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Differential localization of α’ and β subunits of protein kinase CK2 during rat spermatogenesis

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Abstract

Protein kinase CK2 is a serine/threonine kinase expressed in organisms from yeast to human and is composed of a catalytic subunit (α or α’) and a regulatory subunit (β) forming a holoenzyme with the possible subunit combinations α2β2, α’2β2, or αα’β2. This kinase has been shown to be involved in embryonic development and gametogenesis. We have studied the expression of the CK2α’ and CK2β subunits during the first wave of spermatogenesis and in adult testis in the rat. Western blot analyses have demonstrated that both CK2α’ and CK2β are expressed in testes from birth to adulthood. A more detailed study of the protein localization of CK2α’ and CK2β by immunohistochemistry suggests that CK2α’ and CK2β are localized in the nuclei of Sertoli cells in 5-day-old rats, whereas they appear to have a cytoplasmic localization in older animals. In adult testes, CK2α’ and CK2β subunits are present in spermatocytes. Both subunits exhibit a similar expression pattern with the highest level in spermatocytes at stages VIII-XIV. Interestingly, CK2β is highly expressed in spermatogonia, whereas CK2α’ is barely detectable. Mature epididymal spermatozoa express CK2α’ in the acrosome and CK2β in the flagellum. This new evidence therefore indicates that protein kinase CK2 has a possible role at various stages during mammalian spermatogenesis, a process that involves proliferation, meiosis, apoptosis, and differentiation. CK2 might thus emerge as a new pivotal control enzyme at various levels in mammalian spermatogenesis.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mr. Jurriaan Brouwer-Visser for his excellent assistance with English grammar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda 340, Santiago, Chile

    Carlos P. Alvarado-Díaz & Ricardo D. Moreno

  2. Cell Transformation Laboratory, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Julio C. Tapia

  3. Laboratory of Developmental Molecular Biology, Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Carlos P. Alvarado-Díaz & Marcelo Antonelli

Authors
  1. Carlos P. Alvarado-Díaz
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  2. Julio C. Tapia
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  3. Marcelo Antonelli
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  4. Ricardo D. Moreno
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ricardo D. Moreno.

Additional information

This work was supported by FONDECYT 11070116 to JCT and 1070360 to RDM.

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Fig. Suppl 1

a Western blot against CK2α’ with a polyclonal goat anti-CK2α’ antibody (400 ng/ml; Santa CruzBiotechnologies, USA). Whole testis (T) and cerebrum (Br) samples gave a band around 38 kDa corresponding to the expected weight of this subunit. The upper bands probably correspond tohigher molecular weight complexes. Pre-incubation of the antibody with the immunogenic peptide inthe molar ratio 1:100 (antibody : peptide) did not give a band in either of the samples.b Western blot against CK2β with a polyclonal rabbit anti-CK2β antibody (200 ng/ml; Santa CruzBiotechnology). Whole testis (T) and cerebrum (Br) samples gave a band around 24 kDacorresponding to the expected weight of this subunit. Pre-incubation of the antibody with therecombinant subunit (His 6-CK2β) in the molar ratio 1:100 (antibody: recombinant enzyme) did not givea band in either of the samples. High resolution image. (GIF 46.7 kb)

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Alvarado-Díaz, C.P., Tapia, J.C., Antonelli, M. et al. Differential localization of α’ and β subunits of protein kinase CK2 during rat spermatogenesis. Cell Tissue Res 338, 139–149 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-009-0847-1

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