Serine-Threonine kinase CK2 supports malignant B-lymphocyte growth but its role in B-cell development and activation is largely unknown. Here, we describe the first B-cell specific knockout (KO) mouse model of the β regulatory subunit of CK2. CK2β KO mice present an increase in marginal zone (MZ) and a reduction in follicular B cells, suggesting a role for CK2 in the regulation of the B cell receptor (BCR) and NOTCH2 signaling pathways. Biochemical analyses demonstrate an increased activation of the NOTCH2 pathway in CK2β KO animals, which sustains MZ B-cell development. Transcriptomic analyses indicate alterations in biological processes involved in immune response and B-cell activation. Upon sheep red blood cells (SRBC) immunization CK2β KO mice exhibit enlarged germinal centers (GCs) but display a limited capacity to generate class-switched GC B cells and immunoglobulins. In vitro assays highlight that B cells lacking CK2β have an impaired signaling downstream of BCR, Toll-like receptor, CD40, and IL-4R all crucial for B-cell activation and antigen presenting efficiency. Somatic hypermutations analysis upon 4-Hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl hapten conjugated to Chicken Gamma Globulin (NP-CGG) evidences a reduced NP-specific W33L mutation frequency in CK2β KO mice suggesting the importance of the β subunit in sustaining antibody affinity maturation. Lastly, since diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells derive from GC or post-GC B cells and rely on CK2 for their survival, we sought to investigate the consequences of CK2 inhibition on B cell signaling in DLBCL cells. In line with the observations in our murine model, CK2 inactivation leads to signaling defects in pathways that are essential for malignant B-lymphocyte activation.

The Ser-Thr kinase CK2 plays important roles in sustaining cell survival and resistance to stress and these functions are exploited by different types of blood tumors. Yet, the physiological involvement of CK2 in normal blood cell development is poorly known. Here, we discovered that the β regulatory subunit of CK2 is critical for normal hematopoiesis in the mouse. Fetal livers of conditional CK2β knockout embryos showed increased numbers of hematopoietic stem cells associated to a higher proliferation rate compared to control animals. Both hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) displayed alterations in the expression of transcription factors involved in cell quiescence, self-renewal, and lineage commitment. HSPCs lacking CK2β were functionally impaired in supporting both in vitro and in vivo hematopoiesis as demonstrated by transplantation assays. Furthermore, KO mice developed anemia due to a reduced number of mature erythroid cells. This compartment was characterized by dysplasia, proliferative defects at early precursor stage, and apoptosis at late-stage erythroblasts. Erythroid cells exhibited a marked compromise of signaling cascades downstream of the cKit and erythropoietin receptor, with a defective activation of ERK/JNK, JAK/STAT5, and PI3K/AKT pathways and perturbations of several transcriptional programs as demonstrated by RNA-Seq analysis. Moreover, we unraveled an unforeseen molecular mechanism whereby CK2 sustains GATA1 stability and transcriptional proficiency. Thus, our work demonstrates new and crucial functions of CK2 in HSPC biology and in erythropoiesis.

Osteocytes play a critical role in bone remodeling through the secretion of paracrine factors regulating the differentiation and activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Sclerostin is a key osteocyte-derived factor that suppresses bone formation and promotes bone resorption, therefore regulators of sclerostin secretion are a likely source of new therapeutic strategies for treatment of skeletal disorders. Here, we demonstrate that protein kinase CK2 (casein kinase 2) controls sclerostin expression in osteocytes via the deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific peptidase 4 (USP4)-mediated stabilization of Sirtuin1 (SIRT1). Deletion of CK2 regulatory subunit, Csnk2b, in osteocytes (Csnk2bDmp1) results in low bone mass due to elevated levels of sclerostin. This phenotype in Csnk2bDmp1 mice was partly reversed when sclerostin expression was downregulated by a single intravenous injection with bone-targeting adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) carrying an artificial-microRNA that targets Sost. Mechanistically, CK2-induced phosphorylation of USP4 is important for stabilization of SIRT1 by suppressing ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation. Upregulated expression of SIRT1 inhibits sclerostin transcription in osteocytes. Collectively, the CK2-USP4-SIRT1 pathway is crucial for the regulation of sclerostin expression in osteocytes to maintain bone homeostasis.

