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NSR1 is required for pre-rRNA processing and for the proper maintenance of steady-state levels of ribosomal subunits.

NSR1 is a yeast nuclear localization sequence-binding protein showing striking similarity in its domain structure to nucleolin. Cells lacking NSR1 are viable but have a severe growth defect. We show here that NSR1, like nucleolin, is involved in ribosome biogenesis. The nsr1 mutant is deficient in pre-rRNA processing such that the initial 35S pre-rRNA processing is blocked and 20S pre-rRNA is nearly absent. The reduced amount of 20S pre-rRNA leads to a shortage of 18S rRNA and is reflected in a change in the distribution of 60S and 40S ribosomal subunits; there is no free pool of 40S subunits, and the free pool of 60S subunits is greatly increased in size. The lack of free 40S subunits or the improper assembly of these subunits causes the nsr1 mutant to show sensitivity to the antibiotic paromomycin, which affects protein translation, at concentrations that do not affect the growth of the wild-type strain. Our data support the idea that NSR1 is involved in the proper assembly of pre-rRNA particles, possibly by bringing rRNA and ribosomal proteins together by virtue of its nuclear localization sequence-binding domain and multiple RNA recognition motifs. Alternatively, NSR1 may also act to regulate the nuclear entry of ribosomal proteins required for proper assembly of pre-rRNA particles.

Fungal Proteins↗

Posttranscriptional control of renin synthesis: identification of proteins interacting with renin mRNA 3'-untranslated region.

Stabilization and correct localization of mRNA are important features of renin synthesis. To elucidate the molecular basis of cAMP-mediated posttranscriptional control via mRNA stabilization, we analyzed the interaction of human preprorenin (hREN) mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) with proteins of renin synthesizing Calu-6 cells and investigated their functional impact on messenger integrity. To identify hREN mRNA binding proteins, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, UV cross-linking and RNA-affinity chromatography with subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were performed. The following six proteins were unambiguously identified as hREN mRNA 3'-UTR binding proteins: hnRNP E1 (synonyms alpha-CP or PCBP), hnRNP K, dynamin, nucleolin, YB-1, and MINT-homologous protein. All proteins contain various RNA binding motifs, and most have been described in the context of mRNA binding and mRNA stabilization. Four proteins for which antibodies were available were verified by immunological techniques (dynamin, nucleolin, hnRNP E1, and YB-1). Forskolin, an activator of cAMP synthesis, considerably stimulates renin synthesis via inhibition of REN mRNA decay. Functionally, this cAMP-based mRNA stabilization is accompanied by a 3- to 6-fold upregulation of REN mRNA binding proteins. RNase degradation assays confirm that 3'-UTR binding proteins are able to protect and stabilize REN mRNA in vitro.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Quantification of Ag-NOR proteins using Ag-NOR staining on western blots.

Ribosomal genes are associated with a set of silver-stained nucleolar proteins, the Ag-NOR proteins, whose amount is directly related to the duration of the cell cycle. Quantification of Ag-NOR proteins by image analysis is presently used to evaluate the rate of proliferation of cancer cells and nucleolar activity. Our objective was to establish a procedure to quantify independently each major Ag-NOR protein in cell extracts. Computerized densitometry established that the specific silver staining of Ag-NOR proteins (Ag-NOR staining) performed on Western blots makes it possible to quantify Ag-NOR proteins. Using purified Ag-NOR proteins, nucleolin, and protein B23, we observed that the intensity of Ag-NOR staining is proportional to the amount of protein. A linear relationship exists between the intensity of Ag-NOR staining and the amount of nucleolin, in the range of 0.2-1.6 micrograms. Using total nuclear extracts prepared from mammalian cells, the proportionality was maintained for total Ag-NOR-stained proteins or for a particular protein. We also determined the levels of nuclear proteins suitable for quantitative analysis. Individual Ag-NOR proteins can be quantified by computerized densitometry in nuclear extracts after Ag-NOR staining on Western blots. This procedure can be applied to establish the contribution of each Ag-NOR protein in general staining, estimate the variability of each Ag-NOR protein in normal and pathological conditions, and quantify each Ag-NOR protein contained per cell.

Animals↗

Effects of sex steroids on silver stained proteins of nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NOR) in the rabbit uterus.

Silver staining of argyrophilic proteins of nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NOR) has been used to evaluate a hyperactive state of cells. We studied the effects of sex steroids on the Ag-NOR proteins in the rabbit uterus. Estradiol-17beta (E2) caused uterine hypertrophy and increased the number of Ag-NOR dots in epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium and smooth muscles cells in a dose dependent manner without proliferative change in the endometrium. Progestins including progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), and norethindrone following E2 caused progestational proliferation of the endometrium with an increase in the Ag-NOR number to various extents, whereas methyltestosterone, a synthetic androgen, caused only a minimal proliferative change in the endometrium without an increase in the Ag-NOR number. Western blot analysis revealed that progesterone and MPA increased the amounts of a 100 kDa protein (nucleolin) and a 37 kDa protein (B23 protein) in the endometium and a marked proliferative change, whereas E2 did not. These results suggest that although the Ag-NOR number was enhanced by both progestin and estrogen, only progestins substantially increase the Ag-NOR protein in the rabbit uterus. This implies that an increase in the amount of nucleolin and B23 protein is associated with the proliferative potential of the cells.

