Quaternary structure of casein kinase 2. Characterization of multiple oligomeric states and relation with its catalytic activity

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.

Protein kinase CK2: structure, regulation and role in cellular decisions of life and death

Protein kinase CK2 ('casein kinase II') has traditionally been classified as a messenger-independent protein serine/threonine kinase that is typically found in tetrameric complexes consisting of two catalytic (alpha and/or alpha') subunits and two regulatory beta subunits. Accumulated biochemical and genetic evidence indicates that CK2 has a vast array of candidate physiological targets and participates in a complex series of cellular functions, including the maintenance of cell viability. This review summarizes current knowledge of the structural and enzymic features of CK2, and discusses advances that challenge traditional views of this enzyme. For example, the recent demonstrations that individual CK2 subunits exist outside tetrameric complexes and that CK2 displays dual-specificity kinase activity raises new prospects for the precise elucidation of its regulation and cellular functions. This review also discusses a number of the mechanisms that contribute to the regulation of CK2 in cells, and will highlight emerging insights into the role of CK2 in cellular decisions of life and death. In this latter respect, recent evidence suggests that CK2 can exert an anti-apoptotic role by protecting regulatory proteins from caspase-mediated degradation. The mechanistic basis of the observation that CK2 is essential for viability may reside in part in this ability to protect cellular proteins from caspase action. Furthermore, this anti-apoptotic function of CK2 may contribute to its ability to participate in transformation and tumorigenesis.

A method of reversible biomolecular immobilization for the surface plasmon resonance quantitative analysis of interacting biological macromolecules

This article presents a new procedure for the immobilization of macromolecules on gold surfaces, with the purpose of studying macromolecular interactions by simple optical configurations rendering surface plasmon resonance. Gold surfaces were covered by a three-layer structure composed of poly-L-lysine irreversibly bound to gold, followed by a second layer of heparin and a third layer of polylysine. The three-layer structure of polylysine-heparin-polylysine remains irreversibly bound to gold, it prevents biomolecules from coming into direct contact with the metal surface, and it allows the irreversible binding of different proteins and polynucleotides. After binding of a macromolecule to the three-layer structure, the interaction with a second macromolecule can be studied, and then the complex formed by the two interacting macromolecules, together with the second heparin layer and the third polylysine layer, can be broken down just by treatment with an alkaline solution having a pH value above the pK value of the amino groups of polylysine. The first polylysine layer remains irreversibly bound to gold, ready to form a new three-layer structure and, therefore, to support a new macromolecular interaction on the same regenerated surface. Polynucleotide interactions, the proteolytic action of chymotrypsin, and the interaction between the component subunits of a heterotetrameric enzyme are described as examples of macromolecular interactions studied by using this system. The method may be especially suitable for developing of low-cost systems aimed to look for surface resonance signals, and it offers the advantage of allowing calculation of parameters related to the size and stoichiometry of the interacting macromolecules, in addition to the kinetic and equilibrium properties of the interaction.

On the physiological role of casein kinase II in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Casein kinase II (CKII) is a highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase that is ubiquitous in eukaryotic organisms. This review summarizes available data on CKII of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with a view toward defining the possible physiological role of the enzyme. Saccharomyces cerevisiae CKII is composed of two catalytic and two regulatory subunits encoded by the CKA1, CKA2, CKB1, and CKB2 genes, respectively. Analysis of null and conditional alleles of these genes identifies a requirement for CKII in at least four biological processes: flocculation (which may reflect an effect on gene expression), cell cycle progression, cell polarity, and ion homeostasis. Consistent with this, isolation of multicopy suppressors of conditional cka mutations has identified three genes that have a known or potential role in either the cell cycle or cell polarity: CDC37, which is required for cell cycle progression in both G1 and G2/M; ZDS1 and 2, which appear to have a function in cell polarity; and SUN2, which encodes a protein of the regulatory component of the 26S protease. The identity and properties of known CKII substrates in S. cerevisiae are also reviewed, and advantage is taken of the complete genomic sequence to predict globally the substrates of CKII in this organism. Although the combined data do not yield a definitive picture of the physiological role of CKII, it is proposed that CKII serves a signal transduction function in sensing and/or communicating information about the ionic status of the cell to the cell cycle machinery.

