Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach
11:11

Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach

Published on: February 21, 2019

Protein kinase CK2 subunits are positive regulators of AKT kinase

Barbara Guerra1

  • 1Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark. bag@bmb.sdu.dk

International Journal of Oncology
|February 9, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Combining PI3K-AKT pathway inhibition with CK2 subunit depletion enhances cancer drug response. CK2 subunits interact with AKT, boosting its activity, suggesting a role in cell proliferation and survival pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Protein kinase CK2 is a conserved kinase regulating cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, and transformation.
  • Deregulation of the PI3K-AKT pathway is crucial in tumor development and response to anti-cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the combined effect of PI3K-AKT pathway inhibition and CK2 subunit depletion on drug-induced apoptosis.
  • To elucidate the interaction between CK2 subunits and AKT kinase and its functional consequences.

Main Methods:

  • Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for CK2 subunit depletion.
  • Specific inhibition of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.
  • In vitro and in vivo studies to assess drug-induced apoptosis and protein interactions.

Main Results:

  • Combined inhibition of PI3K-AKT and CK2 depletion significantly enhanced drug-induced apoptosis.
  • CK2 subunits were found to interact with AKT kinase.
  • This interaction enhances AKT kinase activity, independent of AKT phosphorylation status.

Conclusions:

  • CK2 and AKT kinase may be involved in common pathways regulating cell proliferation and survival.
  • The interaction between CK2 and AKT represents a novel mechanism for modulating AKT activation.
  • Targeting both CK2 and the PI3K-AKT pathway could be a promising strategy for cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP08:05

Assaying Protein Kinase Activity with Radiolabeled ATP

Published on: May 26, 2017

Identification of Kinase-substrate Pairs Using High Throughput Screening11:13

Identification of Kinase-substrate Pairs Using High Throughput Screening

Published on: August 29, 2015

Related Concept Videos

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Positive Regulator Molecules02:39

Positive Regulator Molecules

Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.
Positive Regulator Molecules01:45

Positive Regulator Molecules

To consistently produce healthy cells, the cell cycle—the process that generates daughter cells—must be precisely regulated.
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways01:25

cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways

Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) is an essential second messenger that activates protein kinase A (PKA) and regulates various biological processes. A single epinephrine molecule binds to GPCR and activates several heterotrimeric G proteins, each stimulating multiple adenylyl cyclase, amplifying the signal, and synthesizing large numbers of cAMP molecules. Small changes in cAMP concentration affect PKA activity. The binding of four cAMP molecules induces a conformational change in PKA,...
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling01:16

Calmodulin-dependent Signaling

Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases02:54

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases

Proteins undergo chemical modifications that trigger changes in the charge, structure, and conformation of the proteins. Phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation, nitrosylation, ubiquitination, lipidation, methylation, and proteolysis are various protein modifications that regulate protein activity. Such modifications are usually enzyme-driven.
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...