CK2 downregulation induces senescence-associated heterochromatic foci formation through activating SUV39h1 and inactivating G9a.

Cellular senescence is an irreversible form of cell cycle arrest and senescent cells have a unique gene expression profile that is frequently accompanied by senescence-associated heterochromatic foci (SAHF). Here, we present evidence that CK2 downregulation induces trimethylation of histone H3 Lys 9 (H3K9me3), selective binding of HP1γ to H3K9me3, formation of SAHF, and reduction of cyclin D1 expression in HCT116 and MCF-7 cells. CK2 downregulation-mediated H3K9me3 is associated with induction of H3K9 trimethylase SUV39h1 as well as reduction of H3K9 dimethylase G9a and GLP in cells. In addition, Pharmacological inhibition of SUV39h1 and G9a overexpression significantly attenuated induction of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, H3K9me3 and SAHF formation in CK2-downregulated cells. Moreover, CK2 downregulation induced H3K9me3 in nematodes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CK2 downregulation leads to H3K9me3 and SAHF formation by increasing SUV39h1 and decreasing G9a.