A role for CK2α/β in Xenopus early embryonic development

Protein Kinase CK2, a Potential Therapeutic Target in Carcinoma Management

The Protein kinase CK2 (formerly known as casein kinase 2) is a highly conserved serine/ threonine kinase overexpressed in various human carcinomas and its high expression often correlates with poor prognosis. CK2 protein is localized in the nucleus of many tumor cells and correlates with clinical features in many cases. Increased expression of CK2 in mice results in the development of various types of carcinomas (both solids and blood related tumors, such as (breast carcinoma, lymphoma, etc), which reveals its carcinogenic properties. CK2 plays essential roles in many key biological processes related to carcinoma, including cell apoptosis, DNA damage responses and cell cycle regulation. CK2 has become a potential anti-carcinoma target. Various CK2 inhibitors have been developed with anti-neoplastic properties against a variety of carcinomas. Some CK2 inhibitors have showed good results in in vitro and pre-clinical models, and have even entered in clinical trials. This article will review effects of CK2 and its inhibitors on common carcinomas in in vitro and pre-clinical studies.

CIGB-300: A peptide-based drug that impairs the Protein Kinase CK2-mediated phosphorylation

Protein kinase CK2, formerly referred to as casein kinase II, is a serine/threonine kinase often found overexpressed in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies that phosphorylates many substrates integral to the hallmarks of cancer. CK2 has emerged as a viable oncology target having been experimentally validated with different kinase inhibitors, including small molecule ATP-competitors, synthetic peptides, and antisense oligonucleotides. To date only two CK2 inhibitors, CIGB-300 and CX-4945, have entered the clinic in phase 1-2 trials. This review provides information on CIGB-300, a cell-permeable cyclic peptide that inhibits CK2-mediated phosphorylation by targeting the substrate phosphoacceptor domain. We review data that support the concept of CK2 as an anticancer target, address the mechanism of action, and summarize preclinical studies showing antiangiogenic and antimetastatic effects as well as synergism with anticancer drugs in preclinical models. We also summarize early clinical research (phase 1/2 trials) of CIGB-300 in cervical cancer, including data in combination with chemoradiotherapy. The clinical data demonstrate the safety, tolerability, and clinical effects of intratumoral injections of CIGB-300 and provide the foundation for future phase 3 clinical trials in locally advanced cervical cancer in combination with standard chemoradiotherapy.

Protein Kinase CK2: Intricate Relationships within Regulatory Cellular Networks

Protein kinase CK2 is a small family of protein kinases that has been implicated in an expanding array of biological processes. While it is widely accepted that CK2 is a regulatory participant in a multitude of fundamental cellular processes, CK2 is often considered to be a constitutively active enzyme which raises questions about how it can be a regulatory participant in intricately controlled cellular processes. To resolve this apparent paradox, we have performed a systematic analysis of the published literature using text mining as well as mining of proteomic databases together with computational assembly of networks that involve CK2. These analyses reinforce the notion that CK2 is involved in a broad variety of biological processes and also reveal an extensive interplay between CK2 phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications. The interplay between CK2 and other post-translational modifications suggests that CK2 does have intricate roles in orchestrating cellular events. In this respect, phosphorylation of specific substrates by CK2 could be regulated by other post-translational modifications and CK2 could also have roles in modulating other post-translational modifications. Collectively, these observations suggest that the actions of CK2 are precisely coordinated with other constituents of regulatory cellular networks.

CK2 in Cancer: Cellular and Biochemical Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Target

CK2 genes are overexpressed in many human cancers, and most often overexpression is associated with worse prognosis. Site-specific expression in mice leads to cancer development (e.g., breast, lymphoma) indicating the oncogenic nature of CK2. CK2 is involved in many key aspects of cancer including inhibition of apoptosis, modulation of signaling pathways, DNA damage response, and cell cycle regulation. A number of CK2 inhibitors are now available and have been shown to have activity against various cancers in vitro and in pre-clinical models. Some of these inhibitors are now undergoing exploration in clinical trials as well. In this review, we will examine some of the major cancers in which CK2 inhibition has promise based on in vitro and pre-clinical studies, the proposed cellular and signaling mechanisms of anti-cancer activity by CK2 inhibitors, and the current or recent clinical trials using CK2 inhibitors.

