Casein kinase II is required for cell cycle progression during G1 and G2/M in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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.

The NC2 alpha and beta subunits play different roles in vivo

NC2 is a heterodimeric regulator of transcription that plays both positive and negative roles in vivo. Here we show that the alpha and beta subunits of yeast NC2 are not always associated in a tight complex. Rather, their association is regulated, in particular by glucose depletion. Indeed, stable NC2 alpha/beta complexes can only be purified from cells after the diauxic shift when glucose has been depleted from the growth medium. In vivo, the presence of NC2 alpha, but not NC2 beta, at promoters generally correlates with the presence of TBP and transcriptional activity. In contrast, increased presence of NC2 beta relative to TBP correlates with transcriptional repression. NC2 is regulated by phosphorylation. We found that mutation of genes encoding casein kinase II (CKII) subunits as well as potential CKII phosphorylation sites in NC2 alpha and beta affected gene repression. Interestingly, NC2-dependent repression in the phosphorylation site mutants was only perturbed in high glucose when NC2 beta and NC2 alpha are not associated, but not after the diauxic shift when NC2 alpha and beta form stable complexes. Thus, the separation of NC2 alpha and beta function indicated by these mutants also supports the existence of multiple NC2 complexes with different functions in transcription.

The Ring-H2 finger motif of CKBBP1/SAG is necessary for interaction with protein kinase CKII and optimal cell proliferation

Protein kinase CKII (CKII) is required for progression through the cell division cycle. We recently reported that the beta subunit of protein kinase CKII (CKIIbeta) associates with CKBBP1 that contains the Ring-H2 finger motif in the yeast two-hybrid system. We demonstrate here that the Ring-H2 finger-disrupted mutant of CKBBP1 does not interact with purified CKIIbeta in vitro, which shows that the Ring-H2 finger motif is critical for direct interaction with CKIIbeta. The CKII holoenzyme is efficiently co-precipitated with the wild-type CKBBP1, but not with the Ring-H2 finger-disrupted CKBBP1, from whole cell extracts when epitope-tagged CKBBP1 is transiently expressed in HeLa cells. Disruption of the Ring-H2 finger motif does not affect the cellular localization of CKBBP1 in HeLa cells. The increased expression of either the wild-type CKBBP1 or Ring-H2 finger-disrupted CKBBP1 does not modulate the protein or the activity levels of CKII in HeLa cells. However, the stable expression of Ring-H2 finger-disrupted CKBBP1 in HeLa cells suppresses cell proliferation and causes the accumulation of the G1/G0 peak of the cell cycle. The Ring-H2 finger motif is required for maximal CKBBP1 phosphorylation by CKII, suggesting that the stable binding of CKBBP1 to CKII is necessary for its efficient phosphorylation. Taken together, these results suggest that the complex formation of CKIIbeta with CKBBP1 and/or CKII-mediated CKBBP1 phosphorylation is important for the G1/S phase transition of the cell cycle.

Dynamic localization/association of protein kinase CK2 subunits in living cells: a role in its cellular regulation?

Accumulating evidence indicates that in addition to the classical complex, the catalytic and regulatory subunits of CK2 can also exist as free populations in living cells. The association of recombinant CK2 subunits in vitro has been characterized, providing evidence for the first time for their targeted interactions in living cells. The data also suggest that the regulation by phosphorylation of many CK2 substrates may strongly depend on the dynamic localization/association of its subunits.

Phosphorylation by the varicella-zoster virus ORF47 protein serine kinase determines whether endocytosed viral gE traffics to the trans-Golgi network or recycles to the cell membrane

Like all alphaherpesviruses, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection proceeds by both cell-cell spread and virion production. Virions are enveloped within vacuoles located near the trans-Golgi network (TGN), while in cell-cell spread, surface glycoproteins fuse cells into syncytia. In this report, we delineate a potential role for serine/threonine phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic tail of the predominant VZV glycoprotein, gE, in these processes. The fact that VZV gE (formerly called gpI) is phosphorylated has been documented (E. A. Montalvo and C. Grose, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:8967-8971, 1986), although respective roles of viral and cellular protein kinases have never been delineated. VZV ORF47 is a viral serine protein kinase that recognized a consensus sequence similar to that of casein kinase II (CKII). During open reading frame 47 (ORF47)-specific in vitro kinase assays, ORF47 phosphorylated four residues in the cytoplasmic tail of VZV gE (S593, S595, T596, and T598), thus modifying the known phosphofurin acidic cluster sorting protein 1 domain. CKII phosphorylated gE predominantly on the two threonine residues. In wild-type-virus-infected cells, where ORF47-mediated phosphorylation predominated, gE endocytosed and relocalized to the TGN. In cells infected with a VZV ORF47-null mutant, internalized VZV gE recycled to the plasma membrane and did not localize to the TGN. The mutant virus also formed larger syncytia than the wild-type virus, linking CKII-mediated gE phosphorylation with increased cell-cell spread. Thus, ORF47 and CKII behaved as "team players" in the phosphorylation of VZV gE. Taken together, the results showed that phosphorylation of VZV gE by ORF47 or CKII determined whether VZV infection proceeded toward a pathway likely involved with either virion production or cell-cell spread.

Cdc37 is essential for chromosome segregation and cytokinesis in higher eukaryotes

Cdc37 has been shown to be required for the activity and stability of protein kinases that regulate different stages of cell cycle progression. However, little is known so far regarding interactions of Cdc37 with kinases that play a role in cell division. Here we show that the loss of function of Cdc37 in Drosophila leads to defects in mitosis and male meiosis, and that these phenotypes closely resemble those brought about by the inactivation of Aurora B. We provide evidence that Aurora B interacts with and requires the Cdc37/Hsp90 complex for its stability. We conclude that the Cdc37/Hsp90 complex modulates the function of Aurora B and that most of the phenotypes brought about by the loss of Cdc37 function can be explained by the inactivation of this kinase. These observations substantiate the role of Cdc37 as an upstream regulatory element of key cell cycle kinases.

Interactions between protein kinase CK2 and Pin1. Evidence for phosphorylation-dependent interactions

The peptidyl-prolyl isomerase Pin1 interacts in a phosphorylation-dependent manner with several proteins involved in cell cycle events. In this study, we demonstrate that Pin1 interacts with protein kinase CK2, an enzyme that generally exists in tetrameric complexes composed of two catalytic CK2 alpha and/or CK2 alpha' subunits together with two regulatory CK2 beta subunits. Our results indicate that Pin1 can interact with CK2 complexes that contain CK2 alpha. Furthermore, Pin1 can interact directly with the C-terminal domain of CK2 alpha that contains residues that are phosphorylated in vitro by p34(Cdc2) and in mitotic cells. Substitution of the phosphorylation sites of CK2 alpha with alanines resulted in decreased interactions between Pin1 and CK2. The other catalytic isoform of CK2, designated CK2 alpha', is not phosphorylated in mitotic cells and does not interact with Pin1, but a chimeric protein consisting of CK2 alpha' with the C terminus of CK2 alpha was phosphorylated in mitotic cells and interacts with Pin1, further implicating the phosphorylation sites in the interaction. In vitro, Pin1 inhibits the phosphorylation of Thr-1342 on human topoisomerase II alpha by CK2. Topoisomerase II alpha also interacts with Pin1 suggesting that the effect of Pin1 on the phosphorylation of Thr-1342 could result from its interactions with CK2 and/or topoisomerase II alpha. As compared with wild-type Pin1, isomerase-deficient and WW domain-deficient mutants of Pin1 are impaired in their ability to interact with CK2 and to inhibit the CK2-catalyzed phosphorylation of topoisomerase II alpha. Collectively, these results indicate that Pin1 and CK2 alpha interact and suggest a possible role for Pin1 in the regulation of topoisomerase II alpha. Furthermore, these results provide new insights into the functional role of the mitotic phosphorylation of CK2 and provide a new mechanism for selectively regulating the ability of CK2 to phosphorylate one of its mitotic targets.

