scholarly journals Assembly of the nuclear pore: biochemically distinct steps revealed with NEM, GTP gamma S, and BAPTA.

1996 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Macaulay ◽  
D J Forbes

A key event in nuclear formation is the assembly of functional nuclear pores. We have used a nuclear reconstitution system derived from Xenopus eggs to examine the process of nuclear pore assembly in vitro. With this system, we have identified three reagents which interfere with nuclear pore assembly, NEM, GTP gamma S, and the Ca++ chelator, BAPTA. These reagents have allowed us to determine that the assembly of a nuclear pore requires the prior assembly of a double nuclear membrane. Inhibition of nuclear vesicle fusion by pretreatment of the membrane vesicle fraction with NEM blocks pore complex assembly. In contrast, NEM treatment of already fused double nuclear membranes does not block pore assembly. This indicates that NEM inhibits a single step in pore assembly--the initial fusion of vesicles required to form a double nuclear membrane. The presence of GTP gamma S blocks pore assembly at two distinct steps, first by preventing fusion between nuclear vesicles, and second by blocking a step in pore assembly that occurs on already fused double nuclear membranes. Interestingly, when the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA is added to a nuclear assembly reaction, it only transiently blocks nuclear vesicle fusion, but completely blocks nuclear pore assembly. This results in the formation of a nucleus surrounded by a double nuclear membrane, but devoid of nuclear pores. To order the positions at which GTP gamma S and BAPTA interfere with pore assembly, a novel anchored nuclear assembly assay was developed. This assay revealed that the BAPTA-sensitive step in pore assembly occurs after the second GTP gamma S-sensitive step. Thus, through use of an in vitro nuclear reconstitution system, it has been possible to biochemically define and order multiple steps in nuclear pore assembly.

1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (9) ◽  
pp. 1293-1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Collas

Using sea urchin embryonic and in-vitro-assembled nuclei incubated in sea urchin mitotic extract, I provide evidence for a requirement for functional nuclear pores and a nuclear lamina for nuclear envelope disassembly in vitro. In interphase gastrula nuclei, lamin B interacts with p56, an integral protein of inner nuclear membrane cross-reacting with antibodies to human lamin B receptor. Incubation of gastrula nuclei in mitotic cytosol containing an ATP-generating system rapidly induces hyperphosphorylation of p56 and lamin B. Subsequently, p56-lamin B interactions are weakened and the two proteins segregate into distinct nuclear envelope-derived vesicles upon disassembly of nuclear membranes and of the lamina. Nuclear disassembly is accompanied by chromatin condensation. Blocking nuclear pore function with wheat germ agglutinin or antibodies to nucleoporins prevents p56 and lamin B hyperphosphorylation, nuclear membrane breakdown and lamina solubilization. These events are not rescued by permeabilization of nuclear membranes to molecules of 150, 000 Mr with lysolecithin. In-vitro-assembled nuclei containing nuclear membranes with functional pores but no lamina do not disassemble in mitotic cytosol in spite of p56 hyperphosphorylation. Nuclear import of soluble lamin B and reformation of a lamina in interphase extract restores nuclear disassembly in mitotic cytosol. The data indicate a role for functional nuclear pores in nuclear disassembly in vitro. They show that p56 hyperphosphorylation is not sufficient for nuclear membrane disassembly in mitotic cytosol and argue that the nuclear lamina plays a critical role in nuclear disassembly at mitosis.


Author(s):  
G. G. Maul

The chromatin of eukaryotic cells is separated from the cytoplasm by a double membrane. One obvious structural specialization of the nuclear membrane is the presence of pores which have been implicated to facilitate the selective nucleocytoplasmic exchange of a variety of large molecules. Thus, the function of nuclear pores has mainly been regarded to be a passive one. Non-membranous diaphragms, radiating fibers, central rings, and other pore-associated structures were thought to play a role in the selective filter function of the nuclear pore complex. Evidence will be presented that suggests that the nuclear pore is a dynamic structure which is non-randomly distributed and can be formed during interphase, and that a close relationship exists between chromatin and the membranous part of the nuclear pore complex.Octagonality of the nuclear pore complex has been confirmed by a variety of techniques. Using the freeze-etching technique, it was possible to show that the membranous part of the pore complex has an eight-sided outline in human melanoma cells in vitro. Fibers which traverse the pore proper at its corners are continuous and indistinguishable from chromatin at the nucleoplasmic side, as seen in conventionally fixed and sectioned material. Chromatin can be seen in octagonal outline if serial sections are analyzed which are parallel but do not include nuclear membranes (Fig. 1). It is concluded that the shape of the pore rim is due to fibrous material traversing the pore, and may not have any functional significance. In many pores one can recognize a central ring with eight fibers radiating to the corners of the pore rim. Such a structural arrangement is also found to connect eight ribosomes at the nuclear membrane.


