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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Live-cell fluorescence imaging reveals the dynamics of protein kinase CK2 individual subunits.

Protein kinase CK2 is a multifunctional enzyme which has long been described as a stable heterotetrameric complex resulting from the association of two catalytic (alpha or alpha') and two regulatory (beta) subunits. To track the spatiotemporal dynamics of CK2 in living cells, we fused its catalytic alpha and regulatory beta subunits with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Both CK2 subunits contain nuclear localization domains that target them independently to the nucleus. Imaging of stable cell lines expressing low levels of GFP-CK2alpha or GFP-CK2beta revealed the existence of CK2 subunit subpopulations exhibiting differential dynamics. Once in the nucleus, they diffuse randomly at different rates. Unlike CK2beta, CK2alpha can shuttle, showing the dynamic nature of the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of the kinase. When microinjected in the cytoplasm, the isolated CK2 subunits are rapidly translocated into the nucleus, whereas the holoenzyme complex remains in this cell compartment, suggesting an intramolecular masking of the nuclear localization sequences that suppresses nuclear accumulation. However, binding of FGF-2 to the holoenzyme triggers its nuclear translocation. Since the substrate specificity of CK2alpha is dramatically changed by its association with CK2beta, the control of the nucleocytoplasmic distribution of each subunit may represent a unique potential regulatory mechanism for CK2 activity.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2004

CK2 is responsible for phosphorylation of human La protein serine-366 and can modulate rpL37 5'-terminal oligopyrimidine mRNA metabolism.

La protein binds precursors to 5S rRNA, tRNAs, and other transcripts that contain 3' UUU-OH and also promotes their maturation in the nucleus. Separate from this function, human La has been shown to positively modulate the translation of mRNAs that contain complex 5' regulatory motifs that direct internal initiation of translation. Nonphosphorylated La (npLa) inhibits pre-tRNA processing, while phosphorylation of human La serine-366 (S(366)) promotes pre-tRNA processing. npLa was found specifically associated with a class of mRNAs that have unusually short 5' untranslated regions comprised of terminal oligopyrimidine (5'TOP) tracts and that encode ribosomal proteins and translation elongation factors. Although La S(366) represents a CK2 phosphorylation site, there was no evidence that CK2 phosphorylates it in vivo. We used the CK2-specific inhibitor, 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-2-azabenzimidazole (TBB), and antisense-mediated knockdown to demonstrate that CK2 is responsible for La S(366) phosphorylation in vivo. Hypophosphorylation was not associated with significant change in total La levels or proteolytic cleavage. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR revealed increased association of the 5'TOP-mRNA encoding ribosomal protein L37 (rpL37) with La after TBB treatment. Transfection revealed more rpL37 mRNA associated with nonphosphorylatable La A(366) than with La S(366), concomitant with La A(366)-specific shift of a fraction of L37 mRNA off polysomes. The data indicate that CK2 phosphorylates La S(366) in vivo, that this limits 5'TOP mRNA binding, and that increasing npLa leads to greater association with potentially negative effects on TOP mRNA translation. Consistent with data that indicate that phosphorylation reverses negative effects of npLa on tRNA production, the present data suggest that CK2 phosphorylation of La can affect production of the translational machinery.

Alanine↗
PubMed2004

CK2 controls multiple protein kinases by phosphorylating a kinase-targeting molecular chaperone, Cdc37.

Cdc37 is a kinase-associated molecular chaperone whose function in concert with Hsp90 is essential for many signaling protein kinases. Here, we report that mammalian Cdc37 is a pivotal substrate of CK2 (casein kinase II). Purified Cdc37 was phosphorylated in vitro on a conserved serine residue, Ser13, by CK2. Moreover, Ser13 was the unique phosphorylation site of Cdc37 in vivo. Crucially, the CK2 phosphorylation of Cdc37 on Ser13 was essential for the optimal binding activity of Cdc37 toward various kinases examined, including Raf1, Akt, Aurora-B, Cdk4, Src, MOK, MAK, and MRK. In addition, nonphosphorylatable mutants of Cdc37 significantly suppressed the association of Hsp90 with protein kinases, while the Hsp90-binding activity of the mutants was unchanged. The treatment of cells with a specific CK2 inhibitor suppressed the phosphorylation of Cdc37 in vivo and reduced the levels of Cdc37 target kinases. These results unveil a regulatory mechanism of Cdc37, identify a novel molecular link between CK2 and many crucial protein kinases via Cdc37, and reveal the molecular basis for the ability of CK2 to regulate pleiotropic cellular functions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Multiple myeloma cell survival relies on high activity of protein kinase CK2.

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a ubiquitous cellular serine-threonine kinase that regulates relevant biologic processes, many of which are dysregulated in malignant plasma cells. Here we investigated its role in multiple myeloma (MM). Analysis of MM cell lines and highly purified malignant plasma cells in patients with MM revealed higher protein and CK2 activity levels than in controls (normal in vitro-generated polyclonal plasma cells and B lymphocytes). The inhibition of CK2 with specific synthetic compounds or by means of RNA interference caused a cytotoxic effect on MM plasma cells that could not be overcome by IL-6 or IGF-I and that was associated with the activation of extrinsic and intrinsic caspase cascades. CK2 blockage lowered the sensitivity threshold of MM plasma cells to the cytotoxic effect of melphalan. CK2 inhibition also resulted in impaired IL-6-dependent STAT3 activation and in decreased basal and TNF-alpha-dependent I kappaB alpha degradation and NF-kappaB-driven transcription. Our data show that CK2 was involved in the pathophysiology of MM, suggesting that it might play a crucial role in controlling survival and sensitivity to chemotherapeutics of malignant plasma cells.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Protein kinase CK2: a challenge to canons.

CK2 is an extremely conserved pleiotropic protein kinase with a growing list of more than 300 substrates, the majority of which are proteins implicated in signal transduction, gene expression and other nuclear functions. The CK2 phosphoacceptor sites are specified by multiple acidic residues, with the one at position +3 relative to the target residue being of crucial relevance. The CK2 holoenzyme is composed of two catalytic subunits (alphaalpha, alpha'alpha' or alphaalpha'), which are essential for cell viability, and a dimer of two non-catalytic beta subunits, whose precise function is still poorly understood. Although the beta subunits deeply affect many properties of CK2, both the isolated catalytic subunits and the holoenzyme are constitutively active, which is probably responsible for the oncogenic potential of CK2. Given the structure of the holoenzyme, the beta subunits could undergo reversible dissociation under physiological conditions and play a role as anchoring elements and/or as a docking platform for protein substrates and effectors. These unusual features are likely to be instrumental in the involvement of CK2 in a number of key biological functions, notably RNA synthesis, Wnt signaling, ubiquitination and cell survival.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Genome-wide expression screens indicate a global role for protein kinase CK2 in chromatin remodeling.

Protein kinase CK2, a vital, pleiotropic and highly conserved serine/threonine phosphotransferase is involved in transcription-directed signaling, gene control and cell cycle regulation and is suspected to play a role in global processes. Searching for these global roles, we analyzed the involvement of CK2 in gene expression at cell cycle entry by using genome-wide screens. Comparing expression profiles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild-type strains with strains with regulatory or catalytic subunits of CK2 deleted, we found significant alterations in the expression of genes at all cell cycle phases and often in a subunit- and isoform-specific manner. Roughly a quarter of the genes known to be regulated by the cell cycle are affected. Functionally, the genes are involved with cell cycle entry, progression and exit, including spindle pole body formation and dynamics. Strikingly, most CK2-affected genes exhibit no common transcriptional control features, and a considerable proportion of temporarily altered genes encodes proteins involved in chromatin remodeling and modification, including chromatin assembly, (anti-)silencing and histone (de-)acetylation. In addition, various metabolic pathway and nutritional supply genes are affected. Our data are compatible with the idea that CK2 acts at different levels of cellular organization and that CK2 has a global role in transcription-related chromatin remodeling.

Casein Kinase II↗
PubMed2004

Casein kinase 2 (CK2)-mediated reduction of the activities of Src family tyrosine kinases in vitro.

The physiological correlation between casein kinase 2 (CK2) and two Src family tyrosine kinases (Src-TKs, Fyn and Src) was mainly investigated in vitro. It was found that (i) Thr-residues of these two Src-TKs were preferentially phosphorylated by CK2 using [gamma-32P]GTP as a phosphate donor; (ii) this phosphorylation was highly stimulated in the presence of poly-Arg; (iii) full phosphorylation of two Src-TKs by CK2 resulted in significant reduction of their TK activities; and (iv) quercetin (a CK2 inhibitor) inhibited the CK2-mediated reduction of their Src-TK activities in vitro. Under the same experimental conditions, similar results were obtained with Yes. These results suggest that CK2 may be a protein kinase responsible for the suppression of at least three Src-TKs (Fyn, Src and Yes) through the specific phosphorylation of their Thr-residues at the cellular level.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Phosphorylation by the protein kinase CK2 promotes calpain-mediated degradation of IkappaBalpha.

Rapid IkappaBalpha turnover has been implicated in the high basal NF-kappaB activity in WEHI 231 B immature IgM(+) B cells. Here we show that treatment of WEHI 231 cells with apigenin, a selective inhibitor of the protein kinase CK2, decreased the rate of IkappaBalpha turnover and nuclear levels of NF-kappaB. Turnover of IkappaBalpha in these cells is mediated in part by the protease calpain. Since both CK2 and calpain target the proline-glutamic acid-serine-threonine (PEST) domain, we investigated the role of CK2 in the degradation of IkappaBalpha by calpain using an in vitro phosphorylation/degradation assay. CK2 phosphorylation enhanced mu-calpain-mediated degradation of wild-type IkappaBalpha, but not of mutant 3CIkappaBalpha, with S283A, T291A, and T299A mutations in phosphorylation sites within the PEST domain. Roles for CK2 and calpain in IkappaBalpha turnover were similarly shown in CH31 immature and CH12 mature IgM(+) B cells, but not in A20 and M12 IgG(+) B cells. These findings demonstrate for the first time that CK2 phosphorylation of serine/threonine residues in the PEST domain promotes calpain-mediated degradation of IkappaBalpha and thereby increases basal NF-kappaB levels in IgM(+) B cells.

Apigenin↗
PubMed1999

Murine protein kinase CK2: gene and oncogene.

Protein kinase CK2 (casein kinase II) is a serine-threonine protein kinase with a wide range of substrates, many of which are involved in cell cycle regulation. CK2 activity is elevated in a variety of human tumors and we have used a transgenic mouse model to demonstrate that dysregulated expression of CK2 can induce lymphoma. Thus, CK2 fulfills the definition of an oncogene: A mutated, dysregulated, or mis-expressed gene that contributes to cancer in a dominant fashion. CK2 cooperates in transforming cells with other lymphoid oncogenes such as myc and tal-1, and here we show cooperativity with loss of the tumor suppressor gene p53. To understand more about the physiological and pathological role of CK2, we are cloning the murine CK2alpha' cDNA and gene. CK2alpha' will be used to generate transgenic and knockout mice and the regulatory elements for gene expression will be analyzed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

BTF3 is a potential new substrate of protein kinase CK2.

BTF3, initially discovered as a factor required for transcription inititation of RNA polymerase II, is expressed in two isoforms, termed a and b. BTF3b, the transcriptionally inactive isoform, was identified as an interaction partner of protein kinase CK2 subunit beta employing the interaction trap system for screening ofa HeLa cDNA fusion library. We report here on the interaction between the other isoform, BTF3a, and protein kinase CK2. The complete cDNA of BTF3a was cloned by RT-PCR and used for analysis in the two-hybrid system with a three-reporter yeast strain. Interaction of BTF3a with CK2 subunits alpha, alpha' or beta was detectable by one of three reporters, whereas the CK2beta - BTF3a interaction was activating two reporters. It was also shown that BTF3a is phosphorylated in vitro by the alpha2beta2 holoenzyme, but not by alpha or alpha' alone, indicating the requirement of beta for substrate recognition. Immunoprecipitations of GST-fused BTF3a carried out in vitro resulted in co-precipitation of beta. Similarly, GST-BTF3a, but not GST alone isolated with glutathione agarose beads from buffer containing recombinant CK2 subunits was found complexed with alpha and beta, likely representing alpha2beta2 holoenzyme. The data show a weak, nevertheless specific interaction of protein kinase CK2 via subunit beta with the putative transcription factor BTF3a in vitro and in vivo, and a role of BTF3a as a potential new substrate for CK2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Functional specialization of CK2 isoforms and characterization of isoform-specific binding partners.

In mammals, protein kinase CK2 has two isozymic forms of its catalytic subunit, designated CK2alpha and CK2alpha'. CK2alpha and CK2alpha' exhibit extensive similarity within their catalytic domains but have completely unrelated C-terminal sequences. To systematically examine the cellular functions of each CK2 isoform in mammalian cells, we have generated human osteosarcoma U2-OS cell lines with the expression of active or inactive versions of each CK2 isoform under the control of an inducible promoter. Examination of these cell lines provides evidence for functional specialization of CK2 isoforms at the cellular level in mammals with indications that CK2alpha' is involved in the control of proliferation and/or cell survival. To understand the molecular basis for functional differences between CK2alpha and CK2alpha', we have undertaken studies to identify proteins that interact specifically with each isoform of CK2 and could contribute to the regulation of their independent functions. A novel pleckstrin-homology domain containing protein, designated CK2-interacting protein 1 (i.e. CKIP-1) was isolated using the yeast two hybrid system as a protein that interacts with CK2alpha but not CK2alpha'. When expressed in cells as a fusion with green fluorescent protein, CKIP-1 localizes to the cell membrane and to the nucleus. In this study, we present evidence from deletion analysis of CKIP-1 suggesting that a C-terminal region containing a putative leucine zipper has a role in regulating its nuclear localization. Collectively, our data supports a model whereby CKIP-1 is a non-enzymatic regulator of CK2alpha that regulates the cellular functions of CK2alpha by targeting or anchoring CK2alpha to specific cellular localization or by functioning as an adapter to integrate CK2alpha-mediated signaling events with components of other signal transduction pathways.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2001

A gene located at 72A in Drosophila melanogaster encodes a novel zinc-finger protein that interacts with protein kinase CK2.

