Subcellular localization of casein kinase I

The effect of heparin on the activity of Trichosporon cutaneum casein kinase I

Casein kinase I from Trichosporon cutaneum ribosome-free extracts was purified. Its molecular mass was calculated for 33 kDa. It was shown that casein, phosvitin and Trichosporon cutaneum ribosomal protein of 15 kDa were preferable substrates for the enzyme. It was found that heparin can stimulate or inhibit CKI activity depending on the substrate used. Stimulation of casein and inhibition of phosvitin phosphorylation was observed. In addition it was shown that ribosomal proteins of 19 kDa and 38 kDa were phosphorylated by CKI only in the presence of heparin.

Identification of a family of casein kinases in Paramecium: biochemical characterization and cellular localization

Protein phosphorylation is believed to play a role in the regulation of ciliary motility in the protozoan Paramecium tetraurelia. Five protein kinases from Paramecium, activated by cyclic nucleotides or Ca2+, have been characterized previously. We report here the identification of a family of second-messenger-independent casein kinases in Paramecium. Casein kinase activity was enriched in the soluble fraction of cilia, but there was also significant activity tightly associated with axonemes. Three ciliary casein kinase activities (soluble CKS1 and CKS2, and axonemal CKA) were separated by chromatography and characterized. The native forms of all three were monomeric, with molecular masses of 28-45 kDa as judged by in-gel kinase assays and sizing by gel filtration. CKS2 was inhibited by heparin, but CKA was unaffected and CKS1 was stimulated. All three activities preferred acidic substrates such as casein and phosvitin, but they could be distinguished by their preference for other substrates. Antibodies against mammalian casein kinase I recognized CKS1 and CKS2 in immunoblots (43 kDa), but did not stain CKA. The antibodies to casein kinase I were used to probe other cellular fractions. A 65 kDa antigen (particulate casein kinase, CKP) was enriched in particulate fractions of whole cells. This 65 kDa protein was found in isolated cell cortices, but was not present in the infraciliary lattice. This report represents the first biochemical identification of a casein kinase I family in protozoa.

Cell cycle-dependent localization of casein kinase I to mitotic spindles

Casein kinase I (CKI) is a class of protein kinases ubiquitous to all eukaryotic cells. Recently, cDNA clones encoding several bovine CKI isoforms have been sequenced that show high sequence identity to the HRR25 gene product of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; HRR25 is required for normal cellular growth, nuclear segregation, DNA repair, and meiosis. We have raised polyclonal antibodies to a human erythroid 34-kDa CKI and have sequenced a portion of this kinase. The amino acid sequence identifies the CKI as the alpha-CKI isoform, which is 62% identical to the HRR25 protein kinase. By use of immunofluorescence, the alpha-CKI has been localized to vesicular cytosolic structures and to the centrosome in interphase cells. As cells progress into mitosis, centrospheric staining increases and, in mitosis, alpha-CKI associates with kinetochore fibers. This localization suggests that alpha-CKI, like HRR25, plays a role in the segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and may be cell cycle-regulated both in humans and in yeast.

Specific protein kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells phosphorylating 60S ribosomal proteins

A protein kinase, specific for 60S ribosomal proteins, has been isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, purified to almost homogeneity and characterized. The isolated enzyme is not related to other known protein kinases. Enzyme purification comprised three chromatography steps; DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose and heparin-Sepharose. SDS/PAGE analysis of the purified enzyme, indicated a molecular mass of around 71 kDa for the stained single protein band. The specific activity of the protein kinase was directed towards the 60S ribosomal proteins L44, L44', L45 and a 38 kDa protein. All the proteins are phosphorylated only at the serine residues. None of the 40S ribosomal proteins were phosphorylated in the presence of the kinase. For that reason we have named the enzyme the 60S kinase. An analysis of the phosphopeptide maps of acidic ribosomal proteins, phosphorylated at either the 60S kinase or casein kinase II, showed almost identical patterns. Using the immunoblotting technique, the presence of the kinase has been detected in extracts obtained from intensively growing cells. These findings suggest an important role played by the 60S kinase in the regulation of ribosomal activity during protein synthesis.

The beta subunit of casein kinase II: cloning of cDNAs from murine and porcine origin and expression of the porcine sequence as a fusion protein

cDNAs encoding the beta subunit of pig and mouse CKII were isolated. The porcine cDNA was expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli and used for the production of anti-CKII-beta subunit specific antibodies.