Background
Casein kinase II subunit alpha, also known as CK II alpha, CSNK2A1 and CK2A1, is a member of the protein kinase superfamily, Ser / Thr protein kinase family and CK2 subfamily. Casein kinase II (CSNK2A1) is a serine / threonine protein kinase that phosphorylates acidic proteins such as casein. This kinase is composed of an alpha, an alpha-prime, and two beta subunits. The alpha subunits contain the catalytic activity while the beta subunits undergo autophosphorylation. Casein kinase II (CSNK2A1) is a constitutively active, ubiquitously expressed serine / threonine protein kinase that is thought to have a regulatory function in cell proliferation, cell differentiation and apoptosis. CSNK2A1 functions as a tetrameric complex consisting of two regulatory beta-subunits and two catalytic units (alpha and alpha') in a homomeric or heteromeric conformation. Whilst the alpha- and alpha'-subunits are catalytically identical, proteins that regulate CSNK2A1, such as cdc2 and Hsp90, preferentially bind to the alpha and not the alpha'-subunit. CSNK2A1 can phosphorylate a number of key intracellular signaling proteins implicated in tumor suppression (p53 and PTEN) and tumorigenesis (myc, jun, NF-kappaB). CSNK2A1 is also thought to influence Wnt signaling via beta-catenin phosphorylation and the PI 3-K signaling pathway via th phosphorylation of Akt.
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