Drosophila melanogaster protein kinase CK2 (DmCK2) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase composed of catalytic alpha and regulatory beta subunits associated as an alpha2beta2 heterotetramer. Using the two hybrid system, we have screened a Drosophila embryo cDNA library in order to identify proteins that interact with DmCK2alpha. One of these cDNAs encodes a novel previously undescribed zinc-finger protein, which we call ZFP47. ZFP47 interacts with DmCK2alpha but not with DmCK2beta, indicating that this interaction is specific for the catalytic subunit of CK2. In situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes indicates that the corresponding gene is located at the 72A interval of chromosome III. Sequence analysis indicates that ZFP47 contains a consensus site for phosphorylation by CK2, 4 C1H1-type zinc-fingers, and a bipartite nuclear localization signal. Consistent with the prediction of a site for phosphorylation by CK2, we demonstrate that ZFP47 is phosphorylated by CK2 purified from Drosophila embryos. These studies demonstrate that ZFP47 is a new physiological partner and substrate of CK2.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2002

[State of the "protein kinase CK2-HMG14" system in age-dependent amnesia in rats].

It has been shown that a decrease in HMGs transcription factors phosphorylation by protein kinase CK2 may be the cause of a gene expression decline in cognitive disorders. Passive avoidance amnesia in old rats (24 month) was accompanied by a decrease in synaptosomal protein synthesis and transcription in isolated nuclei of cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. A decrease in chromatin protein kinase CK2 activity and a significant decrease in HMG14 phosphorylation by CK2 was found in old rats. CK2 selective activators, a 4-carbamoyl-5-N-methylcarbamoyl-1-ethyl-imidazole and 4,5-dicaramoyl-1-ethyl-imidazole, produced the HMG14 phosphorylation and transcription activation in old rats. At the same time, synaptosomal protein synthesis activation and passive avoidance amnesia reduction were observed in old rats. Thus, activation of CK2-HMG14 was accompanied by synaptic plasticity optimisation. The data show a high therapeutic potential of activators of CK2-HMG14.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Induction of apoptosis by antisense CK2 in human prostate cancer xenograft model.

Protein serine/threonine kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase 2) is a ubiquitous protein kinase that plays key roles in cell growth, proliferation, and survival. We have shown previously that its molecular down-regulation induces apoptosis in cancer cells in culture. Here, we have employed a xenograft model of prostate cancer to extend these studies to determine whether antisense CK2alpha evokes a similar response in vivo. A single dose of antisense CK2alpha oligodeoxynucleotide given directly into the PC3-LN4 xenograft tumor in nude mouse induced a dose- and time-dependent tumor cell death in vivo. The tumor was completely resolved at the higher tested dose of the antisense. Cell death was due to apoptosis and correlated with a potent down-regulation of the CK2alpha message and loss of CK2 from the nuclear matrix in the xenograft tissue as well as in cancer cells in culture. These observations accorded with several of the earlier studies indicating that loss of CK2 from the nuclear matrix is associated with induction of apoptosis. Comparison of the effects of antisense CK2alpha oligodeoxynucleotide on cancer versus normal or noncancer cells showed that the concentration of antisense CK2alpha that elicited extensive apoptosis in tumor cells in culture or xenograft tumors in vivo had a relatively small or minimal effect on noncancer cells in culture or on normal prostate gland subjected to orthotopic injection of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide in vivo. The basis for the difference in sensitivity of cancer versus noncancer cells to antisense CK2alpha is unknown at this time; however, this differential response under similar conditions of treatment may be significant in considering the potential feasibility of targeting the CK2 signal for induction of apoptosis in cancer cells in vivo. Although much further work will be needed to establish the feasibility of targeting CK2 for cancer therapy, to our knowledge, this is the first report to provide important new evidence as an initial "proof of principle" for the potential application of antisense CK2alpha in cancer therapy, paving the way for future detailed studies of approaches to targeting CK2 in vivo to induce cancer cell death.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Has protein kinase CK2 a role in the intracellular mitogenic signalling?].

