SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Nuclear Localization Signals”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Azf1p is a nuclear-localized zinc-finger protein that is preferentially expressed under non-fermentative growth conditions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In previous studies the AZF1 gene has been identified as a second high-copy number suppressor for a special mutant of the gene for the mitochondrial core enzyme of RNA polymerase. The first high-copy number suppressor of this mutant turned out to be the specificity factor MTF1 for mitochondrial transcription. Up to now, the influence of AZF1 on mitochondrial transcription, its precise localization in the cell and the regulation of its expression has not been determined. The putative protein contains a long stretch of poly-asparagine amino acids and a typical zinc-finger domain for DNA binding. These characteristic structural features were used to create the abbreviation AZF1 (Asparagine-rich Zinc Finger protein). An initial computer analysis of the sequence gave no conclusive results for the presence of a mitochondrial import sequence or a typical nuclear-targeting sequence. A recent more-detailed analysis identified a possible nuclear localization signal in the middle of the protein. Disruption of the gene shows no effect on plates with glucose-rich medium or glycerol. In this report a specific polyclonal antibody against Azf1p was prepared and used in cell-fractionation experiments and in electron-microscopic studies. Both of these clearly demonstrate that the AZF1 protein is localized exclusively in the nucleus of the yeast cell. Northern analysis for the expression of the AZF1 messenger RNA under different growth conditions was therefore performed to obtain new insights into the regulation of this gene. Together with the respective protein-expression analysis these data demonstrate that Azf1p is preferentially synthezised in higher amounts under non-fermentable growth conditions. Over-expression of Azf1p in the yeast cell does not influence the expression level of the mitochondrial transcription factor Mtf1p, indicating that the influence of Azf1p on the suppression of the special mitochondrial RNA polymerase mutant is an indirect one. Subcellular investigation of the deletion mutant by electron microscopy identifies specific ultrastructural cell-division defects in comparison to the wild-type.

Carrier Proteins↗

PubMed2000

cDNA cloning and genomic structure of three genes localized to human chromosome band 5q31 encoding potential nuclear proteins.

Loss of a whole chromosome 5, or a del(5q), is a recurring abnormality in malignant myeloid diseases. By cytogenetic and molecular analyses, we delineated previously a 1- to 1.5-Mb region that is deleted in all patients with a del(5q). In our efforts to identify a myeloid tumor suppressor gene within the commonly deleted segment (CDS), we have cloned and characterized the genes encoding three putative nuclear proteins, each of which contains a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS). In addition, C5ORF5 contains a putative rhoGAP domain at the N-terminus, C5ORF6 has a proline-rich sequence near the N-terminus, and C5ORF7 has a zinc-finger domain that partially overlaps the NLS. All three genes are ubiquitously expressed and encode novel proteins. The C5ORF5 cDNA is 5.47 kb encoding a protein of 915 amino acids (aa) with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 105 kDa. C5ORF5 has 23 exons spanning over 27 kb. The C5ORF6 transcript is 4.1 kb encoding a protein of 392 aa with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 43 kDa. C5ORF6 has 5 exons and spans approximately 11 kb. The C5ORF7 cDNA is 6.3 kb and encodes a protein of 1417 aa with a predicted molecular mass of approximately 155 kDa. C5ORF7 has 24 exons spanning approximately 64 kb. All three genes were localized to the distal half of the CDS between D5S1983 and D5S500. We evaluated each as a candidate tumor suppressor gene by the analysis of myeloid leukemia cells from patients with -5/del(5q), but no inactivating mutations were identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Targeting the Escherichia coli lac repressor to the mammalian cell nucleus.

We have previously shown that about 90% of total Escherichia coli lac repressor synthesized in mammalian cells is located in the cytoplasm [Hu and Davidson, Cell 48 (1987) 555-566]. To target a functional lac repressor to the nucleus, we mutated 10 nucleotides at the 3' end of the coding sequence, thus adding the nuclear localization signal of the simian virus 40 large-T antigen to the C terminus of the repressor. The mutant lacI gene and the wild-type (wt) gene, both in standard animal cell expression vectors, driven by the promoter of the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat, were stably transfected into three rodent cell lines. In confirmation of our previous results, only about 10% of the wt repressor, but all of the mutant protein, was localized in the nucleus. DNase I footprint analyses showed that the mutant repressor retained the same operator DNA-binding specificity as wt repressor. Furthermore, both repressor-operator complexes could be dissociated by addition of isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside in vitro. However, the ratio of number of repressor molecules per nucleus that, by in vitro assay, could bind to the operator sequence to the number of monomer repressor polypeptides per nucleus, as determined by Western blotting, was about 1:4 for the wt repressor and about 1:30 for the mutant repressor. This suggests that: (a) the mutant repressor assembles into tetramers inefficiently; and/or (b) it has reduced binding affinity to the operator sequence; and/or (c) it has higher binding affinity to nonspecific DNA.