Asymmetric Localization of CK2α During Xenopus Oogenesis

The establishment of the dorso-ventral axis is a fundamental process that occurs after fertilization. Dorsal axis specification in frogs starts immediately after fertilization, and depends upon activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The protein kinase CK2α can modulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling and is necessary for dorsal axis specification in Xenopus laevis. Our previous experiments show that CK2α transcripts and protein are animally localized in embryos, overlapping the region where Wnt/β-catenin signaling is activated. Here we determined whether the animal localization of CK2α in the embryo is preceded by its localization in the oocyte. We found that CK2α transcripts were detected from stage I, their levels increased during oogenesis, and were animally localized as early as stage III. CK2α transcripts were translated during oogenesis and CK2α protein was localized to the animal hemisphere of stage VI oocytes. We cloned the CK2α 3’UTR and showed that the 2.8 kb CK2α transcript containing the 3’UTR was enriched during oogenesis. By injecting ectopic mRNAs, we demonstrated that both the coding and 3’UTR regions were necessary for proper CK2α transcript localization. This is the first report showing the involvement of coding and 3’UTR regions in animal transcript localization. Our findings demonstrate the pre-localization of CK2α transcript and thus, CK2α protein, in the oocyte. This may help restrict CK2α expression in preparation for dorsal axis specification.

Xenopus paraxial protocadherin inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signalling via casein kinase 2β

Xenopus paraxial protocadherin (PAPC) regulates cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and promotes the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. Here we report that PAPC functions in the Xenopus gastrula as an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The intracellular domain of PAPC interacts with casein kinase 2 beta (CK2β), which is part of the CK2 holoenzyme. The CK2α/β complex stimulates Wnt/β-catenin signalling, and the physical interaction of CK2β with PAPC antagonizes this activity. By this mechanism, PAPC restricts the expression of Wnt target genes during gastrulation. These experiments identify a novel function of protocadherins as regulators of the Wnt pathway.

Developmental changes in the localization of protein kinase CK2 in non-diapause and diapause eggs of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

To analyze the role of protein kinase CK2 (CK2) during early embryogenesis in non-diapause and diapause of the silkworm, the distribution and localization of Bombyx mori CK2 (BmCK2) were investigated by an immunohistochemical technique using antibodies against the α- and β-subunits of BmCK2. Both were localized in blastoderm cells of non-diapause and diapause eggs until 24 h after oviposition. More than 24 h after oviposition, however, the distribution of BmCK2 was different in non-diapause and diapause eggs. In non-diapause eggs, BmCK2 was mainly localized in yolk cells. In contrast, in diapause eggs, the localization was mainly observed in germ-band cells. Furthermore, we confirmed that the RNA helicase-like protein that was localized together with BmCK2 in non-diapause eggs was phosphorylated by BmCK2 in vitro. These data suggest that the role of BmCK2 is different in non-diapause and diapause eggs.

CK2α is essential for embryonic morphogenesis

CK2 is a highly conserved serine-threonine kinase involved in biological processes such as embryonic development, circadian rhythms, inflammation, and cancer. Biochemical experiments have implicated CK2 in the control of several cellular processes and in the regulation of signal transduction pathways. Our laboratory is interested in characterizing the cellular, signaling, and molecular mechanisms regulated by CK2 during early embryonic development. For this purpose, animal models, including mice deficient in CK2 genes, are indispensable tools. Using CK2α gene-deficient mice, we have recently shown that CK2α is a critical regulator of mid-gestational morphogenetic processes, as CK2α deficiency results in defects in heart, brain, pharyngeal arch, tail bud, limb bud, and somite formation. Morphogenetic processes depend upon the precise coordination of essential cellular processes in which CK2 has been implicated, such as proliferation and survival. Here, we summarize the overall phenotype found in CK2α (-/- ) mice and describe our initial analysis aimed to identify the cellular processes affected in CK2α mutants.