CK2 forms a stable complex with TFIIIB and activates RNA polymerase III transcription in human cells

CK2 is a highly conserved protein kinase with growth-promoting and oncogenic properties. It is known to activate RNA polymerase III (PolIII) transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and is shown here to also exert a potent effect on PolIII in mammalian cells. Peptide and chemical inhibitors of CK2 block PolIII transcription in human cell extracts. Furthermore, PolIII transcription in mammalian fibroblasts is decreased significantly when CK2 activity is compromised by chemical inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides, or kinase-inactive mutants. Coimmunoprecipitation and cofractionation show that endogenous human CK2 associates stably and specifically with the TATA-binding protein-containing factor TFIIIB, which brings PolIII to the initiation site of all class III genes. Serum stimulates TFIIIB phosphorylation in vivo, an effect that is diminished by inhibitors of CK2. Binding to TFIIIC2 recruits TFIIIB to most PolIII promoters; this interaction is compromised specifically by CK2 inhibitors. The data suggest that CK2 stimulates PolIII transcription by binding and phosphorylating TFIIIB and facilitating its recruitment by TFIIIC2. CK2 also activates PolI transcription in mammals and may therefore provide a mechanism to coregulate the output of PolI and PolIII. CK2 provides a rare example of an endogenous activity that operates on the PolIII system in both mammals and yeasts. Such evolutionary conservation suggests that this control may be of fundamental importance.

Phosphorylation regulates the stability of the regulatory CK2beta subunit

Protein kinase CK2 is a protein serine/threonine kinase that exhibits elevated expression in a number of cancers and displays oncogenic activity in mice. The regulatory CK2beta subunit has a central role in assembly of functional tetrameric CK2 complexes where it participates in modulation of catalytic activity and substrate specificity. Since overexpression of CK2beta results in elevated levels of CK2 activity, we investigated the molecular mechanisms that control its degradation since perturbations in these pathways could contribute to elevated CK2 in cancer. In this study, we demonstrate that CK2beta is degraded by a proteasome-dependent pathway and that it is ubiquitinated. We have also investigated the role of phosphorylation and a putative destruction box in regulating its stability in cells. Importantly, replacement of three serine residues within the autophosphorylation site of CK2beta with glutamic acid residues resulted in a significant decrease in its degradation indicating that autophosphorylation is involved in regulating its stability. Notably, although the autophosphorylation site of CK2beta is remarkably conserved between species, this is the first functional role ascribed to this site. Furthermore, based on these results, we speculate that alterations in the phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of the regulatory CK2beta subunit could underlie the elevated expression of CK2 that is observed in cancer cells.

Association and regulation of casein kinase 2 activity by adenomatous polyposis coli protein

Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are responsible for familial adenomatous polyposis coli and also sporadic colorectal cancer development. By using antibodies raised against the N-terminal region of APC protein, we have detected the variable masses of endogenous APC proteins in individual cell lines established from human colorectal carcinomas caused by nonsense mutations of the gene. Phosphorylation of immunoprecipitates of full-length and truncated APC were observed in in vitro kinase reaction, indicating association of APC with protein kinase activity. The kinase activity complexed with APC was sensitive to heparin and used GTP as phosphoryl donor, suggesting an involvement of casein kinase 2 (CK2). Both CK2alpha- and beta-subunits were found to associate with APC in immunoprecipitates as well as in pull-down assays, with preferential interaction of APC with tetrameric CK2 holoenzyme. In synchronized cell populations, the association of APC with CK2 was cell cycle dependent, with the highest association in G(2)/M. Unexpectedly, APC immunoprecipitates containing full-length APC protein inhibited CK2 in vitro, whereas immunoprecipitates of truncated APC had little effect. This was confirmed by using recombinant APC, and the inhibitory region was localized to the C terminus of APC between residues 2086 and 2394. Overexpression of this fragment in SW480 cells suppressed cell proliferation rates as well as tumorigenesis. These results demonstrate a previously uncharacterized functional interaction between the tumor suppressor protein APC and CK2 and suggest that growth-inhibitory effects of APC may be regulated by inhibition of CK2.

Phosphorylation of the human ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, CDC34, by casein kinase 2

The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, CDC34, has been implicated in the ubiquitination of a number of vertebrate substrates, including p27(Kip1), IkappaBalpha, Wee1, and MyoD. We show that mammalian CDC34 is a phosphoprotein that is phosphorylated in proliferating cells. By yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified the regulatory (beta) subunit of human casein kinase 2 (CK2) as a CDC34-interacting protein and show that human CDC34 interacts in vivo with CK2beta in transfected cells. CDC34 is specifically phosphorylated in vitro by recombinant CK2 and HeLa nuclear extract at five sites within the carboxyl-terminal 36 amino acids of CDC34. Importantly, this phosphorylation is inhibited by heparin, a substrate-specific inhibitor of CK2. We have also identified a kinase activity associated with CDC34 in proliferating cells, and we show that this kinase is sensitive to heparin and can utilize GTP, strongly suggesting it is CK2. Phosphorylation of CDC34 by the associated kinase maps predominantly to residues 203 and 222. Mutation of CDC34 at CK2-targeted residues, Ser-203, Ser-222, Ser-231, Thr-233, and Ser-236, abolishes the phosphorylation of CDC34 observed in vivo and markedly shifts nuclearly localized CDC34 to the cytoplasm. These results suggest a potential role for CK2-mediated phosphorylation in the regulation of CDC34 cell localization and function.

Functional conservation between the human, nematode, and yeast CK2 cell cycle genes

Protein kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase II) is a highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase ubiquitous in eukaryotic organisms. Previously, we have shown that CK2 is required for cell cycle progression and essential for the viability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We now report that either the human or the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans CK2alpha catalytic subunit can substitute for the yeast catalytic subunits. Additionally, expression of the human CK2 regulatory subunit (CK2beta) can suppress the temperature sensitivity of either of the two yeast CK2 mutant catalytic subunits. Taken together, these observations reinforce the view that the CK2 cell cycle progression genes have been highly conserved during evolution from yeast to humans, not only in structure but also in function.

TATA binding protein-associated CK2 transduces DNA damage signals to the RNA polymerase III transcriptional machinery

Here we report that RNA polymerase (pol) III transcription is repressed in response to DNA damage by downregulation of TFIIIB, the core component of the pol III transcriptional machinery. Protein kinase CK2 transduces this stress signal to TFIIIB. CK2 associates with and normally activates the TATA binding protein (TBP) subunit of TFIIIB. The beta regulatory subunit of CK2 binds to TBP and is required for high TBP-associated CK2 activity and pol III transcription in unstressed cells. Transcriptional repression induced by DNA damage requires CK2 and coincides with downregulation of TBP-associated CK2 and dissociation of catalytic subunits from TBP-CK2 complexes. Therefore, CK2 is the terminal effector in a signaling pathway that represses pol III transcription when genome integrity is compromised.