Antigens, Viral, Tumor↗

PubMed1995

Mapping of a functional region conferring nuclear localization of pseudorabies virus immediate-early protein.

The immediate-early protein (IE180) of pseudorabies virus (PrV) is localized predominantly in the nuclei of infected cells. To define the nuclear localization signals within IE180, we prepared truncated mutants of IE180 and analyzed their localization in the transfected cells by indirect immunofluorescence. Analysis of mutants truncated from the carboxy-terminal end of the 1460-amino acid polypeptide showed that two regions including a short sequence of basic amino acid residues were associated with the nuclear localization of IE180. To assess whether these regions substantially function as signals for nuclear localization of the IE180 molecule, we then constructed two deletion mutants lacking each region. A mutant lacking amino acids 333 to 575 was detected in the nuclei of the transfected cells, whereas the other mutant lacking amino acids 900 to 950 was detected mainly in the cytoplasm. These results suggest that the region of amino acids 900 to 950 is responsible for nuclear localization of IE180.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Subcellular localization of the autoimmune regulator protein. characterization of nuclear targeting and transcriptional activation domain.

The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene, defective in the hereditary autoimmune disease APECED, encodes a transcriptional regulator protein. AIRE is expressed in the medullary epithelial cells and monocyte-dendritic cells of the thymus with lower expression in the spleen, fetal liver, and lymph nodes. At the cellular level, AIRE is located in microtubular structures of the cytoskeleton and in discrete nuclear dots resembling ND10 nuclear bodies. We studied the determinants of the targeting of AIRE into these structures. We report here that the N-terminal HSR domain confers localization to the microtubular network whereas the C-terminal region contains a second nuclear localization signal. We also demonstrate that the consensus nuclear localization signal of AIRE is functional and that the HSR domain harbors a nuclear export signal. Accordingly, the nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B partially inhibits the nuclear export of AIRE. From a functional standpoint, we show that AIRE can activate the interferon beta minimal promoter in a transfection assay and demonstrate that the transcriptional activating function of AIRE is mediated by its two plant homeodomain (PHD) zinc fingers.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Delineation and modelling of a nucleolar retention signal in the coronavirus nucleocapsid protein.

Unlike nuclear localization signals, there is no obvious consensus sequence for the targeting of proteins to the nucleolus. The nucleolus is a dynamic subnuclear structure which is crucial to the normal operation of the eukaryotic cell. Studying nucleolar trafficking signals is problematic as many nucleolar retention signals (NoRSs) are part of classical nuclear localization signals (NLSs). In addition, there is no known consensus signal with which to inform a study. The avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein, localizes to the cytoplasm and the nucleolus. Mutagenesis was used to delineate a novel eight amino acid motif that was necessary and sufficient for nucleolar retention of N protein and colocalize with nucleolin and fibrillarin. Additionally, a classical nuclear export signal (NES) functioned to direct N protein to the cytoplasm. Comparison of the coronavirus NoRSs with known cellular and other viral NoRSs revealed that these motifs have conserved arginine residues. Molecular modelling, using the solution structure of severe acute respiratory (SARS) coronavirus N-protein, revealed that this motif is available for interaction with cellular factors which may mediate nucleolar localization. We hypothesise that the N-protein uses these signals to traffic to and from the nucleolus and the cytoplasm.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed2006

Spatio-temporal regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling by protein phosphatases.

ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) is a MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), which regulates diverse physiological functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, transformation and survival. It is now clear that in addition to the duration and magnitude of signalling through this MAPK pathway, the spatial restriction of MAPK activity plays a key role in determining the physiological outcome of signalling. Recent work has led to the discovery of MAPK-binding proteins, which contain either nuclear localization signals or nuclear export signals. These include MAPK activators and specific protein phosphatases, which may act to both regulate MAPK activity and the subcellular localization of their substrate. This represents a mechanism by which signalling in response to extracellular stimuli may be modulated in terms of both magnitude/duration and spatial restriction thus allowing differential access of the activated MAPK to target proteins and the interpretation of this information by cells to determine an appropriate physiological response.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Nuclear shuttling of the peptidase nardilysin.