The osteoblast differentiation capacity of skeletal stem cells (SSCs) must be tightly regulated, as inadequate bone formation results in low bone mass and skeletal fragility, and over-exuberant osteogenesis results in heterotopic ossification (HO) of soft tissues. RUNX2 is essential for tuning this balance, but the mechanisms of posttranslational control of RUNX2 remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we identify that a CK2/HAUSP pathway is a key regulator of RUNX2 stability, as Casein kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylates RUNX2, recruiting the deubiquitinase herpesvirus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP), which stabilizes RUNX2 by diverting it away from ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation. This pathway is important for both the commitment of SSCs to osteoprogenitors and their subsequent maturation. This CK2/HAUSP/RUNX2 pathway is also necessary for HO, as its inhibition blocked HO in multiple models. Collectively, active deubiquitination of RUNX2 is required for bone formation and this CK2/HAUSP deubiquitination pathway offers therapeutic opportunities for disorders of inappropriate mineralization.

OBJECTIVES:In humans, non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a major cause of male infertility. However, the aetiology of NOA is largely unknown. Previous studies reported that protein CK2β was abundantly and broadly expressed in spermatogenic cells. Here, we investigate whether protein CK2β participates in spermatogenesis.MATERIALS AND METHODS:In this study, we separated spermatogenic cells using STA-PUT velocity sedimentation, analysed the expression pattern of protein CK2β by immunoblotting, specifically deleted Ck2β gene in early-stage spermatogenic cells by crossing Ck2βfl mice with Stra8-Cre+ mice and validated the knockout efficiency by quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting. The phenotypes of Ck2βfl/Δ ;SCre+ mice were studied by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The molecular mechanisms of male germ cell development arrest were elucidated by immunoblotting and TUNEL assay.RESULTS:Ablation of Ck2β gene triggered excessive germ cell apoptosis, germ cell development arrest, azoospermia and male infertility. Inactivation of Ck2β gene caused distinctly reduced expression of Ck2α' gene and CK2α' protein.CONCLUSIONS:Ck2β is a vital gene for germ cell survival and male fertility in mice.

Premature ovarian failure (POF), a major cause of female infertility, is a complex disorder, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the disorder are only poorly understood. Here we report that protein kinase CK2 contributes to maintaining follicular survival through PI3K/AKT pathway and DNA damage response pathway. Targeted deletion of CK2β in mouse oocytes from the primordial follicle stage resulted in female infertility, which was attributed to POF incurring by massive follicle atresia. Downregulated PI3K/AKT signaling was found after CK2β deletion, indicated by reduced level of phosphorylated AKT (S473, T308, and S129) and altered AKT targets related to cell survival. Further studies discovered that CK2β-deficient oocytes showed enhanced γH2AX signals, indicative of accumulative unrepaired DSBs, which activated CHK2-dependant p53 and p63 signaling. The suppressed PI3K/AKT signaling and failed DNA damage response signaling probably contribute to large-scale oocyte loss and eventually POF. Our findings provide important new clues for elucidating the mechanisms underlying follicle atresia and POF.