Regulation of protein kinase CKII by direct interaction with the C-terminal region of p47(phox)

Protein kinase CKII is a Ser/Thr kinase which is involved in many proliferation-related processes in the cell. p47(phox) is a component of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase, which is an important element of host defense against microbial infection. In this study, we demonstrate that a truncated form of the p47(phox) lacking its N-terminal region (p47(phox)/SH3-C), but not a truncated form of the p47(phox) lacking its C-terminal region (p47(phox)/N-SH3), undergoes better phosphorylation by CKII in the presence of arachidonic acid. The yeast two-hybrid test and the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay showed that p47(phox) interacts specifically with the regulatory beta subunit (CKIIbeta), but not with the catalytic alpha subunit (CKIIalpha) of the tetrameric CKII holoenzyme. The binding of p47(phox) to CKIIbeta requires the C-terminal region of p47(phox) and is completely abolished by addition of spermine, indicating that a highly basic region in the C-terminal region of p47(phox) contributes to binding to CKIIbeta. In addition, p47(phox) stimulates the catalytic activity of CKII holoenzyme; this stimulation also requires the C-terminal region of p47(phox). Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that CKII holoenzyme interacts with p47(phox) in human neutrophils. Taken together, the present data indicate that the C-terminal region of p47(phox) plays a significant role in the arachidonic acid-dependent phosphorylation of p47(phox) by CKII and that the same region of p47(phox) associates directly with CKIIbeta and can modulate the catalytic activity of CKII holoenzyme.

Protein p21(WAF1/CIP1) is phosphorylated by protein kinase CK2 in vitro and interacts with the amino terminal end of the CK2 beta subunit

Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous protein that phosphorylates multiple substrates and is composed of catalytic (alpha, alpha') and regulatory (beta) subunits. Abundant evidence relates CK2 to the regulation of cell division. p21(WAF1/CIP1) is a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases and of DNA replication and acts as a key inhibitor of cell cycle progression. In this work we examine the relation between these two important proteins. The interaction between the CK2 beta regulatory subunit of CK2 and p21(WAF1/CIP1) has been confirmed. Using a pull-down assay and fusion constructs of glutathione transferase with fragments of CK2 beta and other mutants, it was possible to define that the N-terminal (1-44) portion of CK2 beta contains a p21(WAF1/CIP1) binding site. CK2 reconstituted from recombinant alpha and beta subunits can phosphorylate p21(WAF1/CIP1) in vitro. This phosphorylation is greatly enhanced by histone H1. p21(WAF1/CIP1) can inhibit the phosphorylation of substrate casein by CK2. This inhibition, however, seems to be due to competition by p21(WAF1/CIP1) as an alternate substrate since in order to observe inhibition it is necessary that the concentration of p21 be of the same order of magnitude as the casein substrate concentration. This competition is not related to the binding of p21(WAF1/CIP1) to CK2 beta because it can also be observed when, in the absence of CK beta, CK alpha is used to phosphorylate casein in the presence of the p21.

A role for protein kinase CK2 in cell proliferation: evidence using a kinase-inactive mutant of CK2 catalytic subunit alpha

Protein kinase CK2 is an ubiquitous and pleiotropic Ser/Thr protein kinase composed of two catalytic (alpha and/or alpha') and two regulatory (beta) subunits generally combined to form alpha(2)beta(2), alphaalpha'beta(2), or alpha'(2)beta(2) heterotetramers. To gain more insight into the role of CK2 in the control of proliferation in mammalian cells, overexpression of isolated CK2 subunits alpha, alpha', or beta was carried out in two fibroblast cell lines: NIH3T3 and CCL39. To interfere with CK2 cellular functions, cells were also transfected with a kinase-inactive mutant of CK2alpha catalytic subunit: CK2alpha-K68A. In NIH3T3 cells, overexpression of either wild-type subunit (alpha, alpha' or beta) had no effect on cell proliferation. In contrast, overexpression of the CK2alpha kinase-deficient mutant induced a marked inhibition of cell proliferation. This resulted from a defect in G1/S progression as demonstrated in transient transfection experiments in both NIH3T3 and CCL39 cells using BrdU incorporation measurements and in CCL39 clones stably overexpressing the CK2alpha-K68A mutant by growth curve analysis. We demonstrated that the kinase-negative mutant has the capacity to integrate the endogenous CK2 subunit pool both as an isolated kinase-inactive alpha subunit and as associated to the beta subunit in a kinase-inactive tetramer. Finally we showed that expression of the kinase-inactive mutant interferes with phosphorylation of an endogenous CK2 substrate; we speculate that optimal phosphorylation of target proteins by CK2 is required to achieve optimal cell cycle progression.

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.

Maize protein kinase CK2: regulation and functionality of three beta regulatory subunits

Biochemical and crystallographic data suggest that, in contrast with other organisms, the active maize protein kinase CK2 might be composed simply of a catalytic polypeptide (CK2alpha), thus lacking CK2beta regulatory subunits. To investigate the existence and functionality of CK2beta regulatory subunits in Zea mays, we have screened a maize cDNA library using different approaches and have isolated three full-length cDNAs encoding CK2beta regulatory subunits (CK2beta-1, CK2beta-2 and CK2beta-3) and a cDNA coding for a novel CK2alpha catalytic subunit, CK2alpha-3. The pattern of expression of all these alpha/beta subunits has been studied in different organs and developmental stages using specific probes for each isoform, and indicates that while CK2alpha subunits are constitutive, CK2beta subunits are expressed differentially during embryo development. The yeast two-hybrid system and pull-down assays have been used to study specific interactions between the different subunits. While CK2alpha subunits are unable to self-associate, preferential interactions between alpha/beta isoforms and beta/beta isoforms can be predicted. Furthermore, we show that maize CK2alpha/beta subunits assemble into a structural tetrameric complex which has very similar properties to those described in other organisms, and that expression of maize CK2beta subunits in yeast allows the rescue of the phenotypic defects associated to the lack of CK2 function, thus demonstrating the functionality of maize CK2beta regulatory subunits.

Drosophila melanogaster casein kinase II interacts with and phosphorylates the basic helix-loop-helix proteins m5, m7, and m8 derived from the Enhancer of split complex

Drosophila melanogaster casein kinase II (DmCKII) is composed of catalytic (alpha) and regulatory (beta) subunits associated as an alpha2beta2 heterotetramer. Using the two-hybrid system, we have screened a D. melanogaster embryo cDNA library for proteins that interact with DmCKIIalpha. One of the cDNAs isolated in this screen encodes m7, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)-type transcription factor encoded by the Enhancer of split complex (E(spl)C), which regulates neurogenesis. m7 interacts with DmCKIIalpha but not with DmCKIIbeta, suggesting that this interaction is specific for the catalytic subunit of DmCKII. In addition to m7, we demonstrate that DmCKIIalpha also interacts with two other E(spl)C-derived bHLH proteins, m5 and m8, but not with other members, such as m3 and mC. Consistent with the specificity observed for the interaction of DmCKIIalpha with these bHLH proteins, sequence alignment suggests that only m5, m7, and m8 contain a consensus site for phosphorylation by CKII within a subdomain unique to these three proteins. Accordingly, these three proteins are phosphorylated by DmCKIIalpha, as well as by the alpha2beta2 holoenzyme purified from Drosophila embryos. In line with the prediction of a single consensus site for CKII, replacement of Ser(159) of m8 with either Ala or Asp abolishes phosphorylation, identifying this residue as the site of phosphorylation. We also demonstrate that m8 forms a direct physical complex with purified DmCKII, corroborating the observed two-hybrid interaction between these proteins. Finally, substitution of Ser(159) of m8 with Ala attenuates interaction with DmCKIIalpha, whereas substitution with Asp abolishes the interaction. These studies constitute the first demonstration that DmCKII interacts with and phosphorylates m5, m7, and m8 and suggest a biochemical and/or structural basis for the functional equivalency of these bHLH proteins that is observed in the context of neurogenesis.