2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 4197-4211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Fichtman ◽  
Corinne Ramos ◽  
Beth Rasala ◽  
Amnon Harel ◽  
Douglass J. Forbes

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are large proteinaceous channels embedded in double nuclear membranes, which carry out nucleocytoplasmic exchange. The mechanism of nuclear pore assembly involves a unique challenge, as it requires creation of a long-lived membrane-lined channel connecting the inner and outer nuclear membranes. This stabilized membrane channel has little evolutionary precedent. Here we mapped inner/outer nuclear membrane fusion in NPC assembly biochemically by using novel assembly intermediates and membrane fusion inhibitors. Incubation of a Xenopus in vitro nuclear assembly system at 14°C revealed an early pore intermediate where nucleoporin subunits POM121 and the Nup107-160 complex were organized in a punctate pattern on the inner nuclear membrane. With time, this intermediate progressed to diffusion channel formation and finally to complete nuclear pore assembly. Correct channel formation was blocked by the hemifusion inhibitor lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), but not if a complementary-shaped lipid, oleic acid (OA), was simultaneously added, as determined with a novel fluorescent dextran-quenching assay. Importantly, recruitment of the bulk of FG nucleoporins, characteristic of mature nuclear pores, was not observed before diffusion channel formation and was prevented by LPC or OA, but not by LPC+OA. These results map the crucial inner/outer nuclear membrane fusion event of NPC assembly downstream of POM121/Nup107-160 complex interaction and upstream or at the time of FG nucleoporin recruitment.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 4387-4396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amnon Harel ◽  
Rene C. Chan ◽  
Aurelie Lachish-Zalait ◽  
Ella Zimmerman ◽  
Michael Elbaum ◽  
...  

Assembly of a eukaryotic nucleus involves three distinct events: membrane recruitment, fusion to form a double nuclear membrane, and nuclear pore complex (NPC) assembly. We report that importin β negatively regulates two of these events, membrane fusion and NPC assembly. When excess importin β is added to a full Xenopus nuclear reconstitution reaction, vesicles are recruited to chromatin but their fusion is blocked. The importin β down-regulation of membrane fusion is Ran-GTP reversible. Indeed, excess RanGTP (RanQ69L) alone stimulates excessive membrane fusion, leading to intranuclear membrane tubules and cytoplasmic annulate lamellae-like structures. We propose that a precise balance of importin β to Ran is required to create a correct double nuclear membrane and simultaneously to repress undesirable fusion events. Interestingly, truncated importin β 45–462 allows membrane fusion but produces nuclei lacking any NPCs. This reveals distinct importin β-regulation of NPC assembly. Excess full-length importin β and β 45–462 act similarly when added to prefused nuclear intermediates, i.e., both block NPC assembly. The importin β NPC block, which maps downstream of GTPγS and BAPTA-sensitive steps in NPC assembly, is reversible by cytosol. Remarkably, it is not reversible by 25 μM RanGTP, a concentration that easily reverses fusion inhibition. This report, using a full reconstitution system and natural chromatin substrates, significantly expands the repertoire of importin β. Its roles now encompass negative regulation of two of the major events of nuclear assembly: membrane fusion and NPC assembly.


Chromosoma ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Christine Dabauvalle ◽  
Karin Loos ◽  
Ulrich Scheer

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 7944-7955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne M. Bailer ◽  
Carolin Balduf ◽  
Ed Hurt

ABSTRACT Nucleoporin Nsp1p, which has four predicted coiled-coil regions (coils 1 to 4) in the essential carboxy-terminal domain, is unique in that it is part of two distinct nuclear pore complex (NPC) subcomplexes, Nsp1p-Nup57p-Nup49p-Nic96p and Nsp1p-Nup82p-Nup159p. As shown by in vitro reconstitution, coiled-coil region 2 (residues 673 to 738) is sufficient to form heterotrimeric core complexes and can bind either Nup57p or Nup82p. Accordingly, interaction of Nup82p with Nsp1p coil 2 is competed by excess Nup57p. Strikingly, coil 3 and 4 mutants are still assembled into the core Nsp1p-Nup57p-Nup49p complex but no longer associate with Nic96p. Consistently, the Nsp1p-Nup57p-Nup49p core complex dissociates from the nuclear pores in nsp1coil 3 and 4 mutant cells, and as a consequence, defects in nuclear protein import are observed. Finally, the nsp1-L640Stemperature-sensitive mutation, which maps in coil 1, leads to a strong nuclear mRNA export defect. Thus, distinct coiled-coil regions within Nsp1p-C have separate functions that are related to the assembly of different NPC subcomplexes, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and incorporation into the nuclear pores.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (11) ◽  
pp. E2166-E2175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyu Gu ◽  
Dollie LaJoie ◽  
Opal S. Chen ◽  
Alexander von Appen ◽  
Mark S. Ladinsky ◽  
...  

