Protein kinase CK2 is a tetramer composed of two α catalytic subunits and two β regulatory subunits. The structure of a C-terminal truncated form of the human β subunit has been determined by X-ray crystallography to 1.7 Å resolution. One dimer is observed in the asymmetric unit of the crystal. The most striking feature of the structure is the presence of a zinc finger mediating the dimerization. The monomer structure consists of two domains, one entirely α-helical and one including the zinc finger. The dimer has a crescent shape holding a highly acidic region at both ends. We propose that this acidic region is involved in the interactions with the polyamines and/or catalytic subunits. Interestingly, conserved amino acid residues among β subunit sequences are clustered along one linear ridge that wraps around the entire dimer. This feature suggests that protein partners may interact with the dimer through a stretch of residues in an extended conformation. Keywords: MAD method/protein kinase CK2/regulatory subunit/X-ray structure/zinc finger

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Protein kinase CK2 is a multifunctional enzyme which has long been described as a stable heterotetrameric complex resulting from the association of two catalytic (␣ or ␣) and two regulatory (␤) subunits. To track the spatiotemporal dynamics of CK2 in living cells, we fused its catalytic ␣ and regulatory ␤ subunits with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Both CK2 subunits contain nuclear localization domains that target them independently to the nucleus. Imaging of stable cell lines expressing low levels of GFP-CK2␣ or GFP-CK2␤ revealed the existence of CK2 subunit subpopulations exhibiting differential dynamics. Once in the nucleus, they diffuse randomly at different rates. Unlike CK2␤, CK2␣ can shuttle, showing the dynamic nature of the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of the kinase. When microinjected in the cytoplasm, the isolated CK2 subunits are rapidly translocated into the nucleus, whereas the holoenzyme complex remains in this cell compartment, suggesting an intramolecular masking of the nuclear localization sequences that suppresses nuclear accumulation. However, binding of FGF-2 to the holoenzyme triggers its nuclear translocation. Since the substrate specificity of CK2␣ is dramatically changed by its association with CK2␤, the control of the nucleocytoplasmic distribution of each subunit may represent a unique potential regulatory mechanism for CK2 activity.Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous serine/threonine protein kinase, generally described as a stable ␣ 2 ␤ 2 tetramer, where ␣ and ␤ are the catalytic and regulatory subunits, respectively (3). Although its signaling function has long remained obscure, the importance of CK2 is suggested by the evolutionary conservation of the enzyme and by the fact that the disruption of both Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes encoding CK2 catalytic subunits is a lethal event (29). In addition to its role in embryonic development and terminal differentiation, the enzyme is required for normal cell cycle progression (20,30). At last, a function of CK2 in cell survival has recently emerged (1).Many of the identified CK2 substrates that are critical for cell proliferation and viability are localized in different cellular compartments. However, there is controversy as to the localization of CK2 and where its substrates are phosphorylated. Although the current prevailing view of CK2 is a tetrameric enzyme, accumulating evidence also indicates that free populations of both CK2 subunits can exist and exert specific functions in the cell (18, 37). At least in vitro, CK2␤ exerts a central role in modulating the catalytic activity of CK2 (26). Consequently, it is suspected that in vivo, the substrate specificity of the enzyme is likely to be determined both by subcellular localization and by affinity for its regulatory subunit that brings the kinase in proximity to the substrate.In a previous study, the behavior of CK2 subunits fused to GFP was characterized in living cells (25). The expressed fusion proteins were functional and interacted with endogenous CK2. Both subunits were mostl...

The activation of heat shock transcription factor-1 (HSF-1) after treatment of mammalian cells with stresses such as heat shock, heavy metals, or ethanol induces the synthesis of heat shock proteins. HSF-1 is phosphorylated at normal growth temperature and is hyperphosphorylated upon stress. We recently presented evidence that HSF-1 can be phosphorylated by the mitogen activated protein kinase, ERK1, and that such phosphorylation appears to negatively regulate the activity of HSF-1. In this report, we have tested the ability of ERK1 to phosphorylate various HSF-1 deletion mutants. Our results show that ERK1 phosphorylation is dependent on a region of HSF-1 extending from amino acids 280 to 308. This region contains three serine residues that are potential ERK1 phosphorylation sites. The region falls within a previously defined regulatory domain of HSF-1. The possibility of protein kinases other than ERK1 phosphorylating HSF-1 was also examined using in-gel kinase assays. The results show that HSF-1 can be phosphorylated in a ras-dependent manner by other members of the MAP kinase family such as JNK and p38 protein kinases and possibly others.

Heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) functions as the master regulator of the heat shock response in eukaryotes. We have previously shown that, in addition to its role as a transcription factor, HSF1 stimulates the activity of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). DNA-PK is composed of two components: a 460-kDa catalytic subunit and a 70-and 86-kDa heterodimeric regulatory component, also known as the Ku protein. We report here that HSF1 binds specifically to each of the two components of DNA-PK. Binding occurs in the absence of DNA. The complex with the Ku protein is stable and forms at a stoichiometry close to unity between the Ku protein heterodimer and the active HSF1 trimer. The binding is blocked by antibodies against HSF1. Our results show that HSF1 also binds directly, but more weakly, to the catalytic subunit of DNA-PK. Both interactions are dependent on a specific region within the HSF1 regulatory domain. This sequence is necessary but not sufficient for HSF1 stimulation of DNA-PK activity. The ability of HSF1 to interact with both components of DNA-PK provides a potential mechanism for the activation of DNA-PK in response to heat and other forms of stress.

A novel series of N-heteroaryl 4'-(2-furyl)-4,5'-bipyrimidin-2'-amines has been identified as potent and selective A(2B) adenosine receptor antagonists. In particular, compound 5 showed high affinity for the A(2B) receptor (Ki = 17 nM), good selectivity (IC(50): A(1) > 1000 nM, A(2A) > 2500 nM, A3 > 1000 nM), displayed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in preclinical species, and showed efficacy in functional in vitro models.

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.

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