Mitotic phosphorylation of DNA topoisomerase II alpha by protein kinase CK2 creates the MPM-2 phosphoepitope on Ser-1469

DNA topoisomerase II alpha is required for chromatin condensation during prophase. This process is temporally linked with the appearance of mitosis-specific phosphorylation sites on topoisomerase IIalpha including one recognized by the MPM-2 monoclonal antibody. We now report that the ability of mitotic extracts to create the MPM-2 epitope on human topoisomerase II alpha is abolished by immunodepletion of protein kinase CK2. Furthermore, the MPM-2 phosphoepitope on topoisomerase II alpha can be generated by purified CK2. Phosphorylation of C-truncated topoisomerase II alpha mutant proteins conclusively shows, that the MPM-2 epitope is present in the last 163 amino acids. Use of peptides containing all conserved CK2 consensus sites in this region indicates that only the peptide containing Arg-1466 to Ala-1485 is able to compete with topoisomerase II alpha for binding of the MPM-2 antibody. Replacement of Ser-1469 with Ala abolishes the ability of the phosphorylated peptide to bind to the MPM-2 antibody while a peptide containing phosphorylated Ser-1469 binds tightly. Surprisingly, the MPM-2 phosphoepitope influences neither the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II alpha nor its ability to form molecular complexes with CK2 in vitro. In conclusion, we have identified protein kinase CK2 as a new MPM-2 kinase able to phosphorylate an important mitotic protein, topoisomerase II alpha, on Ser-1469.

Phosphorylation of Cdc28 and regulation of cell size by the protein kinase CKII in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The CDK (cyclin-dependent kinase) family of enzymes is required for the G(1)-to-S-phase and G(2)-to-M-phase transitions during the cell-division cycle of eukaryotes. We have shown previously that the protein kinase CKII catalyses the phosphorylation of Ser-39 in Cdc2 during the G(1) phase of the HeLa cell-division cycle [Russo, Vandenberg, Yu, Bae, Franza and Marshak (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 20317-20325]. To identify a functional role for this phosphorylation, we have studied the homologous enzymes in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The S. cerevisiae homologue of Cdc2, Cdc28, contains a consensus CKII site (Ser-46), which is homologous with that of human Cdc2. Using in vitro kinase assays, metabolic labelling, peptide mapping and phosphoamino acid analysis, we demonstrate that this site is phosphorylated in Cdc28 in vivo as well in vitro. In addition, S. cerevisiae cells in which Ser-46 has been mutated to alanine show a decrease in both cell volume and protein content of 33%, and this effect is most pronounced in the stationary phase. Because cell size in S. cerevisiae is regulated primarily at the G(1) stage, we suggest that CKII contributes to the regulation of the cell cycle in budding yeast by phosphorylation of Cdc28 as a checkpoint for G(1) progression.

Cell cycle-regulated phosphorylation of the human SIX1 homeodomain protein

Human SIX1 (HSIX1) is a member of the Six class of homeodomain proteins implicated in muscle, eye, head, and brain development. To further understand the role of HSIX1 in the cell cycle and cancer, we developed an HSIX1-specific antibody to study protein expression at various stages of the cell cycle. Our previous work demonstrated that HSIX1 mRNA expression increases as cells exit S phase and that overexpression of HSIX1 can attenuate a DNA damage-induced G(2) cell cycle checkpoint. Overexpression of HSIX1 mRNA was observed in 44% of primary breast cancers and 90% of metastatic lesions. Now we demonstrate that HSIX1 is a nuclear phosphoprotein that becomes hyperphosphorylated at mitosis in both MCF7 cells and in Xenopus extracts. The pattern of phosphorylation observed in mitosis is similar to that seen by treating recombinant HSIX1 with casein kinase II (CK2) in vitro. Apigenin, a selective CK2 inhibitor, diminishes interphase and mitotic phosphorylation of HSIX1. Treatment of MCF7 cells with apigenin leads to a dose-dependent arrest at the G(2)/M boundary, implicating CK2, like HSIX1, in the G(2)/M transition. HSIX1 hyperphosphorylated in vitro by CK2 loses its ability to bind the MEF3 sites of the aldolase A promoter (pM), and decreased binding to pM is observed during mitosis. Because CK2 and HSIX1 have both been implicated in cancer and in cell cycle control, we propose that HSIX1, whose activity is regulated by CK2, is a relevant target of CK2 in G(2)/M checkpoint control and that both molecules participate in the same pathway whose dysregulation leads to cancer.

Mutation of recombinant catalytic subunit alpha of the protein kinase CK2 that affects catalytic efficiency and specificity

In order to understand better the structural and functional relations between protein kinase CK2 catalytic subunit, the triphosphate moiety of ATP, the catalytic metal and the peptidic substrate, we built a structural model of Yarrowia lipolytica protein kinase CK2 catalytic subunit using the recently solved three-dimensional structure of the maize enzyme and the structure of cAMP-dependent protein kinase peptidic inhibitor (1CDK) as templates. The overall structure of the catalytic subunit is close to the structure solved by Niefind et al. It comprises two lobes, which move relative to each other. The peptide used as substrate is tightly bound to the enzyme, at specific locations. Molecular dynamic calculations in combination with the study of the structural model led us to identify amino acid residues close to the triphosphate moiety of ATP and a residue sufficiently far from the peptide that could be mutated so as to modify the specificity of the enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace by charged residues both glycine-48, a residue located within the glycine-rich loop, involved in binding of ATP phosphate moiety, and glycine-177, a residue close to the active site. Kinetic properties of purified wild-type and mutated subunits were studied with respect to ATP, MgCl(2) and protein kinase CK2 specific peptide substrates. The catalytic efficiency of the G48D mutant increased by factors of 4 for ATP and 17.5 for the RRRADDSDDDDD peptide. The mutant G48K had a low activity with ATP and no detectable activity with peptide substrates and was also inhibited by magnesium. An increased velocity of ADP release by G48D and the building of an electrostatic barrier between ATP and the peptidic substrate in G48K could explain these results. The kinetic properties of the mutant G177K with ATP were not affected, but the catalytic efficiency for the RRRADDSDDDDD substrate increased sixfold. Lysine 177 could interact with the lysine-rich cluster involved in the specificity of protein kinase CK2 towards acidic substrate, thereby increasing its activity.

Ribosomal stalk protein phosphorylating activities in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

With ribosomal P protein as a substrate, five peaks of protein kinase activity are eluted after chromatography of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae cellular extract on DEAE-cellulose. Two of them correspond to CK-II and the other three have been called RAP-1, RAP-II, and RAP-III. RAP-I was previously characterized. RAP-III is present in a very small amount, which hindered its purification. RAP-II was further purified on phosphocellulose, heparin-Sepharose, and P protein-Sepharose, studied in detail, and compared with other acidic protein kinases, including RAP-I, CK-II, and PK60. RAP-II is shown by SDS-PAGE and centrifugation on glycerol linear density gradients to have a molecular mass of around 62 kDa and it is immunologically different from RAP-I and PK60. RAP-II phosphorylates the P proteins in the last serine residue at the highly conserved carboxyl terminal domain as other P-protein kinases. The ribosome-bound stalk P proteins are not equally phosphorylated by the different kinases. Thus, RAP-II and PK60 mainly phosphorylate P1beta and P2alpha whereas RAP-I and CK-II modify all of them. A comparative study of the K(m) and V(max) of the phosphorylation reaction by the different kinases using individual purified acidic proteins suggests changes in the substrate susceptibility upon binding to the ribosome. All the data available reveal clear differences in the characteristics of the various P protein kinases and suggest that the cell may use them to differentially modify the stalk depending, perhaps, on metabolic requirements.

Negative Regulation of CD4 Lineage Development and Responses by CD5

CD5 deficiency results in a hyper-responsive phenotype to Ag receptor stimulation. Here we show that the development and responses of CD4 lineage T cells are regulated by the function of CD5. Thymocytes expressing the I-Ad-restricted DO11.10 TCR undergo abnormal selection without CD5. In H-2d mice, the absence of CD5 causes deletion of double-positive thymocytes, but allows for efficient selection of cells expressing high levels of the DO11.10 clonotype. By contrast, there is enhanced negative selection against the DO11.10 clonotype in the presence of I-Ab. T cell hybridomas and DO11.10 T cells are more responsive to TCR stimulation in the absence of CD5. Such hypersensitivity can be eliminated by expression of wild-type CD5, but not by a form of CD5 that lacks the cytoplasmic tail. Finally, CD5 deficiency partially suppresses the block of CD4 lineage development in CD4-deficient mice. Taken together, the data support a general role for CD5 as a negative regulator of Ag receptor signaling in the development and immune responses of CD4 lineage T cells.

Structure and function of the stalk, a putative regulatory element of the yeast ribosome. Role of stalk protein phosphorylation

The ribosomal stalk is involved directly in the interaction of the elongation factors with the ribosome during protein synthesis. The stalk is formed by a complex of five proteins, four small acidic polypeptides and a larger protein which directly interacts with the rRNA at the GTPase center. In eukaryotes, the acidic components correspond to the 12 kDa P1 and P2 proteins, and the RNA binding component is protein P0. All these proteins are found to be phosphorylated in eukaryotic organisms. Previous in vitro data suggested this modification was involved in the activity of this structure. To confirm this possibility a mutational study has shown that phosphorylation takes place at a serine residue close to the carboxyl end of proteins P1, P2 and P0. This serine is part of a consensus casein kinase II phosphorylation site. However, by using a yeast strain carrying a temperature sensitive mutant, it has been shown that CKII is probably not the only enzyme responsible for this modification. Three new protein kinases, RAPI, RAPII and RAPIII, have been purified and compared with CKII and PK60, a previously reported enzyme that phosphorylates the stalk proteins. Differences among the five enzymes have been studied. It has also been found that some typical effectors of the PKC kinase stimulate the in vitro phosphorylation of the stalk proteins. All the data available suggest that phosphorylation, although it is not involved in the interaction of the acidic proteins with the ribosome, affects ribosome activity and might participate in some ribosome regulatory mechanism.

Identification of a CK2 phosphorylation site in mdm2

Mdm2 is a cellular oncoprotein the most obvious function of which is the down-regulation of the growth suppressor protein p53. It represents a highly phosphorylated protein but only little is yet known about the sites phosphorylated in vivo, the kinases that are responsible for the phosphorylation or the functional relevance of the phosphorylation status. Recently, we have shown that mdm2 is a good substrate for protein kinase CK2 at least in vitro. Computer analysis of the primary amino acid sequence of mdm2 revealed 19 putative CK2 phosphorylation sites. By using deletion mutants of mdm2 and a peptide library we identified the serine residue at position 269 which lies within a canonical CK2 consensus sequence (EGQELSDEDDE) as the most important CK2 phosphorylation site. Moreover, by using the mdm2 S269A mutant for in vitro phosphorylation assays this site was shown to be phosphorylated by CK2. Binding studies revealed that phosphorylation of mdm2 at S269 does not have any influence on the binding of p53 to mdm2.

Expression of the casein kinase 2 subunits in Chinese hamster ovary and 3T3 L1 cells provides information on the role of the enzyme in cell proliferation and the cell cycle

In order to investigate the in vivo functions of protein kinase CK2 (CK2), the expression of Myc-tagged versions of the subunits, Myc-CK2alpha and Myc-CK2beta, was carried out in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO cells) and in 3T3 L1 fibroblasts. Cell proliferation in these cells was examined. CHO cells that transiently overexpressed the Myc-CK2beta subunit exhibited a severe growth defect, as shown by a much lower value of [(3)H]thymidine incorporation than the vector controls, and a rounded shrunken morphology. In contrast, cells overexpressing Myc-tagged CK2alpha showed a slightly but consistently higher value of [(3)H]thymidine incorporation than the controls. The defect in cell growth and changes in morphology caused by Myc-CK2beta overexpression were partially rescued by coexpression of Myc-tagged CK2alpha. In parallel to the studies in CHO cells, the stable transfection of Myc-CK2alpha and Myc-CK2beta subunits was achieved in 3T3 L1 fibroblast cells. Similarly, the ectopic expression of Myc-CK2beta, but not Myc-CK2alpha, caused a growth defect. By measuring [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, it was found that expression of Myc-CK2beta prolonged the G(1) phase and inhibited up-regulation of cyclin D1 expression during G(1). In addition, a lower mitotic index and lower mitotic cyclin-dependent kinase activities were detected in Myc-CK2beta-expressing cells. Detailed analysis of stable cells that were synchronously released into the cell cycle revealed that the expression of Myc-CK2beta inhibited cells entering into mitosis and prevented the activation of mitotic cyclin-dependent kinases. Taken together, results from both transient and stable expression of CK2 subunits strongly suggest that CK2 may be involved in the control of cell growth and progression of the cell cycle.

Phosphorylation of the yeast ribosomal stalk. Functional effects and enzymes involved in the process

The ribosomal stalk is directly involved in the interaction of the elongation factors with the ribosome during protein synthesis. The stalk is formed by a complex of five proteins, four small acidic polypeptides and a larger protein which directly interacts with the rRNA at the GTPase center. In eukaryotes the acidic components correspond to the 12-kDa P1 and P2 proteins, and the RNA binding component is the P0 protein. All these proteins are found phosphorylated in eukaryotic organisms, and previous in vitro data suggested this modification was involved in the activity of this structure. Results from mutational studies have shown that phosphorylation takes place at a serine residue close to the carboxy end of the P proteins. Modification of this serine residue does not affect the formation of the stalk and the activity of the ribosome in standard conditions but induces an osmoregulation-related phenotype at 37 degrees C. The phosphorylatable serine is part of a consensus casein kinase II phosphorylation site. However, although CKII seems to be responsible for part of the stalk phosphorylation in vivo, it is probably not the only enzyme in the cell able to perform this modification. Five protein kinases, RAPI, RAPII and RAPIII, in addition to the previously reported CKII and PK60 kinases, are able to phosphorylate the stalk proteins. A comparison of the five enzymes shows differences among them that suggest some specificity regarding the phosphorylation of the four yeast acidic proteins. It has been found that some typical effectors of the PKC kinase stimulate the in vitro phosphorylation of the stalk proteins. All the data suggest that although phosphorylation is not involved in the interaction of the acidic P proteins with the ribosome, it can affect the ribosome activity and might participate in a possible ribosome regulatory mechanism.

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.

Repair of endonuclease-induced double-strand breaks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: essential role for genes associated with nonhomologous end-joining

Repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in chromosomal DNA by nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) is not well characterized in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we demonstrate that several genes associated with NHEJ perform essential functions in the repair of endonuclease-induced DSBs in vivo. Galactose-induced expression of EcoRI endonuclease in rad50, mre11, or xrs2 mutants, which are deficient in plasmid DSB end-joining and some forms of recombination, resulted in G2 arrest and rapid cell killing. Endonuclease synthesis also produced moderate cell killing in sir4 strains. In contrast, EcoRI caused prolonged cell-cycle arrest of recombination-defective rad51, rad52, rad54, rad55, and rad57 mutants, but cells remained viable. Cell-cycle progression was inhibited in excision repair-defective rad1 mutants, but not in rad2 cells, indicating a role for Rad1 processing of the DSB ends. Phenotypic responses of additional mutants, including exo1, srs2, rad5, and rdh54 strains, suggest roles in recombinational repair, but not in NHEJ. Interestingly, the rapid cell killing in haploid rad50 and mre11 strains was largely eliminated in diploids, suggesting that the cohesive-ended DSBs could be efficiently repaired by homologous recombination throughout the cell cycle in the diploid mutants. These results demonstrate essential but separable roles for NHEJ pathway genes in the repair of chromosomal DSBs that are structurally similar to those occurring during cellular development.

Tumour suppressor protein p53 released by nuclease digestion increases at the onset of rat liver regeneration

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Protein kinase CK2 (CK2) increases when cells are committed to proliferate, as in liver regeneration. This enzyme phosphorylates the tumour suppressor protein p53, whose expression controls the levels of many other cell cycle proteins. The aim of this study was to determine if CK2 was affected by p53.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were subjected to either partial hepatectomy or laparotomy and the levels and subcellular distribution of p53 were studied, following the approach used earlier for CK2. The levels of both proteins were also studied in the human cell lines HL-60 (devoid of p53) and HepG2 (with normal p53 levels) and in fibroblasts from transgenic p53-deficient mice (p53-/-) or homozygous for wild-type p53 (p53+/+). Computer-assisted search was used to detect p53 consensus sequences in genes for CK2 subunits Binding of p53 protein to some of these sequences was assayed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

RESULTS

Rat liver p53 protein was present mainly in the fraction extracted from intact nuclei by nucleases (S1) and showed a transient increase at 6 h post partial hepatectomy, as observed previously with nuclear CK2. The human CK2a gene presents the consensus sequence for trans-activation by p53 and specific binding of p53 protein to some of these sequences was detected in vitro. Total CK2a was higher in HepG2 than in HL-60 cells but total CK2 and its cytosolic/ nuclear distribution was similar in mice (p53+/+) fibroblasts and (p53-/-) fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

p53 is present in the nuclease-extracted S1 fraction from liver cells, as described for CK2, and undergoes similar changes at the beginning of rat liver regeneration. However, the data on cultured cells suggest that the expression of CK2 and its subcellular localization are p53-independent events.

Hec1p, an evolutionarily conserved coiled-coil protein, modulates chromosome segregation through interaction with SMC proteins

hsHec1p, a Homo sapiens coiled-coil-enriched protein, plays an important role in M-phase progression in mammalian cells. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein, identical to Tid3p/Ndc80p and here designated scHec1p, has similarities in structure and biological function to hsHec1p. Budding yeast cells deleted in the scHEC1/NDC80 allele are not viable, but this lethal phenotype can be rescued by hsHEC1 under control of the endogenous scHEC1 promoter. At the nonpermissive temperature, significant mitotic delay, chromosomal missegregation, and decreased viability were observed in yeast cells with temperature-sensitive (ts) alleles of hsHEC1. In the hshec1-113 ts mutant, we found a single-point mutation changing Trp395 to a stop codon, which resulted in the expression of a C-terminally truncated 45-kDa protein. The binding of this mutated protein, hshec1-113p, to five identified hsHec1p-associated proteins was unchanged, while its binding to human SMC1 protein and yeast Smc1p was ts. Hec1p also interacts with Smc2p, and the binding of the mutated hshec1-113p to Smc2p was not ts. Overexpression of either hsHEC1 or scHEC1 suppressed the lethal phenotype of smc1-2 and smc2-6 at nonpermissive temperatures, suggesting that the interactions between Hec1p and Smc1p and -2p are biologically significant. These results suggest that Hec1 proteins play a critical role in modulating chromosomal segregation, in part, through their interactions with SMC proteins.

Effects of polyamines, polyamine synthesis inhibitors, and polyamine analogs on casein kinase II using Myc oncoprotein as substrate

Polyamines, casein kinase II (CKII), and the myc oncogene are directly involved in the regulation of molecular events in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Each is increased in rapidly growing cancer cells. In our current study, we showed that the Km values for purified CKII were similar for casein and Myc oncoprotein under a variety of assay conditions, and that specific natural and synthetic polyamines stimulated CKII phosphorylation of Myc oncoprotein 2- to 20-fold via increases in Vmax. When polyamine synthesis inhibitors and analogs were studied with this purified enzyme system, two polyamine analogs (N1,N12-bis-(ethyl)-spermine [BESpm] and 1,19-bis-(ethylamino)-5,10,15, triazononadecane [BE4X4]), which did not affect basal enzyme activity, did prevent (or inhibit) polyamine-stimulated CKII activity by approximately 70 and 85 percent, respectively. Because the Myc oncoprotein transactivates several genes for key proteins involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation, including the omithine decarboxylase gene (rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine synthesis), we suggest that there may be linkages between polyamines, CKII, and Myc in the control of cellular proliferation. We also suggest that the anticancer drugs BESpm and BE4X4 may inhibit cancer cell proliferation partially through interference with the above-suggested CKII linkages.

A serine residue in the N-terminal acidic region of rat RPB6, one of the common subunits of RNA polymerases, is exclusively phosphorylated by casein kinase II in vitro

RPB6 is one of the common subunits of all eukaryotic RNA polymerases and is indispensable for the enzyme function. Here, we isolated a rat cDNA encoding RPB6. It contained 127 amino acid (a.a.) residues. From alignment of RPB6 homologues of various eukaryotes, we defined two conserved regions, i.e. an N-terminal acidic region and a C-terminal core. In this study, we investigated in vitro phosphorylation of rat RPB6 by casein kinase II (CKII), a pleiotropic regulator of numerous cellular proteins. Three putative CKII-phosphorylated a.a. within rat RPB6 were assigned. We found that serines were phosphorylated by CKII in vitro. Mutagenesis studies provided evidence that a serine at a.a. position 2 was exclusively phosphorylated. Finally, an RPB6-engaged in-gel kinase assay clarified that CKII was a prominent protein kinase in rat liver nuclear extract that phosphorylates RPB6. Therefore, RPB6 was implied to be phosphorylated by CKII in the nucleus. We postulate that the N-terminal acidic region of the RPB6 subunit has some phosphorylation-coupled regulatory functions.

PLANT PROTEIN SERINE/THREONINE KINASES: Classification and Functions

The first plant protein kinase sequences were reported as recently as 1989, but by mid-1998 there were more than 500, including 175 in Arabidopsis thaliana alone. Despite this impressive pace of discovery, progress in understanding the detailed functions of protein kinases in plants has been slower. Protein serine/threonine kinases from A. thaliana can be divided into around a dozen major groups based on their sequence relationships. For each of these groups, studies on animal and fungal homologs are briefly reviewed, and direct studies of their physiological functions in plants are then discussed in more detail. The network of protein-serine/threonine kinases in plant cells appears to act as a "central processor unit" (cpu), accepting input information from receptors that sense environmental conditions, phytohormones, and other external factors, and converting it into appropriate outputs such as changes in metabolism, gene expression, and cell growth and division.

