scholarly journals Importin β-depending Nuclear Import Pathways: Role of the Adapter Proteins in the Docking and Releasing Steps

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 2104-2115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Rollenhagen ◽  
Petra Mühlhäusser ◽  
Ulrike Kutay ◽  
Nelly Panté

Nuclear imports of uridine-rich small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1 snRNP) and proteins with classical nuclear localization signal (cNLS-protein) are mediated by importin β. However, due to the presence of different import signals, the adapter protein of the imported molecules and importin β is different for each pathway. Although the adapter for cNLS-protein is importin α, the adapter for U1 snRNP is snurportin1 (SPN1). Herein, we show that the use of distinct adapters by importin β results in differences at the docking and releasing step for these two import pathways. Nuclear pore complex (NPC) docking of U1 snRNP but not of cNLS-protein was inhibited by an anti-CAN/Nup214 antibody. Thus, the initial NPC-binding site is different for each pathway. Pull-down assays between immobilized SPN1 and two truncated forms of importin β documented that SPN1 and importin α have different binding sites on importin β. Importin β fragment 1–618, which binds to SPN1 but not to importin α, was able to support the nuclear import of U1 snRNPs. After the translocation through the NPC, both import complexes associated with the nuclear side of the NPC. However, we found that the nature of the importin β-binding domain of the adapters influences the release of the cargo into the nucleoplasm.

2002 ◽  
Vol 156 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen Huber ◽  
Achim Dickmanns ◽  
Reinhard Lührmann

The nuclear localization signal (NLS) of spliceosomal U snRNPs is composed of the U snRNA's 2,2,7-trimethyl-guanosine (m3G)-cap and the Sm core domain. The m3G-cap is specifically bound by snurportin1, which contains an NH2-terminal importin-β binding (IBB) domain and a COOH-terminal m3G-cap–binding region that bears no structural similarity to known import adaptors like importin-α (impα). Here, we show that recombinant snurportin1 and importin-β (impβ) are not only necessary, but also sufficient for U1 snRNP transport to the nuclei of digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells. In contrast to impα–dependent import, single rounds of U1 snRNP import, mediated by the nuclear import receptor complex snurportin1–impβ, did not require Ran and energy. The same Ran- and energy-independent import was even observed for U5 snRNP, which has a molecular weight of more than one million. Interestingly, in the presence of impβ and a snurportin1 mutant containing an impα IBB domain (IBBimpα), nuclear U1 snRNP import was Ran dependent. Furthermore, β-galactosidase (βGal) containing a snurportin1 IBB domain, but not IBBimpα-βGal, was imported into the nucleus in a Ran-independent manner. Our results suggest that the nature of the IBB domain modulates the strength and/or site of interaction of impβ with nucleoporins of the nuclear pore complex, and thus whether or not Ran is required to dissociate these interactions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aris Haryanto

Isoform importin α molecules play a central role in the classical nuclear import pathway, that occurs throughthe nuclear pore complex (NPC) and typically requires a specific nuclear localization signal (NLS). In this study,it was investigated the role of isoforms importin α in the nuclear import of wild type recombinant hepatitis B viruscore protein (WT rHBc), phosphorylated recombinant HBV core (rHBc) and recombinant HBV core without NLSby co-immunoprecipitation. Four recombinant full-length isoforms importin α as 6x histidin-tagged fusion proteinwere expressed and analysed from expression plasmid vectors Rch1, pHM 1969, pHM 1967 and pHM 1965. Theresults indicated that importin α-1, importin α-3, importin α-4 and importin α-5 can be expressed and isolatedfrom E. coli transformed recombinant DNA plasmid as protein in size around 58-60 kDa. By the nuclear transportstudy shown that isoforms importin α are involved in the nuclear import of WT rHBc, phosphorylated rHBc andrHBc without NLS. It also indicated that they have an important role for nuclear transport of from cytoplasm intothe nucleus.Keywords: NPC, NLS, importin α, importin β, isoforms importin α as 6x histidin-tagged fusion protein, WTrHBc, SV40 Tag, co-immunoprecipitation, westernblotting.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 6805-6815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Solsbacher ◽  
Patrick Maurer ◽  
F. Ralf Bischoff ◽  
Gabriel Schlenstedt