Sequential activation and inactivation of Dishevelled in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway by casein kinases

Dishevelled (Dvl) is a key component in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Dvl can multimerize to form dynamic protein aggregates, which are required for the activation of downstream signaling. Upon pathway activation by Wnts, Dvl becomes phosphorylated to yield phosphorylated and shifted (PS) Dvl. Both activation of Dvl in Wnt/β-catenin signaling and Wnt-induced PS-Dvl formation are dependent on casein kinase 1 (CK1) δ/ε activity. However, the overexpression of CK1 was shown to dissolve Dvl aggregates, and endogenous PS-Dvl forms irrespective of whether or not the activating Wnt triggers the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Using a combination of gain-of-function, loss-of-function, and domain mapping approaches, we attempted to solve this discrepancy regarding the role of CK1ε in Dvl biology. We analyzed mutual interaction of CK1δ/ε and two other Dvl kinases, CK2 and PAR1, in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We show that CK2 acts as a constitutive kinase whose activity is required for the further action of CK1ε. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the two consequences of CK1ε phosphorylation are separated both spatially and functionally; first, CK1ε-mediated induction of TCF/LEF-driven transcription (associated with dynamic recruitment of Axin1) is mediated via a PDZ-proline-rich region of Dvl. Second, CK1ε-mediated formation of PS-Dvl is mediated by the Dvl3 C terminus. Furthermore, we demonstrate with several methods that PS-Dvl has decreased ability to polymerize with other Dvls and could, thus, act as the inactive signaling intermediate. We propose a multistep and multikinase model for Dvl activation in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway that uncovers a built-in de-activation mechanism that is triggered by activating phosphorylation of Dvl by CK1δ/ε.

Threonine 393 of beta-catenin regulates interaction with Axin

CK2 is a regulatory kinase implicated in embryonic development and in cancer. Among the CK2 substrates is beta-catenin, a protein with dual function in Wnt signaling and cell adhesion. Previously, we reported that CK2 activity is required for beta-catenin stability and we identified threonine (T) 393 as a major CK2 phosphorylation site in beta-catenin. However, it is not known whether phosphorylation at T393 increases beta-catenin stability and if so, what is the mechanism. In this study we investigate the molecular mechanism of beta-catenin stabilization through phosphorylation at T393. We found that pseudophosphorylation of beta-catenin at T393 resulted in a stable activated form of beta-catenin with decreased affinity for Axin in vitro. This phosphomimetic mutant also displayed decreased regulation by Axin in vivo in a bioassay in Xenopus laevis embryos. In contrast, the binding of T393 pseudophosphorylated beta-catenin to E-cadherin was unaffected. Further analysis showed that pseudophosphorylation at T393 did not prevent beta-catenin phosphorylation by GSK3beta. Interestingly, we found that in the presence of pseudophophorylated beta-catenin and another activated form of beta-catenin, the recruitment of GSK3beta to Axin is enhanced. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of T393 by CK2 may affect the stability of beta-catenin through decreased binding to Axin. In addition, the increased recruitment of GSK3beta to the destruction complex in the presence of activated beta-catenin mutants could be a feedback mechanism to suppress overactive Wnt signaling.

Beta-catenin activation promotes liver regeneration after acetaminophen-induced injury

Acute liver failure (ALF) remains a disease with poor patient outcome. Improved prognosis is associated with spontaneous liver regeneration, which supports the relevance of exploring 'regenerative' therapies. Therefore, the role of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in liver regeneration following ALF was investigated. ALF was induced in mice by acetaminophen overdose, which is also a leading cause of liver failure in patients. beta-catenin distribution was also studied in liver sections from acetaminophen-induced ALF patients. A nonlethal dose of acetaminophen, which induces liver regeneration, led to stabilization and activation of beta-catenin for 1 to 12 hours. These data were also verified by increased expression of the beta-catenin surrogate target glutamine synthetase. Beta-catenin activation occurred secondary to the inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and an increase in levels of casein kinase 2alpha, and led to increased cyclin-D1, another known beta-catenin target. These observations were next substantiated in beta-catenin conditional-null mice (beta-catenin-null), which show dampened regeneration after acetaminophen injury following induction of CYP2e1/1a2 expression. In light of decreased acetaminophen injury in beta-catenin-null mice despite CYP induction, equitoxic studies in control mice were performed. Significant differences in regeneration persisted following comparable injury in beta-catenin-null and control animals. Retrospective analysis of liver samples from acetaminophen-overdose patients demonstrated a positive correlation between nuclear beta-catenin, proliferation, and spontaneous liver regeneration. Thus, our studies demonstrate early activation of beta-catenin signaling during acetaminophen-induced injury, which contributes to hepatic regeneration.

