Isolation and characterization of human cDNA clones encoding the alpha and the alpha' subunits of casein kinase II

Identification of four genomic loci highly related to casein-kinase-2-alpha cDNA and characterization of a casein kinase-2-alpha pseudogene within the mouse genome

Using the coding region of the human CK-2 alpha cDNA as a probe for screening a genomic mouse library, positive clones representing four different genomic loci were isolated. Partial DNA sequences of these loci encompassing the first 120 nucleotides of the putative coding region are reported. One positive clone was further analyzed by sequencing a 3.1 kb XbaI fragment. This clone displays the characteristics of a pseudogene, i.e. lack of introns and several nucleotide insertions and deletions. In its 3' region it contains a 91 bp large CT-rich stretch which consists of (CCTT) and (CT) repeats; in the 5' region three (CCCCCT) repeats.

Human casein kinase II subunit alpha: sequence of a processed (pseudo)gene and its localization on chromosome 11

A human 4.3 kb genomic DNA fragment, containing the information of a processed (pseudo)gene of casein kinase II subunit alpha (CKII alpha) was isolated and sequenced. The genomic CKII alpha sequence is 99% homologous to the CKII alpha cDNA, carries several nucleotide exchanges, a poly(A) stretch at its 3' end and is flanked at both ends by a 16 bp repeat. It has a promoter-like region including two TATA boxes and a CAAT box. Although translation of transcripts would be terminated by a stop codon after two third of the coding region, the resulting protein would still contain the catalytic domains. However, so far Northern blots with a 3' specific probe were negative. The 4.3 kb genomic fragment containing the processed CKII alpha (pseudo)gene was mapped by in situ hybridization to chromosome 11p15.

Assignment of casein kinase 2 alpha sequences to two different human chromosomes

Human casein kinase 2 alpha gene (CK-2-alpha) sequences have been localized within the human genome by in situ hybridization and somatic cell hybrid analysis using a CK-2 alpha cDNA as a probe. By in situ hybridization, the CK-2 alpha cDNA could be assigned to two different loci, one on 11p15.1-ter and one on 20p13. The existence of two separate chromosomal loci suggests that CK-2 alpha is a member of a gene family. Only the locus on chromosome 11 was confirmed by somatic cell hybrid analysis. The analysis was based on the presence of a CK-2-alpha-specific 20-kb fragment. However, the CK-2 alpha cDNA hybridizes to several additional fragments in total human DNA.

Role of the beta subunit of casein kinase-2 on the stability and specificity of the recombinant reconstituted holoenzyme

Recombinant human alpha subunit from casein kinase-2 (CK-2) was subjected, either alone or in combination with recombinant human beta subunit, to high temperature, tryptic digestion and urea treatment. In all three cases, it was shown that the presence of the beta subunit could drastically reduce the loss of kinase activity, strongly suggesting a protective function for the beta subunit. Assaying different peptides for specificity toward the recombinant alpha subunit and the recombinant reconstituted enzyme, showed that the presence of the beta subunit could modify the specificity of the catalytic alpha subunit. Therefore, a dual function for the beta subunit is proposed which confers both specificity and stability to the catalytic alpha subunit within the CK-2 holoenzyme complex. The peptide DLEPDEELEDNPNQSDL, reproducing the highly acidic amino acid 55-71 segment of the human beta subunit, counteracts the stimulatory effect of the beta subunit on the alpha subunit activity and partially substitutes the beta subunit in conferring thermal stability to the alpha subunit. No such effect is induced by the peptide MSSSEEVSW, reproducing the N-terminal segment of the beta subunit including the autophosphorylation site. It is suggested that the acidic domain of the beta subunit, encompassing residues 55-71, plays a role in the interactions between the beta and alpha subunits.

The cDNAs coding for the alpha- and beta-subunits of Xenopus laevis casein kinase II

Using a lambda gt10 cDNA library obtained from Xenopus laevis oocytes and probes derived from the known sequences of the human and Drosophila genes, a cDNA coding for the alpha-subunit of the X. laevis casein kinase II was isolated. The coding sequence of this clone determines a polypeptide of 350 amino acids. The X. laevis sequence is 98% identical to the human and rat proteins in the first 323 amino acids. Using the polymerase chain reaction to generate a 370-nucleotide-long probe, it was possible to clone and sequence a cDNA of 900 nucleotides that coded for the X. laevis beta-subunit of casein kinase II. The derived protein sequence is 215 amino acids long and again shows an extraordinary degree of conservation with other species.

Isolation and characterization of a monoclonal anti CK-2 alpha subunit antibody of the IgG1 subclass

A monoclonal antibody was produced against the recombinant human alpha subunit of CK-2. The antibody was of the IgG1 subclass and it was isolated from serum-free cell culture media and purified by affinity chromatography on Protein G Sepharose. The antibody can be used to detect specifically the CK-2 alpha subunit in immunoblots from tissue extracts. An ELISA detection test was also established which also allows the identification of the CK-2 alpha subunit.

