title: CK2alpha phosphorylates BMAL1 to regulate the mammalian clock.
abstract: Clock proteins govern circadian physiology and their function is regulated by various mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that Casein kinase (CK)-2alpha phosphorylates the core circadian regulator BMAL1. Gene silencing of CK2alpha or mutation of the highly conserved CK2-phosphorylation site in BMAL1, Ser90, result in impaired nuclear BMAL1 accumulation and disruption of clock function. Notably, phosphorylation at Ser90 follows a rhythmic pattern. These findings reveal that CK2 is an essential regulator of the mammalian circadian system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamaru
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Isojima
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Shigemi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norioka
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sassone-Corsi