The C-terminal domain of human grp94 protects the catalytic subunit of protein kinase CK2 (CK2alpha) against thermal aggregation. Role of disulfide bonds

The C-terminal domain (residues 518-803) of the 94 kDa glucose regulated protein (grp94) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with a His6-N-terminal tag (grp94-CT). This truncated form of grp94 formed dimers and oligomers that could be dissociated into monomers by treatment with dithiothreitol. Grp94-CT conferred protection against aggregation on the catalytic subunit of protein kinase CK2 (CK2alpha), although it did not protect against thermal inactivation. This anti-aggregation effect of grp94-CT was concentration dependent, with full protection achieved at grp94-CT/CK2alpha molar ratios of 4 : 1. The presence of dithiothreitol markedly reduced the anti-aggregation effects of grp94-CT on CK2alpha without altering the solubility of the chaperone. It is concluded that the chaperone activity of the C-terminal domain of human grp94 requires the maintenance of its quaternary structure (dimers and oligomers), which seems to be stabilised by disulphide bonds.

Binding domain for p21(WAF1) on the polypeptide chain of the protein kinase CK2 beta-subunit

Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase which is involved in many proliferation-related processes in the cell. It is composed of two regulatory beta-subunits and two catalytic alpha-subunits. Its regulation still remains mysterious in spite of many years of intense research. One of its regulators is the cdk inhibitory molecule p21(WAF1)-a protein which is expressed in situations of genotoxic stress. p21(WAF1) binds to the beta-subunit of CK2 and inhibits the activity of CK2. Using deletion mutants of CK2 beta as well as a peptide library consisting of 15-amino-acid-long peptides derived from the polypeptide chain of CK2 beta we mapped the binding region for p21(WAF1) on the polypeptide chain of CK2 beta. We localized an amino-terminal and a carboxy-terminal binding domain. Binding of p21(WAF1) to both regions of the CK2 beta-subunit interferes with the phosphotransferase activity of the CK2 holoenzyme.

Cell-cycle modulation of CK2 activity in tobacco BY-2 cells

Protein kinase CK2 is an ubiquitous Ser/Thr kinase essential for cell growth. We have used the highly synchronizable tobacco BY-2 cell line to investigate whether CK2 activity and expression are regulated in a cell cycle phase-dependent manner in higher plants. Specific cDNA probes for tobacco CK2alpha and beta subunits, respectively, and polyclonal antibodies recognising alpha and beta subunits separately, were obtained to determine mRNA and protein levels of both subunits. Our results show that CK2 activity oscillates throughout the cell cycle, peaking at G1/S and M phases, due to a post-translational regulation of the tetrameric enzyme. Additional levels of control of CK2 expression operate in relation to the proliferative state of the cells, including differential accumulation of alpha and beta transcripts and post-transcriptional regulation of protein levels (beta subunit). Moreover, in vivo inhibition of CK2 activity corroborates the requirement of the functional CK2 to progress through the cell division cycle, and suggests that CK2 might play an important role at the G2/M checkpoint.

Crystal structure of the human protein kinase CK2 regulatory subunit reveals its zinc finger-mediated dimerization

Protein kinase CK2 is a tetramer composed of two alpha catalytic subunits and two beta regulatory subunits. The structure of a C-terminal truncated form of the human beta subunit has been determined by X-ray crystallography to 1.7 A resolution. One dimer is observed in the asymmetric unit of the crystal. The most striking feature of the structure is the presence of a zinc finger mediating the dimerization. The monomer structure consists of two domains, one entirely alpha-helical and one including the zinc finger. The dimer has a crescent shape holding a highly acidic region at both ends. We propose that this acidic region is involved in the interactions with the polyamines and/or catalytic subunits. Interestingly, conserved amino acid residues among beta subunit sequences are clustered along one linear ridge that wraps around the entire dimer. This feature suggests that protein partners may interact with the dimer through a stretch of residues in an extended conformation.

Structural interpretation of site-directed mutagenesis and specificity of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase CK2 using comparative modelling

The catalytic subunit of protein kinase casein kinase 2 (CK2alpha), which has specificity for both ATP and GTP, shows significant amino acid sequence similarity to the cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2). We constructed site-directed mutants of CK2alpha and used a three-dimensional model to investigate the basis for the dual specificity. Introduction of Phe and Gly at positions 50 and 51, in order to restore the pattern of the glycine-rich motif, did not seriously affect the specificity for ATP or GTP. We show that the dual specificity probably originates from the loop situated around the position His115 to Asp120 (HVNNTD). The insertion of a residue in this loop in CK2 alpha subunits, compared with CDK2 and other kinases, might orient the backbone to interact with the base A and G; this insertion is conserved in all known CK2alpha. The mutant deltaN118, the design of which was based on the modelling, showed reduced affinity for GTP as predicted from the model. Other mutants were intended to probe the integrity of the catalytic loop, alter the polarity of a buried residue and explore the importance of the carboxy terminus. Introduction of Arg to replace Asn189, which is mapped on the activation loop, results in a mutant with decreased k(cat), possibly as a result of disruption of the interaction between this residue and basic residues in the vicinity. Truncation at position 331 eliminates the last 60 residues of the alpha subunit and this mutant has a reduced catalytic efficiency compared with the wild-type. Catalytic efficiency is restored in the truncation mutant by the replacement of a potentially buried Glu at position 252 by Lys, probably owing to a higher stability resulting from the formation of a salt bridge between Lys252 and Asp208.

