| Symbol | CSNK2B |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Casein Kinase 2 Beta |
| Chromosome | 6p21.1 |
| NCBI Gene ID | [1465](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1465) |
| UniProt ID | [P67870](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P67870) |
| Ensembl ID | [ENSG00000101290](https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000101290) |
| Protein Class | Serine/Threonine Kinase |
Casein Kinase 2 Beta (CSNK2B) encodes the beta subunit of casein kinase 2 (CK2), a serine/threonine protein kinase with diverse cellular functions [1]. CK2 is a tetrameric enzyme consisting of two catalytic subunits (alpha and/or alpha') and two beta subunits. The beta subunit serves as a regulatory component that enhances catalytic activity and determines substrate specificity [2].
CSNK2B encodes the beta subunit of casein kinase 2 (CK2), a serine/threonine protein kinase with diverse cellular functions. CK2 is involved in signal transduction, transcription, cell cycle regulation, and DNA repair [3]. The enzyme phosphorylates many proteins relevant to neurodegeneration including tau, alpha-synuclein, and transcription factors.
CSNK2B is expressed ubiquitously in all tissues, with high expression in brain, liver, and kidney. In the brain, CK2 is expressed in neurons and glial cells, with particularly high levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex [3:1].
CK2 has been specifically implicated in neurodegenerative disease mechanisms:
CK2 represents a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. Modulators of CK2 activity may offer benefits by:
Casein kinase 2: a druggable target for therapy - Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets. 2014. ↩︎ ↩︎
The functions of casein kinase 2: from cellular signaling to disease regulation - Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. ↩︎ ↩︎
CK2 in transcription regulation - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 2013. ↩︎
CK2 in synaptic plasticity - Journal of Neuroscience. 2008. ↩︎
Casein kinase 2 in Alzheimer's disease - Acta Neuropathologica. ↩︎ ↩︎
CK2 phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein - Journal of Neurochemistry. ↩︎ ↩︎
Protein kinase CK2: a target for anticancer therapy - Advances in Cancer Research. ↩︎ ↩︎