CK2 (Csnk2, casein kinase 2) is a Ser-Thr kinase composed by two catalytic (α) and two regulatory (β) subunits and involved in the regulation of various signaling cascades, which are critical for stem cell biology and hematopoietic development. However, a direct role for CK2 during blood cell differentiation is still undefined. Here, we examined the function of CK2 in erythropoiesis by using a hematopoietic-specific conditional knockout mouse model of the β regulatory subunit (Vav1-CRE x Csnk2β f/f mice). Since CK2β knockout mice died in utero, the study was carried out during gestation collecting fetuses from 12.5 to 17.5 days post conception (dpc) and performing the analysis on fetal liver. CK2β knockout fetuses were pale and hydropic, displayed a smaller liver, disarrayed vascularization and haemorrhages. Lack of CK2β caused depletion of hematopoietic/precursor cells, in particular of common lymphoid progenitors and megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitors. CK2β loss resulted to affect both early and late erythroid maturation and red cell viability. CK2β knockout contained lower numbers of TER119 positive cells, which displayed a down modulation of the surface expression of transferrin receptor (CD71) and an increased spontaneous apoptosis. Erythroid cells showed alterations in morphology compatible with myelodysplastic changes. Loss of CK2β caused alterations of erythroid cell proliferation, which was different depending on the stage of erythroid maturation: indeed, BrdU and 7AAD staining showed that less mature erythroid cells (CD71+Ter119-) had a lower rate of proliferation but a normal viability; on the contrary, more mature (CD71-Ter119+) erythroid cells suffered in part of apoptosis and in part accumulated in the S phase. RNA seq analysis performed on purified Ter119+ cells revealed upregulation of TP53 -associated genes as well as of Cdkn1a (p21); on the contrary, there was a down-modulation of Stat5 (an erythropoietin receptor down-stream effector) and genes involved in red cell survival and differentiation in particular c-kit and genes associated to the PI3/Akt pathway. The expression of adhesion molecules and surface carriers for inorganic cations/anionsimportant for the osmotic equilibrium and cell membrane integrity was also found markedly dysregulated. Real time quantitative PCR and Western Blot (WB) analyses confirmed the expression data of Cdkn1a, c-Kit, Bcl-xL, Jak-Stat5 as well as of Akt-Gata-1 axis. Gata-1, the key transcription factor for definitive erythropoiesis, was reduced in CK2β knockout mice as were its downstream target genes such as Alas-2, Lrf, Eklf, Epo-R, β-globin. Immature fetal globins accumulated. In order to find a molecular mechanism, we used an in vitro model of erythroid differentiation based on G1ER cells, an estrogen inducible GATA-1 null murine erythroblast cell line; the combined treatment of β-estradiol and inhibition of CK2 through the chemical inhibitor CX-4945 or RNA interference against CK2β confirmed the negative effect on differentiation. Western blot analysis indicated a potential role of the kinase in the regulation of Akt, Gata-1 and Stat5 protein stability. Moreover, the blockade or down modulation of CK2 caused changes in Gata-1 nuclear distribution with loss of the speckled pattern induced by β-estradiol. Thus, CK2 is a likely essential controller of GATA-1 transcriptional function. Altogether, our work demonstrates that CK2 is a master regulator of erythroid development, by impinging on Stat5, Akt and Gata-1 signaling and influencing red cell viability, bioenergetics, proliferation and maturation.

The mechanisms that control the suppressive function of T reg cells in specific tissues are unclear. Bopp and colleagues show that T reg cells have high expression of kinase CK2 and this is critical for their ability to suppress type 2 responses in the lungs.

Background. Serine-threonine protein kinase CK2 has been recently involved in the pathogenesis of B-cell tumors, such as B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. CK2 acts through a “non-oncogene” addiction mechanism to propel tumor growth, protecting from apoptosis by a phosphorylation-dependent “shielding” mechanism of pro-survival molecules and stimulating oncogenic kinases by helping folding and enzymatic activity. In addition, CK2 has been shown to enhance the transactivation potential of several transcription factors, such as STAT3, NF-κB and c-Myc. The existing data on CK2 function in B cell tumors suggest that this kinase might act as a “hub” downstream signals from surface membrane molecules, like the B-cell (BCR), growth factor and cytokine receptors, as well as from cell-intrinsic pathways – like proteotoxic and DNA-damage-related stress cascades. Aims and methods. To gain insights into the role of CK2 in B-lymphopoiesis and, consequently, in B-cell tumors, we generated CK2β conditional knockout (KO) mice in B-cells by crossing Csnk2β-Flox/Flox mice with CD19-CRE transgenic mice. Results. CK2 kinase activity was decreased in Csnk2β KO B cells. In the bone marrow (BM), Csnk2β KO mice displayed a reduction of B-cells, especially of the B220high IgMint-high recirculating population of transitional and follicular (FO) B cells. Pro-B and pre-B-cell progenitors were slightly reduced in number. In peripheral blood, lymph-nodes, spleen and peritoneal cavity the number of B-cells was markedly reduced. Csnk2β KO mice had lower levels of all the immunoglobulin classes in the serum. The splenic IgDlow IgMhigh B-cell subset was increased whereas the IgDhigh IgMint-low population was decreased. An imbalance between the amount of FO and marginal zone (MZ) B-cells was found with an absolute reduction of FO B cells by approximately 2-folds and an increase of MZ B-cells and MZB cell precursors by up to three folds, on average. Histological and immunofluorescence (IF) analysis revealed a change of size/shape of spleen follicles and a significant expansion of the inter-follicular, marginal zone areas, which appeared to invade the follicle with larger cells. In vitro class-switch recombination assays demonstrated impairment in IgG1 and IgG3 class-switch and a marked reduction of the generation of antibody-producing cells. Anti-IgM stimulation was uncoupled to Ca++ mobilization, indicating a disrupted transmission of the signal from the BCR to the release of Ca++ stores in the endoplasmic reticulum. In vivo sheep red blood cells (SRBC) treatment (T-cell dependent response) showed a conserved up-regulation of GC markers, such as CD38, GL7 and PNA. Nonetheless, the architecture of the reactive follicles was found markedly changed. The analysis of FO, GC and MZ-associated genes showed normal levels of Bcl6, elevated levels of Lrf mRNA and, more significantly, a marked up-regulation of Notch2 target genes, such as Hes1 and Deltex1, in Csnk2β KO B cells. In vivo Notch2 blockage with neutralizing antibodies markedly reduced the MZB cell number in Csnk2β KO mice, indicating a Notch2-dependent MZB expansion associated with Csnk2β loss. High throughput RNAseq analysis was also performed and revealed significant alteration in FOB and MZB-regulating pathways. Conclusions. Here, we found that the β subunit of protein kinase CK2 is a novel regulator of peripheral B cell differentiation. CK2β sustains a proper BCR signal, controls the GC reaction and negatively regulates Notch2 signaling, acting as a master regulator of follicular/marginal zone architecture and terminal homeostasis of FOB and MZB cells. On one side our data enrich the knowledge on the mechanisms regulating B cell development, on the other side they inform about the potential mechanisms altered by CK2 during B-cell tumorigenesis. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background . CK2, a serine-threonine kinase composed of two catalytic (α) and two regulatory (β) subunits, has been clearly involved in several hematologic malignancies. This kinase regulates the PTEN/PI3K/AKT, Wnt/βcatenin, Hedgehog, JAK-STAT, cMyc and NF-κB signalling cascades, all of which are known to be of critical importance for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology and normal hematopoiesis. However, the role played by CK2 during blood cell development has remained as yet unexplored. Aims and methods . CK2 function in hematopoiesis was investigated generating conditional knockout mice for CK2β by crossing Csnk2β-Flox/Flox mice with Vav1-CRE transgenic mice. Inactivation of Csnk2β started from 9.5 dpc during embryonic development. Histo-cytological methods, FACS analysis, colony-forming assays (CFA), signal transduction studies by western blotting and RT-PCR were employed to characterize the cellular and molecular phenotype. High throughput RNAseq analysis was also performed on purified Ter119-positive erythroid cells from Csnk2β knockout and Csnk2β control mice to identify differentially expressed CK2-dependent transcriptional targets. Results . Csnk2β knockout in hematopoiesis resulted lethal at mid-late gestation. Rarely some pups were found dead at birth. Macroscopic and phenotypic analysis during gestation revealed the appearance of pale and hydropic fetuses after 12.5 dpc. The majority of pups showed teleangiectasic vessels and haemorrhages. Fetal livers appeared smaller and paler. Cytological analysis and CFA studies unveiled a great depletion of hematopoietic elements belonging to both the erythroid, megakaryocytic and granulocytic-monocytic precursors. A more thorough analysis of the erythroid phenotype revealed that Csnk2β loss caused impairment/loss of red cell maturation at two developmental stages: the earlier stages of Megakaryocyte-Erythroid Precursors (MEP) and pro-erythroblasts and the later stages of terminal maturation (orthocromatic erythroblasts towards reticulocytes). Expression analysis of proteins/genes belonging to known hematopoietic and erythroid-regulating pathways showed perturbations in cell cycle regulatory molecules, cellular apoptosis, a marked reduction of total and phosphorylated Akt in Ser473 and Ser129, a decrease of GATA1 protein levels and a decrease of Hedgehog/Wnt target genes such as Gli-1 and Cyclin D1. Erythropoietin-dependent AKT activation and GATA1 phosphorylation was impaired by Csnk2β loss. Moreover, starting at 14.5 dpc, blood cells displayed a massive p53-dependent response, marked by high levels of p21 and a progressive clear apopototic phenotype. At 17.5 dpc residual hematopoietic cells in the fetal liver were represented by dying erythroid cells, immature myelo-monocytic precursors (expressing high CD11b and low Gr1 levels on the surface) and B-cells displaying an aberrant phenotype with low intensity of expression of B220 and CD19 on the surface. High throughput RNAseq analysis of Ter119-expressing fetal liver cells (erythroid lineage) obtained from 14.5 dpc pups revealed the upregulation of 145 transcripts and the downregulation of 68 transcripts. Among the most increased transcripts were the transcription factors Jun/AP1 and stress-related intermediaries and embryonal globin e and ζ chains. Among the most decreased transcripts were sugar transporters, glycoproteins CD36 and CD59a, Duffy Blood Group Atypical Chemokine Receptor and component members. Conclusions . We found that Csnk2β plays a critical role in mouse blood development by regulating definitive hematopoiesis of all the hematopoietic cell lineages; however, Csnk2β was needed for the early and late erythropoiesis whilst its loss could be compatible with a certain extent of immature/altered myelo-monocytic and B cell development. Among the pathways found targeted by Csnk2β loss were the PI3K/Akt and the p53-p21 cascades. Our data also suggest that Csnk2β might have a role in the proper activation of the erythroid master regulator GATA1. Moreover, RNAseq analysis revealed that this kinase might have a broader impact during erythroid cell maturation by regulating the activity of critical stress related transcription factors, of molecules regulating energy-managing cellular processes and of mechanisms controlling the switch from embryonal to fetal erythropoiesis. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Screening for protein kinase CK2 inhibitors of the structural diversity compound library (DTP NCI/NIH) led to the discovery of 4-[(E)-(fluoren-9-ylidenehydrazinylidene)-methyl]benzoic acid (E9). E9 induces apoptotic cell death in various cancer cell lines and upon hypoxia, the compound suppresses CK2-catalyzed HSP90/Cdc37 phosphorylation and induces HIF-1α degradation. Furthermore, E9 exerts a strong anti-tumour activity by inducing necrosis in murine xenograft models underlining its potential to be used for cancer treatment in future clinical studies. Crystal structure analysis of human and maize CK2α in complex with E9 reveals unique binding properties of the inhibitor to the enzyme, accounting for its affinity and selectivity.

