The role of the casein kinase 1 (CK1) family in fungal infections

The Casein kinase 1 (CK1) family, as an important member of the protein kinase family, exhibits high evolutionary conservation and is widely distributed in various cell types. CK1 plays critical roles in numerous cellular biological processes, and its abnormal expression is closely associated with the development and progression of various diseases. The CK1 protein family has been extensively studied and reported as an influential factor in various mammalian diseases. Increasing evidence indicates that the CK1 family also plays an indispensable role in fungal growth and infection processes. For example, CK1 protein in Candida albicans plays a crucial role in virulence and drug resistance; CK1 protein in Cryptococcus neoformans affects cell integrity and stress response; and CK1 protein in Magnaporthe oryzae and Fusarium graminearum is involved in fungal growth, conidiation, and pathogenesis. Advances in protein kinase inhibitor research, particularly through enhanced understanding of kinase-substrate interactions and species-specific structural features, are poised to enable the development of highly specific fungal CK1 inhibitors with improved anti-fungi indices.