DEPLETION OF CATALYTIC AND REGULATORY SUBUNITS OF PROTEIN-KINASE CK2 BY ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE TREATMENT OF NEUROBLASTOMA-CELLS

1. The use of antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit expression of the genes coding for the catalytic (alpha/alpha') and regulatory (beta) su bunits of protein kinase casein kinase 2 (CK2) has allowed study of th e role of this enzyme in mouse neuroblastoma cells. 2. Selective deple tion of catalytic (alpha/alpha') subunits results in the blocking of n euritogenesis. The depletion of catalytic subunits also affects the so rting of the regulatory (beta) subunit of CK2, as the absence of catal ytic subunits prevents the translocation of the regulatory subunit to the nuclei. These results emphasize the existence of a control mechani sm linking the expression and sorting of CK2 catalytic and regulatory subunits. 3. Selective depletion of the regulatory (beta) subunit of p rotein kinase CK2 by an specific antisense oligonucleotide causes part ial inhibition of neurite extension.