ABSTRACT Proteins bearing a nuclear localization signal (NLS) are targeted to the nucleus by the heterodimeric transporter importin. Importin α binds to the NLS and to importin β, which carries it through the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Importin disassembles in the nucleus, evidently by binding of RanGTP to importin β. The importin subunits are exported separately. We investigated the role of Cse1p, theSaccharomyces cerevisiae homologue of human CAS, in nuclear export of Srp1p (yeast importin α). Cse1p is located predominantly in the nucleus but also is present in the cytoplasm and at the NPC. We analyzed the in vivo localization of the importin subunits fused to the green fluorescent protein in wild-type and cse1-1 mutant cells. Srp1p but not importin β accumulated in nuclei ofcse1-1 mutants, which are defective in NLS import but not defective in NLS-independent import pathways. Purified Cse1p binds with high affinity to Srp1p only in the presence of RanGTP. The complex is dissociated by the cytoplasmic RanGTP-binding protein Yrb1p. Combined with the in vivo results, this suggests that a complex containing Srp1p, Cse1p, and RanGTP is exported from the nucleus and is subsequently disassembled in the cytoplasm by Yrb1p. The formation of the trimeric Srp1p-Cse1p-RanGTP complex is inhibited by NLS peptides, indicating that only NLS-free Srp1p will be exported to the cytoplasm.


2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (19) ◽  
pp. 5924-5936 ◽  
Author(s):  
AnYu Zhou ◽  
Alexander C. Ou ◽  
Aeri Cho ◽  
Edward J. Benz ◽  
Shu-Ching Huang

ABSTRACT RBM25 has been shown to associate with splicing cofactors SRm160/300 and assembled splicing complexes, but little is known about its splicing regulation. Here, we characterize the functional role of RBM25 in alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Increased RBM25 expression correlated with increased apoptosis and specifically affected the expression of Bcl-x isoforms. RBM25 stimulated proapoptotic Bcl-xS 5′ splice site (5′ ss) selection in a dose-dependent manner, whereas its depletion caused the accumulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-xL. Furthermore, RBM25 specifically bound to Bcl-x RNA through a CGGGCA sequence located within exon 2. Mutation in this element abolished the ability of RBM25 to enhance Bcl-xS 5′ ss selection, leading to decreased Bcl-xS isoform expression. Binding of RBM25 was shown to promote the recruitment of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) to the weak 5′ ss; however, it was not required when a strong consensus 5′ ss was present. In support of a role for RBM25 in modulating the selection of a 5′ ss, we demonstrated that RBM25 associated selectively with the human homolog of yeast U1 snRNP-associated factor hLuc7A. These data suggest a novel mode for Bcl-xS 5′ ss activation in which binding of RBM25 with exonic element CGGGCA may stabilize the pre-mRNA-U1 snRNP through interactions with hLuc7A.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 8468-8479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Solsbacher ◽  
Patrick Maurer ◽  
Frank Vogel ◽  
Gabriel Schlenstedt

ABSTRACT Import of proteins containing a classical nuclear localization signal (NLS) into the nucleus is mediated by importin α and importin β. Srp1p, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue of importin α, returns from the nucleus in a complex with its export factor Cse1p and with Gsp1p (yeast Ran) in its GTP-bound state. We studied the role of the nucleoporin Nup2p in the transport cycle of Srp1p. Cells lacking NUP2 show a specific defect in both NLS import and Srp1p export, indicating that Nup2p is required for efficient bidirectional transport of Srp1p across the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Nup2p is located at the nuclear side of the central gated channel of the NPC and provides a binding site for Srp1p via its amino-terminal domain. We show that Nup2p effectively releases the NLS protein from importin α-importin and β and strongly binds to the importin heterodimer via Srp1p. Kap95p (importin β) is released from this complex by a direct interaction with Gsp1p-GTP. These data suggest that besides Gsp1p, which disassembles the NLS-importin α-importin β complex upon binding to Kap95p in the nucleus, Nup2p can also dissociate the import complex by binding to Srp1p. We also show data indicating that Nup1p, a relative of Nup2p, plays a similar role in termination of NLS import. Cse1p and Gsp1p-GTP release Srp1p from Nup2p, which suggests that the Srp1p export complex can be formed directly at the NPC. The changed distribution of Cse1p at the NPC in nup2 mutants also supports a role for Nup2p in Srp1p export from the nucleus.


2003 ◽  
Vol 372 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrik FÖRCH ◽  
Livia MERENDINO ◽  
Concepción MARTÍNEZ ◽  
Juan VALCÁRCEL

The splicing factor U2AF65, U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) auxillary factor of 65 kDa, binds to pyrimidine-rich sequences at 3′ splice sites to recruit U2 snRNP to pre-mRNAs. We report that U2AF65 can also promote the recruitment of U1 snRNP to weak 5′ splice sites that are followed by uridine-rich sequences. The arginine- and serine-rich domain of U2AF65 is critical for U1 recruitment, and we discuss the role of its RNA–RNA annealing activity in this novel function of U2AF65.


1995 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 1325-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Duverger ◽  
C. Pellerin-Mendes ◽  
R. Mayer ◽  
A.C. Roche ◽  
M. Monsigny

The nuclear import of many proteins depends on a short peptide sequence called the nuclear localization signal. However, glycosylated proteins, which lack such a nuclear localization signal, upon their injection into the cytosol by electroporation, enter the nucleus in a sugar-dependent manner. This paper brings new insights on the mechanism of this process, based on a study of neoglycoprotein nuclear uptake by digitonin-permeabilized cells. The nuclear import of neoglycoproteins is energy dependent: it does not occur when cells are maintained at 4 degrees C or when cells are ATP-depleted by treatment with apyrase. The nuclear import of neoglycoproteins occurs through the nuclear pore: it is inhibited by preincubation of cells with wheat germ agglutinin, a lectin which binds the nuclear pore glycoproteins and blocks the translocation step of nuclear localization signal bearing proteins through the nuclear pore. Furthermore, the nuclear import of neoglycoproteins does not use the pathway of nuclear localization signal bearing proteins: nuclear import of nuclear localization signal bearing proteins depends on cytosolic factors and is inhibited by treatment of cells with N-ethylmaleimide, while the nuclear import of neoglycoproteins neither requires added cytosolic factors nor is sensitive to alkylation by N-ethylmaleimide. In addition, upon incubation in the presence of a large excess of nuclear localization signal bearing protein, the nuclear import of neoglycoproteins is not inhibited.


1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (7) ◽  
pp. 1807-1816 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Kambach ◽  
I.W. Mattaj

Experiments investigating the nuclear import of the U2 snRNP-specific B'' protein (U2B'') are presented. U2B'' nuclear transport is shown to be able to occur independently of binding to U2 snRNA. The central segment of the protein (amino acids 90–146) encodes an unusual nuclear localization signal (NLS) that is related to that of the U1 snRNP-specific A protein. However, nuclear import of U2B'' does not depend on this NLS. Sequences in the N-terminal RNP motif of the protein are sufficient to direct nuclear transport, and evidence is presented that the interaction of U2B'' with the U2A' protein mediates this effect. This suggests that U2B'' can ‘piggy-back’ to the nucleus in association with U2A’, and thus be imported to the nucleus by two different mechanisms. U2A' nuclear transport, on the other hand, can occur independently of both U2B'' binding and of U2 snRNA.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4279-4287 ◽  
Author(s):  
S F Jamison ◽  
A Crow ◽  
M A Garcia-Blanco

A mammalian splicing commitment complex was functionally defined by using a template commitment assay. This complex was partially purified and shown to be a required intermediate for complex A formation. The productive formation of this commitment complex required both splice sites and the polypyrimidine tract. U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) was the only spliceosomal U snRNP required for this formation. A protein factor, very likely U2AF, is probably involved in the formation of the splicing commitment complex. From the kinetics of appearance of complex A and complex B, it was previously postulated that complex A represents a functional intermediate in spliceosome assembly. Complex A was partially purified and shown to be a required intermediate for complex B (spliceosome) formation. Thus, a spliceosome pathway is for the first time supported by direct biochemical evidence: RNA+U1 snRNP+?U2 auxiliary factor+?Y----CC+U2 snRNP+Z----A+U4/6,5 snRNPs+ beta----B.


2005 ◽  
Vol 169 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Faul ◽  
Stefan Hüttelmaier ◽  
Jun Oh ◽  
Virginie Hachet ◽  
Robert H. Singer ◽  
...  

14-3-3 proteins are phosphoserine/threonine-binding proteins that play important roles in many regulatory processes, including intracellular protein targeting. 14-3-3 proteins can anchor target proteins in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus or can mediate their nuclear export. So far, no role for 14-3-3 in mediating nuclear import has been described. There is also mounting evidence that nuclear import is regulated by the phosphorylation of cargo proteins, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Myopodin is a dual-compartment, actin-bundling protein that functions as a tumor suppressor in human bladder cancer. In muscle cells, myopodin redistributes between the nucleus and the cytoplasm in a differentiation-dependent and stress-induced fashion. We show that importin α binding and the subsequent nuclear import of myopodin are regulated by the serine/threonine phosphorylation-dependent binding of myopodin to 14-3-3. These results establish a novel paradigm for the promotion of nuclear import by 14-3-3 binding. They provide a molecular explanation for the phosphorylation-dependent nuclear import of nuclear localization signal-containing cargo proteins.


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