Casein kinase II is a predominantly nuclear enzyme

Casein kinase II (CK II) has been implicated in regulating multiple processes related to cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. To better understand the function(s) and regulation of this ubiquitous kinase, it is important to know its subcellular distribution. However, this issue has been the subject of contradictory reports. In this study, we have used indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and cell fractionation to study the subcellular distribution of all three subunits of chicken CK II, alpha, alpha', and beta. We examined primary chick embryo fibroblasts, virally transformed chicken hepatoma cells, as well as HeLa cells transiently transfected with cDNAs encoding chicken CK II subunits. We found that each of the three CK II subunits was located predominantly in the cell nucleus, irrespective of the cell type analyzed or the procedure used for cell fixation. No major differences were detected in the subcellular distributions of individual CK II subunits, and no evidence was obtained for subunit redistributions during interphase of the cell cycle. During mitosis, the bulk of the enzyme was dispersed throughout the cell, though a fraction of all three subunits was associated with the mitotic spindle. Biochemical studies based on mechanical enucleation of chicken cells confirmed the predominantly nuclear location of all three CK II subunits. Finally, immunoblotting experiments were carried out to study the expression of CK II subunits. A survey of different adult chicken tissues revealed substantial tissue-specific differences in the levels of CK II protein, but no evidence was obtained for pronounced tissue specificity in the expression of individual CK II subunits. These results strongly suggest that CK II functions primarily in regulating nuclear activities, and that the two catalytic subunits, alpha and alpha', may carry out overlapping functions.

Cell growth stimulation by EGF: inhibition through antisense-oligodeoxynucleotides demonstrates important role of casein kinase II

Casein kinase II (CKII) is a highly conserved ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase composed of two catalytically active subunits (alpha and/or alpha') and two presumably regulatory subunits (beta). CKII has numerous cellular functions including a possible role in mitogenic signaling. To address this question, growth-arrested primary human fibroblasts (IMR-90) were exposed prior growth stimulation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) to oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to the translation start region of mRNAs coding for CKII alpha and beta subunits. A significant inhibition of growth stimulation (up to 60%) was observed with both antisense-alpha and antisense-beta. The inhibition was reversible, became decreased with mutated antisense-oligodeoxynucleotides, and neutralized by simultaneous presence of respective sense-oligodeoxynucleotides. The expected down-regulation of CKII protein due to hybrid formation of antisense-oligodeoxynucleotides with target mRNAs was investigated by determination of the intracellular protein level of CKII beta-subunit by immunofluorescence and quantitative image analysis. The protein was revealed to be localized predominantly in the nucleus and to become significantly decreased due to antisense-beta treatment of cells. The maximum decrease coincided with the early phase (first several hours) of growth stimulation by EGF when antisense-beta incubation was started 6-2 h before growth stimulation, the period within which application of antisense-alpha and antisense-beta caused the maximum of inhibition of growth stimulation. Thus CKII obviously plays, with both subunit alpha and subunit beta, an important role in the early phase of mitogenic stimulation.

Mapping of the human casein kinase II catalytic subunit genes: two loci carrying the homologous sequences for the alpha subunit

The human serine/threonine protein casein kinase II (CK II) contains two distinct catalytic subunits, alpha and alpha 1, which are encoded by different genes. A combination of segregation analysis of rodent-human hybrid cells and chromosomal in situ hybridization have localized the human CK II-alpha DNA sequence to two loci: 11p15.5-p15.4 and 20p13. In contrast, the CK II-alpha' gene has been mapped to chromosome 16 by somatic cell hybrid analysis. Taken together with our previous assignment of the CK II regulatory beta-subunit gene to 6p12-p21, these results indicate that although the products of these genes form a single biological complex, they are encoded on different human chromosomes. Further analysis should determine whether both loci of CK II-alpha are functional, or perhaps one of the two constitutes a pseudogene.

Immunocytochemical localization of casein kinase II during interphase and mitosis

We have developed specific antibodies to synthetic peptide antigens that react with the individual subunits of casein kinase II (CKII). Using these antibodies, we studied the localization of CKII in asynchronous HeLa cells by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Further studies were done on HeLa cells arrested at the G1/S transition by hydroxyurea treatment. Our results indicate that the CKII alpha and beta subunits are localized in the cytoplasm during interphase and are distributed throughout the cell during mitosis. Further electron microscopic investigation revealed that CKII alpha subunit is associated with spindle fibers during metaphase and anaphase. In contrast, the CKII alpha' subunit is localized in the nucleus during G1 and in the cytoplasm during S. Taken together, our results suggest that CKII may play significant roles in cell division control by shifting its localization between the cytoplasm and nucleus.