Expression, Purification, and Identification of Associated Proteins of the Full-length hCDK12/CyclinK Complex

The coupling of transcription and associated processes has been shown to be dependent on the RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) C-terminal repeat domain (CTD) and the phosphorylation of the heptad repeats of which it is composed (consensus sequence Y 1 S 2 P 3 T 4 S 5 P 6 S 7 ). Two primary S 2 position CTD kinases have been identified in higher eukaryotes: P-TEFb and CDK12/CyclinK. The more recently discovered CDK12 appears to act at the 3′-end of the transcription unit and has been identified as a tumor suppressor for ovarian cancer; however much is still unknown about the in vivo roles of CDK12/CyclinK. In an effort to further characterize these roles we have purified to near homogeneity and characterized, full-length, active, human CDK12/CyclinK, and identified hCDK12-associated proteins via mass spectrometry. We find that employing a "2A" peptide-linked multicistronic construct containing CDK12 and CyclinK results in the efficient production of active, recombinant enzyme in the baculovirus/Sf9 expression system. Using GST-CTD fusion protein substrates we find that CDK12/CyclinK prefers a substrate with unmodified repeats or one that mimics prephosphorylation at the S 7 position of the CTD; also the enzyme is sensitive to the inhibitor flavopiridol at higher concentrations. Identification of CDK12-associating proteins reveals a strong enrichment for RNA-processing factors suggesting that CDK12 affects RNA processing events in two distinct ways: Indirectly through generating factor-binding phospho-epitopes on the CTD of elongating RNAPII and directly through binding to specific factors. Background CDK12 helps to regulate DNA transcription and associated processes. Results Full-length and active CDK12 can be expressed using baculovirus and CDK12 interacts with many RNA processing factors. Conclusion CDK12 may affect RNA processing events both directly and indirectly. Significance A better understanding of CDK12 activities will be useful in deciphering the nuances of transcription and in drug discovery.