The metalloendopeptidase nardilysin contains a putative N-terminal nuclear localization signal. The functionality of this sequence was tested with nardilysin-GFP fusion constructs. Expression in NIH3T3 cells showed approximately 90-95% of nardilysin-GFP as cytoplasmic. However, 3-6% of transfected cells showed both cytosolic and nuclear staining, while 2-4% showed predominantly nuclear staining. A nuclear localization signal mutant and an N-terminally truncated nardilysin-GFP with the nuclear localization signal deleted were completely cytoplasmic. Although endogenous nardilysin was barely detectable in the nucleus, after treatment with leptomycin B, nuclear nardilysin rose to approximately 15% and to over 25% after addition of spermine. The ability of a methionine 49 to act as the sole initiator methionine, as previously proposed, was tested by inserting a c-myc epitope between leucine28 and glycine29. Expression in HEK293 cells showed the presence of the c-myc tag, demonstrating that the enzyme can be translated from the first methionine and contains the nuclear localization signal.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Importance of nuclear localization of apoptin for tumor-specific induction of apoptosis.

The chicken anemia virus-derived protein Apoptin induces apoptosis specifically in human tumor and transformed cells and not in normal, untransformed cells. The cell killing activity correlates with a predominantly nuclear localization of Apoptin in tumor cells, whereas in normal cells, it is detected mainly in cytoplasmic structures. To explore the role of nuclear localization for Apoptin-induced cell death in tumor cells, we employed a mutagenesis strategy. First, we demonstrated that the C terminus of Apoptin contains a bipartite-type nuclear localization signal. Strikingly, further investigation showed that Apoptin contains two different domains that induce apoptosis independently, and for both domains, we found a strong correlation between localization and killing activity. Using inhibitors, we ruled out the involvement of de novo gene transcription and translation and further showed that Apoptin itself does not have any significant transcriptional repression activity, suggesting that Apoptin exerts its effects in the nucleus by some other method. To determine whether nuclear localization is sufficient to enable Apoptin to kill normal, untransformed cells, we expressed full-length Apoptin fused to a heterologous nuclear localization signal in these cells. However, despite its nuclear localization, no apoptosis was induced, which suggests that nuclear localization per se is not sufficient for Apoptin to become active. These studies increase our understanding of the molecular pathway of Apoptin and may also shed light on the mechanism of cellular transformation.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed2002

BARD1 induces BRCA1 intranuclear foci formation by increasing RING-dependent BRCA1 nuclear import and inhibiting BRCA1 nuclear export.

BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor with several important nuclear functions. BRCA1 has no known cytoplasmic functions. We show here that the two previously identified nuclear localization signals (NLSs) are insufficient for nuclear localization of BRCA1 due to the opposing action of an NH2-terminal nuclear export signal. In transfected breast cancer cells, BRCA1 nuclear localization requires both the NLSs and NH2-terminal RING domain region; mutating either of these sequences shifts BRCA1 to the cytoplasm. The BRCA1 RING element mediates nuclear import via association with BARD1, and this is not affected by cancer-associated RING mutations. Moreover, BARD1 directly masks the BRCA1 nuclear export signal, and the resulting block to nuclear export is requisite for efficient import and nuclear localization of ectopic and endogenous BRCA1. Our results explain why BRCA1 exon 11 splice variants, which lack the NLSs but retain the RING domain, are frequently detected in the nucleus and in nuclear foci in vivo. In fact, co-expression of BARD1 promoted formation of DNA damage-induced nuclear foci comprising ectopic wild-type or NLS-deficient BRCA1, implicating BARD1 in nuclear targeting of BRCA1 for DNA repair. Our identification of BARD1 as a BRCA1 nuclear chaperone has regulatory implications for its reported effects on BRCA1 protein stability, ubiquitin ligase activity, and DNA repair.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed1997

Nuclear localization of basonuclin in human keratinocytes and the role of phosphorylation.

Basonuclin is a zinc-finger protein found in basal cells of the epidermis. In human keratinocyte cultures, basonuclin is susceptible to serine-phosphorylation and the addition of the phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, promotes accumulation of basonuclin in the cytoplasm. The region of basonuclin containing the nuclear localization signal of basonuclin is necessary for nuclear localization of the protein and Ser-541, located immediately C-terminal to the nuclear localization signal, is the principal phosphorylation site in vitro. A nearly complete basonuclin transiently expressed in cultured keratinocytes localizes predominantly in the nucleus, but substitution of aspartic acid for Ser-541 promotes cytoplasmic localization. The same substitution of Ser-537 has a similar but weaker effect. Substitution of both serine residues by alanine leads to nuclear localization. These results show that nuclear localization of basonuclin depends on serine dephosphorylation, primarily of Ser-541. Different subcellular locations of basonuclin in different keratinocyte subtypes are therefore most likely to be controlled by the state of phosphorylation of Ser-541.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2006

Specific amino acid residues in the basic helix-loop-helix domain of SRC-3 are essential for its nuclear localization and proteasome-dependent turnover.