In-vitro phosphorylation activity by recombinant alpha and beta subunits of Bombyx mori casein kinase 2

To clarify the control mechanism of the catalytic activity of casein kinase 2 (CK2) during early embryonic development in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, we attempted an in-vitro functional analysis by using the recombinant alpha and beta subunits of B. mori CK2 (rBmCK2alpha and rBmCK2beta) produced in a bacterial system. The renatured rBmCK2alpha possessed protein kinase activity. When rBmCK2alpha and rBmCK2beta were reconstituted in an approximate 1:1 molar ratio, the catalytic activity was almost the same as that of rBmCK2alpha alone. The catalytic activity of rBmCK2alpha was inhibited by polylysine, which is one of the activators of CK2 activity. However, when using the reconstituted rBmCK2alpha and rBmCK2beta (rBmCK2), activation by polylysine was observed. We examined the influence of sorbitol and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-OHK), which are contained mainly in diapause eggs, on the phosphorylation activity of rBmCK2. Three-OHK inhibited rBmCK2 activity, but sorbitol had no effect on it. Furthermore, a functional analysis using rBmCK2alpha and beta subunits of Drosophila melanogaster CK2 revealed that a difference in the C-terminal amino acid of the CK2beta subunit influenced the phosphorylation activity of rBmCK2alpha. These results may provide new insights for clarifying the control mechanism of B. mori casein kinase 2 in eggs.

Gene targeting of CK2 catalytic subunits

Protein kinase CK2 is a highly conserved and ubiquitous serine-threonine kinase. It is a tetrameric enzyme that is made up of two regulatory CK2beta subunits and two catalytic subunits, either CK2alpha/CK2alpha, CK2alpha/CK2alpha', or CK2alpha'/CK2alpha'. Although the two catalytic subunits diverge in their C termini, their enzymatic activities are similar. To identify the specific function of the two catalytic subunits in development, we have deleted them individually from the mouse genome by homologous recombination. We have previously reported that CK2alpha' is essential for male germ cell development, and we now demonstrate that CK2alpha has an essential role in embryogenesis, as mice lacking CK2alpha die in mid-embryogenesis, with cardiac and neural tube defects.

A functional screen for genes involved in Xenopus pronephros development

In Xenopus, the pronephros is the functional larval kidney and consists of two identifiable components; the glomus, the pronephric tubules, which can be divided into four separate segments, based on marker gene expression. The simplicity of this organ, coupled with the fact that it displays the same basic organization and function as more complex mesonephros and metanephros, makes this an attractive model to study vertebrate kidney formation. In this study, we have performed a functional screen specifically to identify genes involved in pronephros development in Xenopus. Gain-of-function screens are performed by injecting mRNA pools made from a non-redundant X. tropicalis full-length plasmid cDNA library into X. laevis eggs, followed by sib-selection to identify the single clone that caused abnormal phenotypes in the pronephros. Out of 768 egg and gastrula stage cDNA clones, 31 genes, approximately 4% of the screened clones, affected pronephric marker expression examined by whole mount in situ hybridization or antibody staining. Most of the positive clones had clear expression patterns in pronephros and predicted/established functions highly likely to be involved in developmental processes. In order to carry out a more detailed study, we selected Sox7, Cpeb3, P53csv, Mecr and Dnajc15, which had highly specific expression patterns in the pronephric region. The over-expression of these five selected clones indicated that they caused pronephric abnormalities with different temporal and spatial effects. These results suggest that our strategy to identify novel genes involved in pronephros development was highly successful, and that this strategy is effective for the identification of novel genes involved in late developmental events.