Expression and characterization of the recombinant catalytic subunit of casein kinase II from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica in Escherichia coli

The alpha catalytic subunit of casein kinase II from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has been cloned and overexpressed using the pT7-7 expression vector in Escherichia coli. Casein kinase activity is found in the bacterial extracts. The catalytic subunit is partially expressed in a soluble and active form, which is purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. Most of the enzyme was found in inclusion bodies. In this form, the enzyme, which is almost pure, exhibits a low specific activity. We have focused our efforts on methods to activate the protein from the inclusion bodies. We have studied the renaturation of urea-denaturated CKII catalytic subunit. We have tried different renaturation buffers and found that renaturation by dilution was more efficient than renaturation by dialysis. Treatment of the enzyme found in the inclusion bodies with different nondetergent sulfobetaines (NDSB) led to a time-dependent activation. NDSB195 is a V-type activator of the recombinant catalytic subunit of casein kinase II. The NDSB195-activated enzyme remained active at the room temperature for weeks. Kinetic properties of the recombinant casein kinase II subunit are similar to those of the purified holoenzyme (low Km for ATP and inhibition by heparin). Kinetic study indicates that the beta subunit could interact with the alpha subunit at the level of the catalytic site to enhance activity and to modify the kinetic behavior of the enzyme.

Protein kinase CK2 ("casein kinase-2") and its implication in cell division and proliferation

Protein kinase CK2 (also termed casein kinase-2 or -II) is a ubiquitous Ser/Thr-specific protein kinase required for viability and for cell cycle progression. CK2 is especially elevated in proliferating tissues, either normal or transformed, and the expression of its catalytic subunit in transgenic mice is causative of lymphomas. CK2 is highly pleiotropic: more than 160 proteins phosphorylated by it at sites specified by multiple acidic residues are known. Despite its heterotetrameric structure generally composed by two catalytic (alpha and/or alpha') and two non catalytic beta-subunits, the regulation of CK2 is still enigmatic. A number of functional features of the beta-subunit which could cooperate to the modulation of CK2 targeting/activity will be discussed.

An inactive mutant of the alpha subunit of protein kinase CK2 that traps the regulatory CK2beta subunit

Protein kinase CK2 (casein kinase 2) is a ubiquitous Ser/Thr protein kinase involved in cell proliferation. Mutation of the alpha subunit of the Xenopus laevis CK2 to change aspartic acid 156 to alanine (CK2alphaA156) resulted in an inactive enzyme. The CK2alphaA156 mutant, however, binds the regulatory subunit as measured by retention of beta on a nickel chelating column mediated by (His)6-tagged CK2alphaA156. Addition of CK2alphaA156 also caused beta to shift sedimentation in a sucrose gradient from a beta2 dimer (52 kDa) to an alpha2beta2 tetramer (130,000 kDa). CK2alphaA156 can trap the beta subunit in an inactive complex reducing the stimulation of casein phosphorylation caused by addition of beta to wild-type alpha. This competitive effect depends on the ratio of alpha/alphaA156 and on the amount of beta available. Since beta inhibits the phosphorylation of calmodulin by CK2alpha, the addition of CK2alphaA156, in this case, increases calmodulin phosphorylation by the alpha and beta combination. These results suggest that CK2alphaA156 may be a useful dominant-negative mutant that can serve to explore the multiple functions of CK2beta.

A surface-plasmon-resonance analysis of polylysine interactions with a peptide substrate of protein kinase CK2 and with the enzyme

The mechanism of protein kinase CK2 (CK2) activity stimulation by polylysine has been studied by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The kinetics of the polylysine interaction with a peptide substrate of the enzyme, and with the enzyme itself, have been investigated. A peptide containing a threonine (T) residue surrounded by a cluster of negatively charged acidic [arginine (R) and glutamic acid (E)] residues, RRREEETEEE, and specifically phosphorylated by CK2, was selected. Polylysine interacts with both the enzyme and the peptide substrate. The rate constant, the stoichiometry of the polylysine-peptide substrate interaction and the kinetic parameters of the stimulated enzyme were used to calculate the polylysine-dependent stimulation of CK2. The results are in agreement with experimentally determined polylysine-dependent stimulation. The polylysine-enzyme interaction is too slow to account for enzyme stimulation. The behaviour of polylysine is not reproduced by the polyamine spermine. The results are consistent with a substrate-mediated mechanism of CK2 stimulation by polylysine, and they suggest that the CK2 stimulation by polyamines occurs by a different mechanism.