Abstract We developed a sensitive kinase asay using a QSS Assist ELISA kinase assay kit from Carna Biosciences, Inc. and the detection method from Meso Scale Discovery. The QSS Assist ELISA kit is optimized for screening of compounds. Comparing to most other kinase assay kits, QSS Assist ELISA kits are available for both peptide and protein substrates and several ELISA kits developed by Carna Biosciences employ a naturally occurring protein substrate, e.g. MAP kinases for MAPK kinases. Detection of kinase activity is achieved with a primary anti-phosphoserine/threonine or tyrosine antibody and a secondary anti-Ig-antibody. Commonly, such secondary antibodies are coupled to horseradish peroxidase (HRP), which allows for signal detection by adding a color reagent, i.e. an HRP substrate which can be detected upon reaction by measuring optical density. Here we applied an MSD SULFO-TAG labeled secondary antibody. These antibodies emit light upon electrochemical stimulation initiated at the electrode surfaces of MULTI-ARRAY microplates, and thus detect the primary antibody with ultimate sensitivity without direct labeling it. We have sucessfully miniaturized the highly sensitive assay and this new assay technology has been validated with published kinase inhibitors from AstraZeneca and Tocris Bioscience. Citation Format: Carsten Jacobi, Alain Schilb, Yusuke Kawase, Yasuyuki Kirii, Brigitte Boldyreff. Highly sensitive kinase assays combining Carna Biosciences QSS Assist ELISA reagents with the Meso Scale Discovery MULTI-ARRAY platform. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4541. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4541