Isolation and characterization of a novel Xenopus gene (xVAP019) encoding a DUF1208 domain containing protein

We have identified a novel Xenopus gene (xVAP019) encoding a DUF1208 domain containing protein. Using whole-mount in situ hybridization and RT-PCR, we found abundant xVAP019 maternal transcripts in the animal hemisphere during the cleavage stages and blastula stages. During gastrulation xVAP019 is differentially expressed with higher levels in the animal helf and the highest in marginal zone, then further expressed widely at neuronal stages with strongest signals in the prospective CNS regions and the epidermal ectoderm. Subsequently xVAP019 was expressed predominantly in the head, the eyes, the otic vesicle, branchial arches, spinal cord, notochord, somites, and tailbud. It is absent or very weak in the endoderm. Injecting a morpholino oligo complementary to xVAP019 mRNA or injecting a caped xVAP019 mRNA caused most of embryos to die during gastrulation and neurulation. Overexpression of xVAP019 mRNA also led to eye defect, shorten interocular distance, small body size and abnormal pigment formation in parts of the survival embryos. Similar effects were induced by injecting the xVAP019 human homologous gene FAM92A1. Our results suggest that xVAP019 is essential for the normal ectoderm and axis mesoderm differentiation and embryos survival. This investigation is for the first time in vivo study examining the role of this novel gene and reveals an important role of xVAP019 in embryonic development.

Inositol Pentakisphosphate Mediates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Wnt3a stimulates lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor protein-sensitive transcription, i.e. the canonical pathway, in mouse F9 embryonal tetratocarcinoma cells expressing rat Frizzled-1. We explored the potential roles for inositol polyphosphates as mediators of Wnt signaling in the canonical path-way. Wnt3a triggers G-protein-linked phosphatidylinositol signaling, transiently generating inositol polyphosphates, especially inositol pentakisphosphate (IP(5)) accumulation. Knock-down of Galpha(q) abolishes, whereas expression of the Q209L constitutively active mutant of Galpha(q) mimics, the effects of Wnt3a on IP(5) generation and downstream signaling. Phospholipase Cbeta-1 and Cbeta-3 mediate the G protein signal to the level of phosphatidylinositol signaling. Knock-down and inhibitor studies of the enzymes responsible for generating IP(5) reveal inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase and inositol polyphosphate multikinase as key mediators in the production of IP(5). Wnt3a stimulation of the canonical pathway requires accumulation of IP(5), which acts to inhibit the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, whereas stimulating casein kinase 2. Blockade of Wnt3a stimulation of IP(5) generation blocks beta-catenin accumulation, activation of lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor protein-sensitive transcription, and promotion of primitive endoderm formation in response to Wnt3a. Phosphatidylinositol signaling mediates Wnt3a action in the canonical pathway, acting to generate inositol pentakisphosphate, a key second messenger of Wnt3a.

Casein Kinase 2 Is Activated and Essential for Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling

Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is essential to early development. Activation of Frizzled-1 by Wnts induces nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and activation of Lef/Tcf-dependent gene expression. Casein kinase 2 has been shown to affect Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. How casein kinase 2 exerts an influence in Wnt signaling is not clear; casein kinase 2 has been reported to be constitutively active (i.e. not regulated). Herein we show to the contrary that casein kinase 2 activity is rapidly and transiently increased in response to Wnt3a stimulation and is essential for Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Chemical inhibition of casein kinase 2 or suppression of its expression blocks Frizzled-1 activation of Lef/Tcf-sensitive gene expression. Treatment with pertussis toxin or knock down of Galpha(q) or Galpha(o) blocks Wnt stimulation of casein kinase 2 activation, as does suppression of the phosphoprotein Dishevelled, demonstrating that casein kinase 2 is downstream of heterotrimeric G proteins and Dishevelled. Expression of a constitutively active mutant of either Galpha(q) or Galpha(o) stimulates casein kinase 2 activation and Lef/Tcf-sensitive gene expression. Thus, casein kinase 2 is shown to be regulated by Wnt3a and essential to stimulation of the Frizzled-1/beta-catenin/Lef-Tcf pathway.