Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Response of cancer cells to molecular interruption of the CK2 signal

  • Published:
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Protein kinase CK2 is one of the key cellular signals for cell survival, growth, and proliferation. It is has been observed to be elevated in various cancers that have been examined. Various observations suggest that moderate dysregulation of CK2 may profoundly influence the cell response. We have examined the effects of interfering with the CK2 signal in various cancer cell lines by employing antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) against the α and β subunits of CK2. Our results demonstrate that antisense CK2-α and antisense CK2-β ODNs markedly influence cell viability of these cancer cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Antisense CK2-α was slightly more effective than antisense CK2-β in most of the cells tested. The efficacy of the antisense ODN seemed to vary with the cell type; however, in all cases potent induction of apoptosis was observed. Significantly, the effects of the antisense ODN on the CK2 activity in the nuclear matrix were relatively small compared to the much stronger induction of apoptosis in cells. This suggests that modest down-regulation of CK2 can evoke a much greater apoptotic response in cancer cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ahmed K: Nuclear matrix and protein kinase CK2 signaling. Crit Rev Eukary Gene Exp 9, 329–336, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ahmed K, Davis AT, Wang H, Faust RA, Yu S, Tawfic S: Significance of protein kinase CK2 nuclear signaling in neoplasia. J Cell Biochem (suppl 35): 130–135, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  3. Tawfic S, Yu S, Wang H, Faust R, Davis A, Ahmed K: Protein kinase CK2 signal in neoplasia. Histol Histopathol 16: 573–582, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  4. Guerra B, Issinger O-G: Protein kinase CK2 and its role in cellular proliferation, development and pathology. Electrophoresis 20: 391–408, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  5. Padmanabha R, Chen-Wu JLP, Hanna DE, Glover CVC: Isolation, sequencing, and disruption of the yeast CKA2 gene: Casein kinase II is essential for viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Cell Biol 10: 4089–4099, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kelliher MA, Seldin DC, Leder P: Tal-1 induces T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia accelerated by casein kinase IIα. EMBO J 15: 5160–5166, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  7. Yenice S, Davis AT, Goueli SA, Akdas A, Limas C, Ahmed K: Nuclear casein kinase 2 (CK2) activity in human normal, benign hyperplastic and cancerous prostate. Prostate 24: 11–16, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gapany M, Faust RA, Tawfic S, Davis A, Adams GL, Ahmed K: Association of elevated protein kinase CK2 activity with aggressive behavior of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Mol Med 1: 659–666, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  9. Faust RA, Gapany M, Tristani P, Davis A, Adams GL, Ahmed K: Elevated protein kinase CK2 activity in chromatin of head and neck tumors: Association with malignant transformation. Canc Lett 101: 31–35, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  10. Faust RA, Niehans GA, Gapany M, Hoistad D, Knapp D, Cherwitz D, Davis A, Adams GL, Ahmed K: Subcellular immunolocalization of protein kinase CK2 in normal and carcinoma cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 31: 941–949, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  11. Guo C, Yu S, Davis AT, Wang H, Green JE, Ahmed K: A potential role of nuclear matrix-associated protein kinase CK2 in protection against drug-induced apoptosis in cancer cells. J Biol Chem 276: 5992–5999, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  12. Faust RA, Tawfic S, Davis AT, Bubash LA, Ahmed K: Antisense oligonucleotides against protein kinase CK2-α inhibit growth of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in vitro. Head Neck 22: 341–346, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ahmed K, Davis A, Hanten J, Lambert D, McIvor RS, Goueli SA: Cloning of cDNAs encoding the α and β subunits of rat casein kinase 2 (CK-2): Investigation of molecular regulation of CK-2 by androgens in rat ventral prostate. Cell Mol Biol Res 39: 451–462, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  14. Guo C, Yu S, Davis AT, Ahmed K: Nuclear matrix targeting of the protein kinase CK2 signal as a common downstream response to androgen or growth factor stimulation of prostate cancer cells. Cancer Res 59: 1146–1151, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  15. Yu S, Davis AT, Guo C, Green JE, Ahmed K: Differential targeting of protein kinase CK2 to the nuclear matrix upon transient overexpression of its subunits. J Cell Biochem 74: 127–134, 1998

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mercola D, Cohen JS: Antisense approaches to cancer gene therapy. Cancer Gene Ther 2: 47–59, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  17. Stein CA, Cohen JS: Oligodeoxynucleotides as inhibitors of gene expression: A review. Cancer Res 48: 2659–2668, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ulloa L, Diaz-Nido J, Avila J: Depletion of catalytic and regulatory subunits of protein kinase CK2 by antisense oligonucleotide treatment of neuroblastoma cells. Cell Mol Neurobiol 14: 407–414, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pepperkok R, Lorenz P, Jakobi R, Ansorge W, Pyerin W: Cell growth stimulation by EGF: Inhibition through antisense-oligodeoxynucleotides demonstrates important role of casein kinase II. Exp Cell Res 197: 245–253, 1991

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry Research Laboratory (151), Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, USA

    Huamin Wang, Alan Davis & Shihui Yu

  2. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Minnesota and the, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Huamin Wang, Alan Davis & Shihui Yu

  3. Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry Research Laboratory (151), Veterans Affairs Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA

    Khalil Ahmed

Authors
  1. Huamin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alan Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shihui Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Khalil Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khalil Ahmed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, H., Davis, A., Yu, S. et al. Response of cancer cells to molecular interruption of the CK2 signal. Mol Cell Biochem 227, 167–174 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013112908734

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013112908734

Search

Navigation