Event Abstract Back to Event Protein kinase CK2β regulates peripheral B cell development Fortunato Zaffino1, 2, Sabrina Manni1, 2, Elisa Mandato1, 2, Laura Quotti Tubi1, 2, Alessandra Brancalion1, 2, Nicolò Compagno1, 2, Brigitte Boldyreff3, Odile Filhol-Cochet4, Gianpietro Semenzato1, 2 and Francesco Piazza1, 2* 1 University of Padova, Department of Medicine, Italy 2 Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Foundation for Advanced Biomedical Research, Hematologic Malignancies Unit, Italy 3 Kinasedetect, Denmark 4 INSERM, Université Joseph Fourier-Grenoble, France Serine-threonine kinase CK2 is involved in oncogenesis of B-cell derived tumors chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. To gain insights into its role in B-lymphocytes, we generated CK2β conditional knockout mice in B-cells. Non B-cell lineages were normal in CD19-CRE CK2βflox/flox mice. In the bone marrow, CD19-CRE CK2βflox/flox mice displayed a reduction of B-cells and the B220high IgMhigh recirculating population was found dramatically reduced. B-cell progenitors were apparently not affected by CK2β loss. On the contrary, B220+ CD19+ B-cells in peripheral blood, lymph-nodes, spleen and peritoneal cavity were markedly reduced. However, splenic IgDlow IgMhigh B-cell subset was reduced whereas we observed an increase of the IgDhigh IgMlow population, indicating an imbalance between the frequency of follicular (FO) and marginal zone (MZ) B-cells. Detailed FO and MZ B-cell populations analysis showed that FO B-cells were reduced by approximately 35-40% (from 72% to 45%), whereas MZ B-cells were increased up to three folds (from 8.5% to 23%). Histological analysis of CD19-CRE CK2βflox/flox spleens revealed a reduction of the size of follicles, absence of spontaneous germinal centers and an expansion of the interfollicular-marginal zone areas. In vitro class switch recombination assays demonstrated a moderate impairment in IgG1 and IgG3 class switch. In vitro cell cycle analysis experiments suggested an impairment in G1-S and S-G2 transition of CD19-CRE CK2βflox/flox B cells. Results of in vivo experiments testing T-cell dependent and T-cell independent responses will be described. Our study places CK2β as a novel regulator of B-lymphocyte development and survival. Acknowledgements This study was supported by a grant from the Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell' Università e della Ricerca Scientifica (MIUR) n° RBFR086EW9 (FIRB "Futuro in Ricerca") and from a University of Padova grant n° CPDA114940/11 "Progetti di Ricerca di Ateneo" to F.P and from the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (A.I.R.C., Milan) to G.S. We thank dr. Takahiro Maeda, Harvard Medical School, Boston (USA) for giving helpful suggestions. Keywords: Protein kinase CK2, B-cell development, Marginal zone B cells, Follicular B cells, knockout mice Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Adaptive Immunity Citation: Zaffino F, Manni S, Mandato E, Quotti Tubi L, Brancalion A, Compagno N, Boldyreff B, Filhol-Cochet O, Semenzato G and Piazza F (2013). Protein kinase CK2β regulates peripheral B cell development. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00179 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 10 Mar 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Dr. Francesco Piazza, University of Padova, Department of Medicine, Padova, 35128, Italy, francesco.piazza@unipd.it Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Fortunato Zaffino Sabrina Manni Elisa Mandato Laura Quotti Tubi Alessandra Brancalion Nicolò Compagno Brigitte Boldyreff Odile Filhol-Cochet Gianpietro Semenzato Francesco Piazza Google Fortunato Zaffino Sabrina Manni Elisa Mandato Laura Quotti Tubi Alessandra Brancalion Nicolò Compagno Brigitte Boldyreff Odile Filhol-Cochet Gianpietro Semenzato Francesco Piazza Google Scholar Fortunato Zaffino Sabrina Manni Elisa Mandato Laura Quotti Tubi Alessandra Brancalion Nicolò Compagno Brigitte Boldyreff Odile Filhol-Cochet Gianpietro Semenzato Francesco Piazza PubMed Fortunato Zaffino Sabrina Manni Elisa Mandato Laura Quotti Tubi Alessandra Brancalion Nicolò Compagno Brigitte Boldyreff Odile Filhol-Cochet Gianpietro Semenzato Francesco Piazza Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

