"Drosophila melanogaster protein kinase CK2 interacts with and phosphor" by Regina L. Trott

Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Clifton Bishop

Abstract

Protein kinase CK2 is a serine/threonine protein kinase ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic organisms. The enzyme is composed of 2 alpha (catalytic) subunits and 2 beta (regulatory) subunits. The minimum consensus site for CK2 phosphorylation is S/TXXD/E, where "X" is any non-basic amino acid. Substrates so far identified include proteins associated with cell cycle regulation and development.;In Drosophila melanogaster, the Notch pathway activates members of the Enhancer-of-split Complex [E(spl)-C]. m8, which is a member of the E(spl)-C, was found to interact with and be phosphorylated by CK2. The physiological affects of CK2 phosphorylation were studied in vivo through the Gal4-UAS system. Flies with a reduced eye phenotype were identified in a cross between scaGal4 and the transgenic line m8S 159D. Two-hybrid analysis indicated m8S159D interacted significantly stronger with the proneural bHLH protein Atonal than either m8 or m8S159A. These results are the first indication that phosphorylation plays a role in the regulation of E(spl)-C proteins and also the first implication of a role for CK2 during neurogenesis.

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