Endosomal sorting complexes required for transport III (ESCRT-III) proteins have been implicated in sealing the nuclear envelope in mammals, spindle pole body dynamics in fission yeast, and surveillance of defective nuclear pore complexes in budding yeast. Here, we report that Lem2p (LEM2), a member of the LEM (Lap2-Emerin-Man1) family of inner nuclear membrane proteins, and the ESCRT-II/ESCRT-III hybrid protein Cmp7p (CHMP7), work together to recruit additional ESCRT-III proteins to holes in the nuclear membrane. InSchizosaccharomyces pombe, deletion of the ATPasevps4leads to severe defects in nuclear morphology and integrity. These phenotypes are suppressed by loss-of-function mutations that arise spontaneously inlem2orcmp7, implying that these proteins may function upstream in the same pathway. Building on these genetic interactions, we explored the role of LEM2 during nuclear envelope reformation in human cells. We found that CHMP7 and LEM2 enrich at the same region of the chromatin disk periphery during this window of cell division and that CHMP7 can bind directly to the C-terminal domain of LEM2 in vitro. We further found that, during nuclear envelope formation, recruitment of the ESCRT factors CHMP7, CHMP2A, and IST1/CHMP8 all depend on LEM2 in human cells. We conclude that Lem2p/LEM2 is a conserved nuclear site-specific adaptor that recruits Cmp7p/CHMP7 and downstream ESCRT factors to the nuclear envelope.


1997 ◽  
Vol 137 (6) ◽  
pp. 1199-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Yang ◽  
Tinglu Guan ◽  
Larry Gerace

We have analyzed the fate of several integral membrane proteins of the nuclear envelope during mitosis in cultured mammalian cells to determine whether nuclear membrane proteins are present in a vesicle population distinct from bulk ER membranes after mitotic nuclear envelope disassembly or are dispersed throughout the ER. Using immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy, we compared the localization of two inner nuclear membrane proteins (laminaassociated polypeptides 1 and 2 [LAP1 and LAP2]) and a nuclear pore membrane protein (gp210) to the distribution of bulk ER membranes, which was determined with lipid dyes (DiOC6 and R6) and polyclonal antibodies. We found that at the resolution of this technique, the three nuclear envelope markers become completely dispersed throughout ER membranes during mitosis. In agreement with these results, we detected LAP1 in most membranes containing ER markers by immunogold electron microscopy of metaphase cells. Together, these findings indicate that nuclear membranes lose their identity as a subcompartment of the ER during mitosis. We found that nuclear lamins begin to reassemble around chromosomes at the end of mitosis at the same time as LAP1 and LAP2 and propose that reassembly of the nuclear envelope at the end of mitosis involves sorting of integral membrane proteins to chromosome surfaces by binding interactions with lamins and chromatin.


1970 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner W. Franke ◽  
Barbara Deumling ◽  
Baerbel Ermen ◽  
Ernst-Dieter Jarasch ◽  
Hans Kleinig

Nuclear membranes were isolated from rat and pig liver by sonication of highly purified nuclear fractions and subsequent removal of adhering nucleoproteins in a high salt medium. The fractions were examined in the electron microscope by both negative staining and thin sectioning techniques and were found to consist of nuclear envelope fragments of widely varying sizes. Nuclear pore complex constituents still could frequently be recognized. The chemical composition of the nuclear membrane fractions was determined and compared with those of microsomal fractions prepared in parallel. For total nuclei as well as for nuclear membranes and microsomes, various enzyme activities were studied. The results indicate that a similarity exists between both fractions of cytomembranes, nuclear envelope, and endoplasmic reticulum, with respect to their RNA:protein ratio and their content of polar and nonpolar lipids. Both membranous fractions had many proteins in common including some membrane-bound enzymes. Activities in Mg-ATPase and the two examined cytochrome reductases were of the same order of magnitude. The content of cytochrome b5 as well as of P-450 was markedly lower in the nuclear membranes. The nuclear membranes were found to have a higher buoyant density and to be richer in protein. The glucose-6-phosphatase and Na-K-ATPase activities in the nuclear membrane fraction were very low. In the gel electrophoresis, in addition to many common protein bands, some characteristic ones for either microsomal or nuclear membranous material were detected. Significant small amounts of DNA and RNA were found to remain closely associated with the nuclear envelope fragments. Our findings indicate that nuclear and endoplasmic reticulum membranes which are known to be in morphological continuity have, besides a far-reaching similarity, some characteristic differences.


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