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Phosphorylation of Nrf2 in the transcription activation domain by casein kinase 2 (CK2) is critical for the nuclear translocation and transcription activation function of Nrf2
Author(s) -
Apopa Patrick Leo,
Lin Gary Xiong,
He Xiaoqing,
Ma Qiang
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a287-a
Subject(s) - phosphorylation , transcription factor , oxidative phosphorylation , phosphatase , transcription (linguistics) , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , casein kinase 2 , kinase , casein kinase 1 , gene , biology , biochemistry , protein kinase a , cyclin dependent kinase 2 , linguistics , philosophy
The antioxidant‐activated transcription factor Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2‐Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) controls the induction of cytoprotective and detoxification genes against toxic materials and oxidative injuries. The signaling events leading to the activation of Nrf2 has not been clear; in particular, the role of phosphorylation in Nrf2 function remains controversial. We report that phenolic compounds, like antioxidant tert‐butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) induced two forms of the Nrf2 protein in neuroblastoma cells (IMR‐32), which migrated as distinctive bands on SDS‐PAGE. In vitro treatment with lambda phosphatase eliminated the slower migrating form of Nrf2. The phosphorylated form of Nrf2 preferentially localized in the nucleus. Deletional analyses revealed that the transcription activation (TA) domain is phosphorylated. The TA domain is characterized by the presence of multiple conserved phosphorylation sites of CK2. Treatments with CK2 inhibitor DMAT blocked the induction of endogenous target genes of Nrf2 in cells and inhibited the TA activity of Nrf2. The findings demonstrated that phosphorylation of Nrf2 at the TA domains by CK2 is an integral component of Nrf2 activation. Disclaimers‐ The findings and conclusions in this abstract have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.