A comparative biochemical analysis was performed using recombinant human protein kinase Chk2 (checkpoint kinase 2) expressed in bacteria and insect cells. Dephosphorylated, inactive, recombinant human Chk2 could be reactivated in a concentration-dependent manner. Despite distinct time-dependent autophosphorylation kinetics by monitoring the phosphorylation of amino acid residues T68, S19, S33/35, T432, in Chk2 wildtype and Chk2 mutants (T68A, T68D and Q69E) they gave identical specific activities. However, upon gel filtration of Chk2 wildtype and the mutants, only Chk2 wildtype and the T68D mutant led to the formation of a 'pure' dimer; dephosphorylated wildtype Chk2 eluted as a monomer. Transfection of HEK293 cells with Chk2 wildtype and Chk2 mutants in the absence or presence of DNA damage showed significant T68 phosphorylation already in the absence of DNA damaging reagents. Upon DNA damage, phosphorylation of additional Chk2 sites was observed (S19, S33/35). A comparison of ATM+/+ and ATM-/- cells with respect to phosphorylation of residues T68, S19, S33/35 in the absence and presence of DNA damage showed in all cases phosphorylation of T68, although signal intensity was increased ca. three-fold after DNA damage. Mass spectrometric analyses of human recombinant Chk2 isolated from bacteria and insect cells showed distinct differences. The number of phosphorylated residues in human recombinant Chk2 isolated from bacteria was 16, whereas in the case of the recombinant human Chk2 from insect cells it was 8. Except for phosphorylated amino acid T378 which was not found in the Chk2 isolated from bacteria, all other phosphorylated residues identified in human Chk2 from insect cells were present also in Chk2 from bacteria.

Phosphoinositide-3-kinases are important targets for drug development because many proteins in the PI3 kinase signaling pathway are mutated, hyperactivated, or overexpressed in human cancers. Here, the authors coexpressed the human class Ia PI3 kinase p110alpha catalytic domain with an N-terminal His-tag and the p85alpha regulatory domain in Sf9 insect cells. The complex consisting of p110alpha and p85alpha was purified by nickel affinity chromatography. The authors established an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion assay to measure the activity of p110alpha/p85alpha. The assay was optimized by testing different lipids as substrates, as well as various kinase and lipid concentrations. Furthermore, they analyzed autophosphorylation of p110alpha/p85alpha and determined the IC(50) for wortmannin, a known PI3 kinase inhibitor. The IC(50) for wortmannin was determined to be 7 nM. From a selection of substrates, phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-biphosphate turned out to be the best substrate at a concentration of 50 microM. p110alpha/p85alpha underwent autophosphorylation most prominently at the p85alpha subunit. However, in the presence of lipid substrate, the autophosphorylation was negligible. In parallel, a second assay format using the AlphaScreen technology was optimized to measure PI3 kinase activity. Both assay formats used should be suitable for high-throughput screening for the identification of PI3 kinase inhibitors.

Protein kinase CK2 (former name: “casein kinase 2”) is a pivotal and ubiquitously expressed member of the eukaryotic protein kinase superfamily. It predominantly exists as a heterotetrameric holoenzyme composed of two catalytic subunits (CK2α) and two regulatory subunits (CK2β). In higher animals two paralog catalytic chains—abbreviated CK2α and CK2α′—exist which can combine with CK2β to three isoforms of the holoenzyme: CK2α2β2, CK2α2′β2, and CK2αα′β2. While CK2α and the “normal” holoenzyme CK2α2β2 have been extensively characterized in vitro and in vivo, little is known about the enzymological properties of CK2α′ and the “alternative” holoenzyme CK2α2′β2 and about their specific physiological roles. A major reason for this lack of knowledge is the fact that so far CK2α′ rather than CK2α has caused serious stability and solubility problems during standard heterologous expression procedures. To overcome them, we developed a preparation scheme for CK2α2′β2 from Homo sapiens in catalytically active form based on two critical steps: first expression of human CK2α′ as a well soluble fusion protein with the maltose binding protein (MBP) and second proteolytic cleavage of CK2α′–MBP in the presence of human CK2β so that CK2α′ subunits are incorporated into holoenzyme complexes directly after their release from MBP. This successful strategy which may be adopted in comparably difficult cases of protein/protein complex preparation is presented here together with evidence that the CK2α′-based and the CK2α-based holoenzymes are similar concerning their catalytic activities but are significantly different with respect to some well-known CK2 properties like autophosphorylation and supra-molecular aggregation.

The release of Agrin by motoneurons activates the muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) as the main organizer of subsynaptic specializations at the neuromuscular junction. MuSK downstream signaling is largely undefined. Here we show that protein kinase CK2 interacts and colocalizes with MuSK at post-synaptic specializations. We observed CK2-mediated phosphorylation of serine residues within the kinase insert (KI) of MuSK. Inhibition or knockdown of CK2, or exchange of phosphorylatable serines by alanines within the KI of MuSK, impaired acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering, whereas their substitution by residues that imitate constitutive phosphorylation led to aggregation of AChRs even in the presence of CK2 inhibitors. Impairment of AChR cluster formation after replacement of MuSK KI with KIs of other receptor tyrosine kinases correlates with potential CK2-dependent serine phosphorylation within KIs. MuSK activity was unchanged but AChR stability decreased in the presence of CK2 inhibitors. Muscle-specific CK2beta knockout mice develop a myasthenic phenotype due to impaired muscle endplate structure and function. This is the first description of a regulatory cross-talk between MuSK and CK2 and of a role for the KI of the receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK for the development of subsynaptic specializations.

Knocking out the regulatory β subunit of protein kinase CK2 in mice leads to early embryonic lethality. Heterozygous CK2β (CK2β+/−) knockout mice do not show an obvious phenotype. However, the number of heterozygous offsprings from CK2β+/− inter-crossings is lower than expected, meaning that some heterozygous embryos do not survive. Interestingly, CK2β+/− ES (Embryonic Stem) cells express a considerably lower level of CK2β than wild-type ES cells, whereas the level of CK2β in organs from heterozygous adult mice does not significantly differ from those of wild-type mice. The data suggest a compensatory mechanism that adjusts CK2β levels during development in the majority of, but not in all, cases (Mol Cell Biol {23:} 908–915, 2003).