Ornithine decarboxylase expression leads to translocation and activation of protein kinase CK2 in vivo

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the key initial enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines. Since polyamines have been shown to enhance protein kinase CK2 activity in vitro, ODC was overexpressed to examine the role of polyamines in CK2 regulation in vivo. Infection of Balb/MK cells with an ODC retrovirus to elevate ODC and polyamine levels increased overall protein phosphorylation as well as CK2 protein levels and enzyme activity in mimosine- or nocodazole- arrested cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy and enzyme analyses of subcellular fractions from ODC-overexpressing cells demonstrated translocation of CK2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus with no apparent loss of cytoplasmic CK2 activity, suggesting polyamine activation of the remaining cytoplasmic enzyme. Similarly, K6/ODC transgenic mice exhibited higher ODC and CK2 enzyme activities than their normal littermates. ODC-immunostained cells in the transgenic skin also stained intensely for CK2 protein. Primary cultures of K6/ODC keratinocytes also exhibited increased ODC and CK2 enzyme activities compared with those from normal littermates. However, the addition of difluoromethylornithine, a specific ODC inhibitor, to the transgenic keratinocytes reduced both intracellular polyamine levels and CK2 enzyme activity. These results suggest that polyamines regulate the CK2 enzyme by affecting its cellular distribution as well as its enzyme activity and levels.

Modulation of the protein kinase CK2 activity by a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminus of its beta regulatory subunit

Using a synthetic peptide corresponding to the sixteen amino-acid N-terminus of the beta subunit, the structure-activity relationship study of casein kinase 2 (CK2) was performed with regard to its previously reported property to polymerize and oligomerize in vitro. Velocity sedimentation experiments show that the peptide beta 1-16 prevents the thick filament formation and stabilizes the ring-like structure of the kinase. Furthermore, the peptide beta 1-16 stimulates the kinase activity by 3-fold toward exogenous substrates as well as the intrinsic autophosphorylation of the kinase. Such observations are in agreement with the proposed model of an activated state of CK2 when the ring-like structure is adopted. Comparison of the effects of spermine and peptide beta 1-16 on CK2 structure and activity suggests that these two activating molecules may function in a different way. Our study suggests that the N-terminal region of the beta subunit of CK2 could regulate the kinase activity by controlling the quaternary structure of the enzyme.

Static and dynamic light scattering of biological macromolecules: what can we learn?

Laser light scattering comes in two major 'flavors': dynamic and static. This noninvasive technique provides a means for investigating key size and shape properties of macromolecules in solution. Light scattering has long been an indispensable tool to the polymer physical chemist, and is seeing increased use in exploring properties of biological macromolecules, alone and in association. As examples, recent investigations using light scattering have clearly demonstrated the relationship between the self-association and activity of important regulatory enzymes, and examined conformational properties of DNA and polysaccharides.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 binds to the regulatory beta subunit of CK2 and directly stimulates CK2 activity toward nucleolin

The presence of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in the nucleus has now been reported both in vitro and in vivo, but its nuclear functions are unknown. Here, we show that FGF-2 added to nuclear extract binds to protein kinase CK2 and nucleolin, a CK2 natural substrate. Added to baculovirus-infected cell extracts overexpressing CK2 or its isolated subunits, FGF-2 binds to the enzyme through its regulatory beta subunit. Using purified proteins, FGF-2 is shown to directly interact with CK2 and to stimulate CK2 activity toward nucleolin. Furthermore, a mitogenic-deficient FGF-2 mutant protein has an impaired ability to interact with CK2 and to stimulate CK2 activity using nucleolin as substrate. We propose that in growing cells, one function of nuclear FGF-2 is to modulate CK2 activity through binding to its regulatory beta subunit.