SRC-3/AIB1/ACTR/pCIP/RAC3/TRAM-1 is a primary transcriptional coactivator for the estrogen receptor. Here we report that deletion of the SRC-3 basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain blocks its proteasome-dependent turnover. We further identified two residues (K17 and R18) in the SRC-3 bHLH domain that are essential for its stability. Moreover, we found that the bHLH domain contains a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS). SRC-3 NLS mutants block its translocation into the nucleus, and this correlates with its insensitivity to proteasome-dependent turnover. SRC-3 shows a time-dependent decay in the presence of cycloheximide which is not apparent for the cytoplasmic mutant. Fusion of a simian virus 40 T antigen NLS to the cytoplasmic localized SRC-3 mutant drives it back into the nucleus and restores its proteasomal sensitivity. In addition, the cytoplasmic mutants are inactive for transcriptional coactivation and cancer cell growth. Taken together, our data indicate that proteasome-dependent turnover of SRC-3 occurs in the nucleus and that two amino acid residues in the bHLH domain provide a signal for its nuclear localization and proteasome-dependent degradation as well as for regulation of SRC-3 transcriptional coactivator capacity.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed1995

Codominance and toxins: a path to drugs of nearly unlimited selectivity.

The effectiveness of drugs is often limited by their insufficient selectivity. I propose designs of therapeutic agents that address this problem. The key feature of these reagents, termed comtoxins (codominance-mediated toxins), is their ability to utilize codominance, a property characteristic of many signals in proteins, including degradation signals (degrons) and nuclear localization signals. A comtoxin designed to kill cells that express intracellular proteins P1 and P2 but to spare cells that lack P1 and/or P2 is a multidomain fusion containing a cytotoxic domain and two degrons placed within or near two domains P1* and P2* that bind, respectively, to P1 and P2. In a cell containing both P1 and P2, these proteins would bind to the P1* and P2* domains of the comtoxin and sterically mask the nearby (appropriately positioned) degrons, resulting in a long-lived and therefore toxic drug. By contrast, in a cell lacking P1 and/or P2, at least one of the comtoxin's degrons would be active (unobstructed), yielding a short-lived and therefore nontoxic drug. A comtoxin containing both a degron and a nuclear localization signal can be designed to kill exclusively cells that contain P1 but lack P2. Analogous strategies yield comtoxins sensitive to the presence (or absence) of more than two proteins in a cell. Also considered is a class of comtoxins in which a toxic domain is split by a flexible insert containing binding sites for the target proteins. The potentially unlimited, combinatorial selectivity of comtoxins may help solve the problem of side effects that bedevils present-day therapies, for even nonselective delivery of a comtoxin would not affect cells whose protein "signatures" differ from the targeted one.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗

PubMed2006

The nuclear pore complex: the gateway to successful nonviral gene delivery.

One of the limiting steps in the efficiency of nonviral gene delivery is transport of genetic material across the nuclear membrane. Trafficking of nuclear proteins from the cytoplasm into the nucleus occurs via the nuclear pore complex and is mediated by nuclear localization signals and their nuclear receptors. Several strategies employing this transport mechanism have been designed and explored to improve nonviral gene delivery. In this article, we review the mechanism of nuclear import through the nuclear pore complex and the strategies used to facilitate nuclear import of exogenous DNA and improve gene expression.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

PubMed2000

Fetal Alz-50 clone 1 (FAC1) protein interacts with the Myc-associated zinc finger protein (ZF87/MAZ) and alters its transcriptional activity.

Transcription factors mediate their regulatory effects through interaction with DNA and numerous nuclear proteins. The fetal Alz-50 clone 1 (FAC1) protein, a novel DNA-binding protein with the capacity to repress transcription, is likely to function through a similar mechanism (1). Using the two-hybrid yeast screen, we have shown that FAC1 interacts with the myc-associated zinc finger protein (ZF87/MAZ). This association was confirmed in vitro with recombinant protein. The ZF87/MAZ interaction domain was mapped to the region containing a putative nuclear localization signal (NLS) and nuclear export sequence (NES) of FAC1, using deletion mutants of the FAC1 protein. FAC1, on the other hand, recognizes a conformational interface that includes the proline/alanine-rich domain of ZF87/MAZ and the first zinc finger. Cotransfection of NIH3T3 cells with ZF87/MAZ and a luciferase reporter containing the SV40 promoter and enhancer results in an increase in transcriptional activation, suggesting ZF87/MAZ is able to recognize its consensus binding site present in the SV40 promoter. Cotransfection with FAC1 reduces the level of ZF87/MAZ-induced activation of the SV40 promoter in a dose dependent manner. A mutant FAC1, lacking the ZF87/MAZ interaction domain, does not alter ZF87/MAZ activation of the SV40 promoter. These data demonstrate that interaction between FAC1 and ZF87/MAZ alters the transactivation capacity of ZF87/MAZ. By immunoblot analysis, FAC1 and ZF87/MAZ exhibit similar tissue distribution and co-localize to pathologic structures in Alzheimer's disease brain. Coexpression of FAC1 and ZF87/MAZ suggest that interaction of these two proteins will have biological implications for gene regulation in neurodegeneration.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1999

Nuclear import and export pathways.

Macromolecules enter or leave the nucleus by using nuclear localization signals (NLS), or nuclear export signals (NES), respectively. Different types of NLS and NES are recognized directly or indirectly via adapters, by transport receptors. All transport receptors identified thus far are members of the same family and share an ability to shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and to interact with the small GTPase Ran and with nucleoporins at the nuclear pore complex (NPC). The GTPase Ran regulates the interaction of transport receptors with either cargoes, or adapters, or nucleoporins and is crucial in providing directionality to nuclear import and export. Surprisingly, GTP hydrolysis by Ran is not required for translocation of some receptor/cargo complexes through the NPC. One of the challenges for the future will be to establish the mechanisms of translocation through the NPC of different transport receptors together with their cargoes. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppls. 32/33:76-83, 1999.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

A nuclear export signal in the N-terminal regulatory domain of IkappaBalpha controls cytoplasmic localization of inactive NF-kappaB/IkappaBalpha complexes.

Appropriate subcellular localization is crucial for regulation of NF-kappaB function. Herein, we show that latent NF-kappaB complexes can enter and exit the nucleus in preinduction states. The nuclear export inhibitor leptomycin B (LMB) sequestered NF-kappaB/IkappaBalpha complexes in the nucleus. Using deletion and site-directed mutagenesis, we identified a previously uncharacterized nuclear export sequence in residues 45-54 of IkappaBalpha that was required for cytoplasmic localization of inactive complexes. This nuclear export sequence also caused nuclear exclusion of heterologous proteins in a LMB-sensitive manner. Importantly, a LMB-insensitive CRM1 mutant (Crm1-K1) abolished LMB-induced nuclear accumulation of the inactive complexes. Moreover, a cell-permeable p50 NF-kappaB nuclear localization signal peptide also blocked these LMB effects. These results suggest that NF-kappaB/IkappaBalpha complexes shuttle between the cytoplasm and nucleus by a nuclear localization signal-dependent nuclear import and a CRM1-dependent nuclear export. The LMB-induced nuclear complexes could not bind DNA and were inaccessible to signaling events, because LMB inhibited NF-kappaB activation without affecting the subcellular localization of upstream kinases IKKbeta and NIK. Our findings indicate that the dominant nuclear export over nuclear import contributes to the largely cytoplasmic localization of the inactive complexes to achieve efficient NF-kappaB activation by extracellular signals.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed1994

Biochemical mechanism of HIV-I Vpr function. Specific interaction with a cellular protein.

vpr is an accessory gene of human immunodeficiency virus I (HIV-I). Although unnecessary for viral replication in T cell lines, growing evidence suggests that it is essential for virus replication in monocytes/macrophages and for replication in vivo. We expressed HIV-I vpr in Escherichia coli and purified Vpr by affinity chromatography. In a coprecipitation assay, the purified Vpr interacted specifically with a cellular protein designated as Vpr-interacting protein, or RIP. Mutational analysis suggested that this interaction required a domain rich in leucine/isoleucine residues and highly conserved between HIV-I and SIVmac Vprs. During transient expression in mammalian cells, HIV-I Vpr was localized in the nucleus. However, mutational analysis failed to identify in Vpr a typical nuclear localization signal rich in basic amino acid residues. Instead, Vpr nuclear localization seemed to correlate with Vpr interaction with RIP. Mutations in the C-terminal 20-amino acid region containing a cryptic nuclear localization signal did not abolish Vpr nuclear localization or interaction with RIP, whereas point mutations in the leucine/isoleucine-rich domain abolished Vpr interaction with RIP and rendered Vpr unstable during transient expression. These results suggest that RIP may be involved in Vpr function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