The protein kinase CK2 is an ubiquitous serine-threonine kinase found in all eukaryotic cells. Although well characterized on a biochemical ground, its role and regulation in the intact cell are not clearly understood. Its possible implication in the control of cell proliferation has been examined by several different approaches. (i) Immunocytochemical detection of CK2 revealed that whereas the signal was evenly distributed throughout cycle arrested cells in primary culture, it accumulates rapidly (30-90 min) in the nuclear compartment in cells stimulated to grow. (ii) CK2 biosynthesis is activated as an early response to growth factors in quiescent cells. The neo-synthesized kinase accumulates as the cells progress through the G1 phase. This growth factor-activated biosynthesis concerns in parallel the two kinase subunits. (iii) The kinase is activated in vitro by polyamines, which are increased in cells challenged by growth factors. Spermine binds to a specific domain of the beta subunit of CK2. (iv) In addition to phosphorylation CK2 forms a molecular complex with p53, a major negative regulator of the cell cycle. The complex was demonstrated in intact cells and reconstituted in vitro (Kd 70 nM) with purified components and shown to require the beta subunit and to result in the inhibition of p53 DNA-annealing activity. These observations suggest that CK2 and p53 may play a coordinated role in the cell response to mitogenic stimuli.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A novel system to investigate the phosphorylation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein by the protein kinase CK2.

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is phosphorylated at a C-terminal residue (serine 386 in mouse p53) by the protein kinase CK2. Phosphorylation by CK2 activates the specific DNA binding function of p53 and stimulates its ability to suppress cellular growth. Previous reports have suggested that phosphorylation of p53 at the CK2 site is stimulated in cells expressing the large tumor antigen (T antigen) of simian virus 40 (SV40). To test this idea, we have expressed a C-terminal p53 "mini-protein" which comprises amino acids 154-387 of mouse p53 and therefore lacks the heavily phosphorylated N-terminus. In addition, the serine 309 phosphorylation site (targeted by cyclin-dependent kinases) has been mutated to encode alanine. We have expressed the p53 mini-protein in mammalian cells and shown by phosphopeptide mapping that it is phosphorylated at a single physiological phosphorylation site, serine 386. Using this mini-protein as a cellular target for CK2, we have shown that phosphorylation of p53 by CK2 is not affected by the presence of T antigen. The p53 mini-protein is likely to be a useful tool with which to probe the regulation of p53 phosphorylation by CK2 in response to other factors which influence cell growth.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Association of protein kinase CK2 with nuclear matrix: influence of method of preparation of nuclear matrix.

Nuclear matrix (NM) plays a role of fundamental structural and functional significance as the site of replication, transcription, and RNA processing and transport, acting as an anchor or attachment site for a variety of enzymes and other proteins involved in these activities. We have previously documented that protein kinase CK2 translocates from the cytosol to the nucleus, where it associates preferentially with chromatin and NM, in response to certain growth stimuli. Considering that characteristics of the isolated NM can depend on the procedural employed for its isolation, we compared three standard methods for NM preparation to confirm the association of intrinsic CK2 with this structure. Our data suggest that the method used for isolating the NM can qualitatively influence the measurable NM-associated CK2. However, all three methods employed yielded qualitatively similar results with respect to the stimulus-mediated modulation of NM-associated CK2, thus further supporting the notion that NM is an important site for physiologically relevant functions of CK2. In addition, core filaments and cytoskeleton that were isolated by two of the preparative methods had a small but significant level of associated CK2 activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Promiscuous subunit interactions: a possible mechanism for the regulation of protein kinase CK2.

Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous eukaryotic ser/thr protein kinase. The active holoenzyme is a heterotetrameric protein composed of catalytic (alpha and alpha') and regulatory (beta) subunits that phosphorylates many different protein substrates and appears to be involved in the regulation of cell division. Despite important structural studies, the intimate details of the interactions of the alpha catalytic subunits with the beta regulatory subunits are unknown. Recent evidence that indicates that both CK2 subunits can interact promiscuously with other proteins in a manner that excludes the binding of their complementary CK2 partners has opened the possibility that the phosphorylating activity of this enzyme may be regulated in a novel way. These alternative interactions could limit the in vivo availability of CK2 subunits to generate fully active holoenzyme CK2 tetramers. Likewise, variations in the ratio of alpha- and beta-subunits could determine the activity of several phosphorylating and dephosphorylating activities. The promiscuity of the CK2 subunits can be extrapolated to a more widespread phenomenon in which "wild-card" proteins could act as general switches by interacting and regulating several catalytic activities.

Animals↗