Cloning, expression and properties of the alpha' subunit of casein kinase 2 from zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The protein kinase casein kinase 2 (CK2) is ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells and is apparently involved in the control of cell division. The holoenzyme is a tetramer composed of two catalytic subunits (alpha and/or alpha') and regulatory subunits (beta 2). The alpha and alpha' subunits are encoded by different genes but are very similar in amino acid sequence, except that alpha' is normally considerably shorter. There have been extensive biochemical studies with recombinant alpha and beta subunits of many species, but only one previous description of the activity of an isolated recombinant alpha' subunit from human CK2 (Bodenbach, L., Fauss, J., Robitzki, A., Krehan, A., Lorenz, P., Lozeman, F. J. & Pyerin, W. (1994) Recombinant human casein kinase II. A study with the complete set of subunits (alpha, alpha', and beta), site-directed autophosphorylation mutants and a bicistronically expressed holoenzyme, Eur. J. Biochem. 220, 263-273). In the present work, the isolation and bacterial expression of a cDNA coding for the alpha' subunit of zebrafish (Danio rerio) is reported. The clone covers the complete coding region that generates a protein of 348 amino acids that is 86% identical to the alpha' subunits of human and chicken, and 82% identical to the sequenced portion of the CK2 alpha subunit of zebrafish. The recombinant alpha' subunit has apparent K(m) values for ATP (6 microM), GTP (20 microM), casein (2.0 mg/ml) and the model peptide RRRDDDSEDD (0.3 mM) which are very similar to those of the recombinant alpha subunit of Xenopus laevis. The alpha' subunit kcat was 7.2 min-1 which is again similar to that of Xenopus laevis alpha subunit (7.5 min-1). The alpha' subunit also behaved similarly to CK2 alpha with regard to optimal concentrations for Mg+2 or Mn+2 and to the inhibition by heparin and the poly(Glu80Tyr20) peptide. However alpha' kinase activity was less sensitive to poly(U) inhibition than alpha, it was more heat stable than alpha, and alpha' was slightly more sensitive to KCl inhibition than alpha. The difference in salt sensitivity, however, was enhanced by the presence of the regulatory beta subunit which shifted the optimal salt concentration of the phosphorylating activity. The alpha' 2 beta 2 holoenzyme was inhibited by KCl concentrations above 100 mM, while the alpha 2 beta 2 enzyme was stimulated by KCl concentrations up to 150 mM and required 180 mM for inhibition. Another important difference between alpha and alpha' is seen in the degree of the stimulation of casein phosphorylation activity in the presence of the regulatory beta subunit. When assayed at 100 mM KCl stoichiometric amounts of CK2 beta produced maximal stimulation of both alpha' (D. rerio) and alpha (X. laevis), however the activity levels with alpha' were stimulated 20-fold by beta while the addition of beta stimulated alpha (X. laevis) only 7-8-fold.

Interaction sites between catalytic and regulatory subunits in human protein kinase CK2 holoenzymes as indicated by chemical cross-linking and immunological investigations

Protein kinase CK2, a heterotetramer composed of two catalytic subunits (alpha and/or alpha') and two regulatory subunits (beta), has been examined for intermolecular contact sites by methods that allow investigation of the native, unaltered proteins. Antibodies were raised against a series of 11 subunit peptides, affinity purified, and ensured for site specific binding by peptide competition. Chemical cross-linking of CK2 subunits with a hydrophilic carbodiimide and analysis of fused subunits and of CNBr-digested fusion products by immunoblotting with the sequence specific antibodies identified a tight interaction between positions beta55-70 and alpha65-80 (alpha'66-81) of subunits beta and alpha (alpha'), respectively. This was corroborated by cross-linking of subunits with peptides alpha65-80 and beta55-70 by a peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in which peptides bound to wells via C-10 spacer arms are probed for complexing individual subunits and immunoprecipitation with antibodies anti-alpha65-80 and anti-beta55-70, resulting in precipitation but not coprecipitation of subunits. This alpha-beta (alpha'-beta) interaction site obviously is also of functional importance since subunits with attached antibodies cannot reconstitute to the fully active holoenzyme. Indeed, sites beta55-70 and alpha65-80 (alpha'66-81) correspond to an acidic (beta) and a basic (alpha or alpha') domain involved in activity and stability control and in substrate and cosubstrate binding (kinase domain II/III), respectively. By contrast, a number of suspected contact sites were found to be rather loose and not essential for enzyme control as concluded from precipitation behavior of respective antibodies and the toleration of attached antibodies when active holoenzymes were being constituted. At subunit beta, these include the terminal positions beta2-14 and beta204-213, the positions beta97-105 and beta140-156, and, surprisingly, also beta171-186 which have been shown by deletion mutation and peptide replacement studies to represent a positively affecting interaction site. At subunits alpha and alpha', these are the C-terminal positions alpha329 -343 and alpha'336-350. Binding of antibodies to the positions alpha15-27 (alpha'16-28) and position alpha151-166(alpha'152-167), on the other hand, inhibits activity.