Inducible expression of protein kinase CK2 in mammalian cells. Evidence for functional specialization of CK2 isoforms

Protein kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase II) exhibits elevated expression in a variety of cancers, induces lymphocyte transformation in transgenic mice, and collaborates with Ha-Ras in fibroblast transformation. To systematically examine the cellular functions of CK2, human osteosarcoma U2-OS cells constitutively expressing a tetracycline-regulated transactivator were stably transfected with a bidirectional plasmid encoding either catalytic isoform of CK2 (i.e. CK2alpha or CK2alpha') together with the regulatory CK2beta subunit in order to increase the cellular levels of either CK2 isoform. To interfere with either CK2 isoform, cells were also transfected with kinase-inactive CK2alpha or CK2alpha' (i. e. GK2alpha (K68M) or CK2alpha'(K69M)) together with CK2beta. In these cells, removal of tetracycline from the growth medium stimulated coordinate expression of catalytic and regulatory CK2 subunits. Increased expression of active forms of CK2alpha or CK2alpha' resulted in modest decreases in cell proliferation, suggesting that optimal levels of CK2 are required for optimal proliferation. By comparison, the effects of induced expression of kinase-inactive CK2alpha differed significantly from the effects of induced expression of kinase-inactive CK2alpha'. Of particular interest is the dramatic attenuation of proliferation that is observed following induction of CK2alpha'(K69M), but not following induction of CK2alpha(K68M). These results provide evidence for functional specialization of CK2 isoforms in mammalian cells. Moreover, cell lines exhibiting regulatable expression of CK2 will facilitate efforts to systematically elucidate its cellular functions.

HP33: hepatocellular carcinoma-enriched 33-kDa protein with similarity to mitochondrial N-acyltransferase but localized in a microtubule-dependent manner at the centrosome

Using a new subtraction method and chemically induced rat hepatocellular carcinomas, we identified a hepatocellular carcinogenesis and hepatocyte proliferation-related gene designated hp33 that encoded a 33-kDa protein. The predicted protein was similar to the bovine aralkyl N-acyltransferase and arylacetyl N-acyltransferase. HP33 was restrictively expressed in the liver and kidney, and its gene expression was stimulated in the regenerating liver as well as in hepatocellular carcinoma. Interestingly, it was demonstrated in various hepatic cells that HP33 was localized in regions surrounding the centrosome, where mitochondria were not concentrated. Moreover, its centrosomal localization was evident in the interphase but not in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. The centrosomal localization of HP33 was dependent on microtubules, and ectopically expressed HP33 was seen at centrosomes even in fibroblasts, which do not exhibit a typical staining pattern of HP33. The centrosomal localization of HP33 became invisible by nocodazole treatment, whereas the mitochondrial staining pattern was not affected by it. In vitro cosedimentation experiments using purified microtubules indicated that HP33 bound to MTs directly and that its MT-binding ability was dependent on the C-terminal basic domain of the protein. These results suggest that, different from early predictions based on its primary structure, HP33 has a growth- and carcinogenesis-related function that may be independent of mitochondrial function.

A modulatory role for clathrin light chain phosphorylation in Golgi membrane protein localization during vegetative growth and during the mating response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The role of clathrin light chain phosphorylation in regulating clathrin function has been examined in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The phosphorylation state of yeast clathrin light chain (Clc1p) in vivo was monitored by [32P]phosphate labeling and immunoprecipitation. Clc1p was phosphorylated in growing cells and also hyperphosphorylated upon activation of the mating response signal transduction pathway. Mating pheromone-stimulated hyperphosphorylation of Clc1p was dependent on the mating response signal transduction pathway MAP kinase Fus3p. Both basal and stimulated phosphorylation occurred exclusively on serines. Mutagenesis of Clc1p was used to map major phosphorylation sites to serines 52 and 112, but conversion of all 14 serines in Clc1p to alanines [S(all)A] was necessary to eliminate phosphorylation. Cells expressing the S(all)A mutant Clc1p displayed no defects in Clc1p binding to clathrin heavy chain, clathrin trimer stability, sorting of a soluble vacuolar protein, or receptor-mediated endocytosis of mating pheromone. However, the trans-Golgi network membrane protein Kex2p was not optimally localized in mutant cells. Furthermore, pheromone treatment exacerbated the Kex2p localization defect and caused a corresponding defect in Kex2p-mediated maturation of the alpha-factor precursor. The results reveal a novel requirement for clathrin during the mating response and suggest that phosphorylation of the light chain subunit modulates the activity of clathrin at the trans-Golgi network.

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.

Subcellular localization of the von Hippel-Lindau disease gene product is cell cycle-dependent

The von Hippel-Lindau gene product (pVHL) interacts with and inhibits the cellular transcription factor elongin. However, the subcellular localization of pVHL has remained uncertain. Naturally occurring pVHL mutants which fail to interact with elongin have been described in patients with VHL disease or sporadic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Here, we have examined the cellular expression pattern of endogenous pVHL in different RCC cell lines by immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Both anti-N-terminal and anti-C-terminal pVHL antibodies were able to recognize endogenous wild-type pVHL expressed by the RCC cells studied. A C-terminal truncated VHL mutant expressed by RCC cell line A498 was detected only by the N-terminal antibody but not by the C-terminal antibody as expected. The overall staining patterns of these cell lines are similar, with a predominant nuclear speckled pattern and a moderate cytoplasmic staining in subconfluent cell cultures. Interestingly, when cells reached confluency, more prominent nuclear staining with little or no cytoplasmic expression was observed. By using double labeling with anti-VHL and anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) antibodies and cell cycle analyses, we found that in the G1/G0-phase, pVHL was localized exclusively in the nucleus associated with distinctive large subnuclear structures, whereas the majority of the cells in S-phase of the cell cycle also showed a diffuse cytoplasmic staining. Our results indicate that subcellular localization of pVHL is regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner.

Protein kinase CK2 interacts with and phosphorylates the Arabidopsis circadian clock-associated 1 protein

The circadian clock-associated 1 (CCA1) gene encodes a Myb-related transcription factor that has been shown to be involved in the phytochrome regulation of Lhcb1*3 gene expression and in the function of the circadian oscillator in Arabidopsis thaliana. By using a yeast interaction screen to identify proteins that interact with CCA1, we have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a regulatory (beta) subunit of the protein kinase CK2 and have designated it as CKB3. CKB3 is the only reported example of a third beta-subunit of CK2 found in any organism. CKB3 interacts specifically with CCA1 both in a yeast two-hybrid system and in an in vitro interaction assay. Other subunits of CK2 also show an interaction with CCA1 in vitro. CK2 beta-subunits stimulate binding of CCA1 to the CCA1 binding site on the Lhcb1*3 gene promoter, and recombinant CK2 is able to phosphorylate CCA1 in vitro. Furthermore, Arabidopsis plant extracts contain a CK2-like activity that affects the formation of a DNA-protein complex containing CCA1. These results suggest that CK2 can modulate CCA1 activity both by direct interaction and by phosphorylation of the CCA1 protein and that CK2 may play a role in the function of CCA1 in vivo.

