillation but also synchronization among oscillators in the SCN. A kinase-dead mutation in mouse CaMKIIa weakened the behavioral rhythmicity and elicited decoupling between the morning and evening activity rhythms, sometimes causing arrhythmicity. In the mutant SCN, the right and left nuclei showed uncoupled oscillations. Cellular and biochemical analyses revealed that Ca 2+ -calmodulin-CaMKII signaling contributes to activation of E-box-dependent gene expression through promoting dimerization of circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) and brain and muscle Arnt-like protein 1 (BMAL1). These results demonstrate a dual role of CaMKII as a component of cell-autonomous clockwork and as a synchronizer integrating circadian behavioral activities.

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