Casein kinase II is elevated in solid human tumours and rapidly proliferating non‐neoplastic tissue

Abstract

Protein kinase CKII (i.e.casein kinase II, CKII, NII) is expressed at a higher level in rapidly proliferating tissues and in solid human tumours (e.g. colorectal carcinomas) when compared to the corresponding nonneoplastic colorectal mucosa. This could be shown by (a) Western blotting of cellular extracts from solid tumours followed by immunostaining with an anti‐CKII polyclonal antibody, (b) immunohistochemical staining of cells from tissue sections and (c) by activity measurements using the CKII‐specific synthetic peptide (RRRDDDSDDD). The maximum observed activity in the colorectal carcinomas investigated was up to eightfold higher in the tumour specimens than in the non‐neoplastic tissue (i.e. colorectal mucosa). The activity range was between 33–350 U/mg protein and in the case of colorectal mucosa 13–106 U mg protein. The amount of CKII determined in the individual tumours was in the range 0.4–1.6 nmol/g tissue. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved