CHK2 kinase promotes pre-mRNA splicing via phosphorylating CDK11(p110)

Oncogene. 2014 Jan 2;33(1):108-15. doi: 10.1038/onc.2012.535. Epub 2012 Nov 26.

Abstract

Checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) kinase is a key mediator in many cellular responses to genotoxic stresses, including ionizing radiation (IR) and topoisomerase inhibitors. Upon IR, CHK2 is activated by ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase and regulates the S-phase and G1-S checkpoints, apoptosis and DNA repair by phosphorylating downstream target proteins, such as p53 and Brca1. In addition, CHK2 is thought to be a multi-organ cancer susceptibility gene. In this study, we used a tandem affinity purification strategy to identify proteins that interact with CHK2 kinase. Cyclin-dependent kinase 11 (CDK11)(p110) kinase, implicated in pre-mRNA splicing and transcription, was identified as a CHK2-interacting protein. CHK2 kinase phosphorylated CDK11(p110) on serine 737 in vitro. Unexpectedly, CHK2 kinase constitutively phosphorylated CDK11(p110) in a DNA damage-independent manner. At a molecular level, CDK11(p110) phosphorylation was required for homodimerization without affecting its kinase activity. Overexpression of CHK2 promoted pre-mRNA splicing. Conversely, CHK2 depletion decreased endogenous splicing activity. Mutation of the phosphorylation site in CDK11(p110) to alanine abrogated its splicing-activating activity. These results provide the first evidence that CHK2 kinase promotes pre-mRNA splicing via phosphorylating CDK11(p110).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2 / chemistry
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2 / physiology*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / chemistry
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism*
  • DNA Damage
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • RNA Precursors / genetics*
  • RNA Precursors / metabolism
  • RNA Splicing
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA Precursors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Checkpoint Kinase 2
  • CHEK2 protein, human
  • CDK11a protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases