In many non-excitable cells, the predominant mode of agonist-activated Ca(2+) entry switches from the
arachidonic acid-regulated Ca(2+) (
ARC) channels at low agonist concentrations, to store-operated channels at high concentrations. Underlying this process is the inhibition of the
ARC channels by a
calcineurin-mediated dephosphorylation, which inhibits the ability of
arachidonic acid to activate the channels. Following such a dephosphorylation, we found that restoration of the sensitivity of the
ARC channels to
arachidonic acid, as well as to low concentrations of
carbachol, was specifically dependent on
protein kinase A (PKA) activity. Inhibition of
protein kinase C,
protein kinase G or
calmodulin-activated
kinase had no effect. This action of PKA was unaffected by prolonged intracellular dialysis, whilst disruption of the binding of PKA to
A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) inhibited currents through
ARC channels, and blocked the PKA-dependent effects. AKAP79, a
protein which scaffolds both PKA and
calcineurin, was shown to be present in the cells. These data illustrate the significance of PKA-dependent phosphorylation and
calcineurin-dependent dephosphorylation in the overall regulation of
ARC channel activity, and indicate the key role of an AKAP, possibly AKAP79, in the spatial organization these processes.