Protein kinase CK2alpha' is induced by serum as a delayed early gene and cooperates with Ha-ras in fibroblast transformation

Protein kinase CK2 is an ubiquitous and pleiotropic Ser/Thr protein kinase composed of two catalytic (alpha and/or alpha') and two noncatalytic (beta) subunits forming a heterotetrameric holoenzyme involved in cell growth and differentiation. Here we report the identification, cloning, and oncogenic activity of the murine CK2alpha' subunit. Serum treatment of quiescent mouse fibroblasts induces CK2alpha' mRNA expression, which peaks at 4 h. The kinetics of CK2alpha' expression correlate with increased kinase activity toward a specific CK2 holoenzyme peptide substrate. The ectopic expression of CK2alpha' (or CK2alpha) cooperates with Ha-ras in foci formation of rat primary embryo fibroblasts. Moreover, we observed that BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts transformed with Ha-ras and CK2alpha' show a faster growth rate than cells transformed with Ha-ras alone. In these cells the higher growth rate correlates with an increase in calmodulin phosphorylation, a protein substrate specifically affected by isolated CK2 catalytic subunits but not by CK2 holoenzyme, suggesting that unbalanced expression of a CK2 catalytic subunit synergizes with Ha-ras in cell transformation.

Rapamycin induces the G0 program of transcriptional repression in yeast by interfering with the TOR signaling pathway

The macrolide antibiotic rapamycin inhibits cellular proliferation by interfering with the highly conserved TOR (for target of rapamycin) signaling pathway. Growth arrest of budding yeast cells treated with rapamycin is followed by the program of molecular events that characterizes entry into G0 (stationary phase), including the induction of polymerase (Pol) II genes typically expressed only in G0. Normally, progression into G0 is characterized by transcriptional repression of the Pol I and III genes. Here, we show that rapamycin treatment also causes the transcriptional repression of Pol I and III genes. The down-regulation of Pol III transcription is TOR dependent. While it coincides with translational repression by rapamycin, transcriptional repression is due in part to a translation-independent effect that is evident in extracts from a conditional tor2 mutant. Biochemical experiments reveal that RNA Pol III and probably transcription initiation factor TFIIIB are targets of repression by rapamycin. In view of previous evidence that TFIIIB and Pol III are inhibited when protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) function is impaired, and that PP2A is a component of the TOR pathway, our results suggest that TOR signaling regulates Pol I and Pol III transcription in response to nutrient growth signals.

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.

In vivo regulation of the entry into M-phase: initial activation and nuclear translocation of cyclin B/Cdc2

The cyclin B/Cdc2 complex, Cdc2 kinase governs M-phase. Although the intracomplex modification for its activation in vitro has been described extensively, its regulation in vivo is not so well explained so far. In this article, we will focus on the intracellular regulation of the cyclin B/Cdc2 activity, in particular, how it is initially activated in vivo, how its nuclear translocation is executed specifically at the onset of M-phase, and how the activation and the nuclear translocation are coordinated in the cell. These concerted regulations may determine the appropriate timing for the initiation of M-phase.

Temperature-sensitive mutations of the CKA1 gene reveal a role for casein kinase II in maintenance of cell polarity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Casein kinase II (CKII) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two distinct catalytic subunits, alpha and alpha', that are encoded by the CKA1 and -2 genes, respectively. We have constructed conditional alleles of the CKA1 gene. In contrast to cka1 cka2(ts) strains, which exhibit a defect in both G1 and G2/M cell cycle progression, cka1(ts) cka2 strains continue to divide for three cell cycles after a shift to restrictive temperature and then arrest as a mixture of budded and unbudded cells with a spherical morphology. Arrested cells exhibit continued growth, a nonpolarized actin cytoskeleton, delocalized chitin deposition, and a significant fraction of multinucleate cell bodies, confirming the presence of a cell polarity defect in cka1(ts) strains. The presence of budded as well as unbudded cells in the arrested population suggests that CKII is required for maintenance rather than establishment of cell polarity, although a role in both processes is also possible. The terminal phenotype of cka1(ts) strains bears a strong resemblance to that of orb5 strains of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which carry a temperature-sensitive CKII catalytic subunit mutation, but the underlying mechanism appears to be different in the two cases. These results establish a requirement for CKII in cell polarity in S. cerevisiae and provide the first evidence for functional specialization of CKA1 and -2.

Murine protein kinase CK2 alpha': cDNA and genomic cloning and chromosomal mapping

Protein kinase CK2 (casein kinase II) is a heterotetrameric enzyme implicated in many essential regulatory pathways in cells. We have determined the sequence of the murine CK2 alpha' cDNA that encodes a 350-amino-acid protein that would have 99 and 98% homology with the human and chicken proteins, respectively, and is also highly homologous to murine CK2 alpha. To clarify the sequence of the 5' end of the cDNA and to elucidate the structure and regulation of the gene, we obtained a bacterial artificial chromosome clone that contains the 35-kb CK2 alpha' gene. The gene consists of 12 small exons; the 5' end, including the first exon and intron, is extremely GC rich and contains a CpG island. The putative promoter contains potential binding sites for a variety of transcriptional factors but appears to lack CCAAT- or TATA-like elements. A polymorphic dinucleotide repeat in the fifth intron allowed us to map the CK2 alpha' gene to murine Chromosome 8.

Casein kinase II regulation of yeast TFIIIB is mediated by the TATA-binding protein

The highly conserved protein kinase casein kinase II (CKII) is required for efficient Pol III transcription of the tRNA and 5S rRNA genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using purified factors from wild-type cells to complement transcription extracts from a conditional lethal mutant of CKII we show that TFIIIB is the CKII-responsive component of the Pol III transcription machinery. Dephosphorylation of TFIIIB eliminated its ability to complement CKII-depleted extract, and a single TFIIIB subunit, the TATA-binding protein (TBP), is a preferred substrate of CKII in vitro. Recombinant TBP purified from Escherichia coli is phosphorylated efficiently by CKII and, in the presence of a limiting amount of CKII, is able to substantially rescue transcription in CKII-deficient extract. Our results establish that TBP is a key component of the pathway linking CKII activity and Pol III transcription and suggest that TBP is the target of a CKII-mediated regulatory mechanism that can modulate Pol III transcription.

MPM-2 epitope sequence is not sufficient for recognition and phosphorylation by ME kinase-H

Monoclonal antibody MPM-2 recognizes a large family of mitotic phosphoproteins in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. The antigenic phosphoepitope, designated the MPM-2 epitope, putatively consists of hydrophobic residue-Thr/Ser-Pro-hydrophobic residue-uncharged/basic residue. In this study, we addressed whether this sequence motif contains all the information necessary for recognition and phosphorylation by the kinase that phosphorylates most MPM-2 antigens. A fusion protein between glutathione S-transferase and a 19-residue peptide that contained two representative MPM-2 epitope sequences overlapping with two potential MAP kinase phosphorylation sites was constructed. Both the MPM-2 epitope sequences in the fusion protein (GST-MPM2) were phosphorylated by Xenopus egg extract, making the fusion protein MPM-2 reactive. However, while MAP kinase phosphorylated both the MPM-2 epitope sequences, neither ME kinase-H, a good candidate for a major MPM-2 epitope kinase, nor mitotic cdc2 kinase, which is known to phosphorylate certain MPM-2 antigens in vitro, phosphorylated GST-MPM2 to any significant extent. Furthermore, depletion of MAP kinase activity removed most, if not all, of the GST-MPM2 phosphorylating activity from crude Xenopus egg extracts. These results suggest that additional or different structural information than that provided by the deduced MPM-2 epitope sequence is required for recognition and phosphorylation by ME kinase-H or other major MPM-2 epitope kinases. They also offer a valid explanation for selective phosphorylation of certain MPM-2 antigens by MAP kinase as well as selective recognition of certain phosphorylated MAP kinase substrates by MPM-2.