Identification of casein kinase-1 phosphorylation sites on TDP-43

TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) is deposited as hyperphosphorylated cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions in brains of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitinated inclusions and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this study, we identified 29 phosphorylation sites on recombinant TDP-43 that are phosphorylated by casein kinase-1 (CK1). Interestingly, 18 of them were located in the C-terminal glycine-rich region of TDP-43. Our results indicate that CK1-mediated phosphorylation may play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.