The protein of a new gene, Tctex4, interacts with protein kinase CK2beta subunit and is highly expressed in mouse testis.

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a ubiquitous, multifunctional eukaryotic serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates an array of proteins. CK2 is a heterotetramer composed of two catalytic (alpha,alpha(')) and two regulatory (beta) subunits. CK2 plays an essential role in regulatory pathways in cell transformation and proliferation. But the role and function of the individual subunits of CK2, which are not in the holoenzyme, are not yet clear. Northern blot analysis reveals the highest CK2beta activity in mouse testicles and brain. By employing a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify the proteins that interact with CK2beta, we have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a 14-kDa protein with homology to dynein light chains and have designated it as Tctex4. CK2beta interacts specifically with Tctex4 both in a yeast two-hybrid system and in an in vitro interaction assay. Northern blot and in situ hybridization showed that Tctex4 is a novel gene that is expressed in mouse testis.

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