Ornithine Decarboxylase Expression Leads to Translocation and Activation of Protein Kinase CK2 In Vivo

The study explored the impact of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) overexpression on protein kinase CK2 activity in Balb/MK cells and K6/ODC transgenic mice, revealing that increased ODC expression elevated polyamine levels, which enhanced CK2 activity and caused its translocation to the nucleus. This suggested that polyamines regulated CK2 by affecting its distribution and activity, potentially contributing to tumor development. The use of an ODC inhibitor reduced polyamine levels and CK2 activity, supporting the regulatory role of polyamines. Despite increased CK2 protein levels, the rise in enzyme activity was modest, indicating a complex relationship between protein levels and activity.