Animals↗

IL-2-dependent expression of genes involved in cytoskeleton organization, oncogene regulation, and transcriptional control.

IL-2 induces growth, differentiation, and/or apoptosis of lymphoid cells. To study further the molecular basis of IL-2 function, we used a cDNA subtraction approach involving a cell line grown in IL-2 or IL-4. From the corresponding library, 66 nonredundant sequences were characterized; 16 of them encode identified proteins. The kinetics of in vitro expression of 8 selected sequences, the functions of which could be associated with IL-2-induced T cell activation/differentiation, was investigated using an IL-2-dependent T cell line. IL-2 increased the expression of cytoskeleton proteins (alpha-tubulin), oncogene-regulating proteins (CCCTC-binding factor, Jun inhibitor factor-1), and transcription factors (E2F-4, cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein, zhx-1). IL-2 also regulated the expression of genes coding for multifunctional proteins, e.g., beta-catenin and nucleolin. These results were verified using Con A-induced T cell blasts stimulated or not by IL-2. The in vivo expression of four of these genes was also analyzed in spleen and lymph node cells of IL-2-deficient and MRL/lpr mice, which both have high numbers of activated cells, but the latter have intact IL-2 expression. The expression of beta-catenin, CCCTC-binding factor, Jun inhibitor factor-1, and nucleolin was significantly higher in MRL/lpr animals. A similar analysis of thymocytes from IL-2-/- and IL-2+/- mice demonstrated the same expression patterns of the 4 sequences in these strains. The expression of the IL-2-induced genes described herein is similar to the regulatory pattern of IL-2R alpha. Taken together, our data provide additional evidence for the pleiotropic action of IL-2 in the periphery and IL-2 independence of molecular processes involved in thymocyte differentiation.

Animals↗

Drug-induced destabilization of bcl-2 mRNA: a new approach for inducing apoptosis in tumor cells.

Recent evidence suggests that the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of some mRNAs is a molecular hotspot for pathology. The 3' UTR of bcl-2 mRNA contains several AU-rich elements (AREs) that promote mRNA destabilization. Recent studies have demonstrated that the protein, nucleolin, binds to an ARE in bcl-2 mRNA, thereby protecting this mRNA from nuclease degradation. All-trans retinoic acid, taxol and okadiac acid induce downregulation or inactivation of nucleolin, which destabilizes bcl-2 mRNA and triggers apoptosis. The ARE instability elements in bcl-2 mRNA are potential therapeutic targets for inducing apoptosis and overcoming drug resistance in cancer cells.

Animals↗

Application of the AgNOR technique to neurooncology.

The silver staining of interphase nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) is a recently developed method to measure cell proliferation in tissue specimens. The major silver staining protein is nucleolin, a 92 kd nucleolar protein, which probably controls rDNA transcription. Nucleolin itself is under control of p34cdc2 kinase, which is a subunit of M phase kinase. The specific silver staining of NORs measures ribosomal gene activity and is therefore useful in measuring cell proliferation via nucleolar biosynthetic activity. Although human tumors of different malignancy grades usually can be distinguished by their AgNOR number, there is considerable overlap between different grades which significantly hampers their use in individual cases. For routine application of the AgNOR technique in histopathology we propose a standardised staining protocol with use of internal control cells and the use of image analysis for AgNOR enumeration.

Animals↗

Expression and localization of endothelin-converting enzyme-1 isoforms in human endothelial cells.

Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE)-1 is a membrane-bound metalloprotease responsible for production of vasoactive endothelin (ET)-1 from inactive big ET-1. ECE-1 exists as four separate isoforms, ECE-1a, b, c, and d, which differ only in their amino-terminal regions. We investigated the expression and localization of the ECE-1 isoforms in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and EAhy926 cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed expression of all four isoforms in both cell lines, with ECE-1d seeming, at least qualitatively, to be the predominant isoenzyme. Isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies were used to investigate isoform protein expression. ECE-1a, b, and c protein was detected in EAhy926 cells by immunoblotting; only ECE-1a and ECE-1c were detected in HUVECs. Using immunofluorescence microscopy analysis, both HUVEC and EAhy926 cells showed nuclear immunoreactivity with a monoclonal antibody recognizing all ECE-1 isoforms. The ECE-1a antibody also showed nuclear immunoreactivity in both cell lines; this seemed to colocalize with nucleolin. The ECE-1b antibody showed nuclear immunoreactivity in EAhy926 cells, but no overlap with nucleolin was seen. Intracellular immunoreactivity was seen in both cell lines using the ECE-1c antibody; this showed some colocalization with concanavalin A (an endoplasmic reticulum marker). von Willebrand Factor was used as a marker for Weibel-Palade bodies in HUVECs, but no colocalization with ECE-1 was seen during this study. The data presented here sheds new light on the localization of ECE-1a, b, and c in cultured human endothelial cells, which may further understanding of the ET system and aid design of therapeutic ECE inhibitors.

Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases↗

MNDA binds NPM/B23 and the NPM-MLF1 chimera generated by the t(3;5) associated with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

The myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA) is a nuclear protein expressed specifically in developing cells of the human myelomonocytic lineage, including the end-stage monocytes/macrophages and granulocytes. Nuclear localization, lineage- and stage-specific expression, association with chromatin, and regulation by interferon alpha indicate that this protein is involved in regulating gene expression uniquely associated with the differentiation process and/or function of the monocyte/macrophage. MNDA does not bind specific DNA sequences, but rather a set of nuclear proteins that includes nucleolin (C23). Both in vitro binding assays and co-immunoprecipitation were used to demonstrate that MNDA also binds protein B23 (nucleophosmin/NPM). Three reciprocal chromosome translocations found in certain cases of leukemia/lymphoma involve fusions with the NPM/B23 gene, t(5;17) NPM-RARalpha, t(2;5) NPM-ALK, and the t(3;5) NPM-MLF1. In the current study, MNDA was not able to bind the NPM-ALK chimera originating from the t(2;5) and containing residues 1-117 of NPM. However, MNDA did bind the NPM-MLF1 product of the t(3;5) that contains the N-terminal 175 residues of NPM. The additional 58 amino acids (amino acids 117-175) of the NPM sequence that are contained in the product of the NPM-MLF1 fusion gene relative to the product of the NPM-ALK fusion appear responsible for MNDA binding. This additional NPM sequence contains a nuclear localization signal and clusters of acidic residues believed to bind nuclear localization signals of other proteins. Whereas NPM and nucleolin are primarily localized within the nucleolus, MNDA is distributed throughout the nucleus including the nucleolus, suggesting that additional interactions define overall MNDA localization.

Acute Disease↗

Rapid onset of nucleolar disintegration preceding cell cycle arrest in roscovitine-induced apoptosis of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

The aim of our study was to explore the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic action of roscovitine (ROSC) on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. We examined the effect of ROSC on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, nucleolar morphology, posttranslational modifications of histones as well as on induction of apoptosis. The effects of ROSC on the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and nucleolar RNA of MCF-7 cells were marked: ROSC treatment changed the pattern of AgNORs in a time-dependent manner. The disintegration of nucleoli manifested by increasing number of nucleolar fragments already began at 6 hr posttreatment. This was accompanied by a redistribution of the nucleolin from the nucleolus beginning after 6 hr and preceded a decrease of histone acetylation and phosphorylation. Inhibition of DNA synthesis and accumulation of G(2)/M-arrested cells starting 6 hr posttreatment coincided with a strong increase of the p53 level and with an appearance of a few cells committed to undergo apoptosis. However, all these changes preceded the main wave of apoptosis, which occurred after 24 hr ROSC treatment as assessed by determination of the frequency of Annexin binding, activation of caspases as well as of DNA fragmentation. Onset of PARP-1 cleavage detected by immunoblotting and by immunohistochemistry 6 hr or 9 hr posttreatment, respectively, preceded for a few hours the DNA fragmentation detected in situ by TUNEL assay. Reconstitution of MCF-7 cells with caspase-3 did not change the kinetics of ROSC-induced apoptosis. Our results show that disintegration of nucleoli is an early marker of ROSC-induced changes. Cell cycle arrest precedes the main wave of apoptosis.

Acetylation↗

Nucleolar proteins and ultrastructure in bovine in vivo developed, in vitro produced, and parthenogenetic cleavage-stage embryos.

In the present study, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene activation, monitored through nucleolus development, was studied by autoradiography following (3)H-uridine incubation, transmission electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy of key nucleolar proteins involved in rRNA transcription (topoisomerase I, upstream binding factor, and RNA polymerase I) and processing (fibrillarin, nucleolin, and nucleophosmin) in in vivo developed, in vitro produced, and parthenogenetic bovine embryos. In general, in vivo developed embryos displayed formation of fibrillo-granular nucleoli during the 4th post-fertilization cell cycle. During the previous stages of development, nucleolus precursor bodies (NPBs) were observed. However, on some occasions the initial steps of nucleolus formation were observed already at the 2- and 4-cell stage in cases where such embryos were collected from superovulated animals together with later embryonic stages presenting nucleolar development and autoradiographic labeling. The in vitro produced embryos displayed very synchronous formation of fibrillo-granular nucleoli and autoradiographic labeling during the 4th cell cycle. In vivo developed and in vitro produced embryos displayed allocation of nucleolar proteins to fibrillar and granular compartments of the developing nucleoli during the 4th cell cycle. The parthenogenetic embryos typically displayed formation of fibrillo- granular nucleoli during the 5th cell cycle and autoradiographic labeling was not observed until the morula stage. Moreover, the 1-, 2-, and 4-cell parthenogenetic embryos practically lacked NPBs. On the other hand, parthenogenetic embryos displayed allocation of nucleoar proteins to nuclear entities during the 4th cell cycle. In conclusion, both in vivo developed and in vitro produced bovine embryos displayed activation of transcription and nucleolar development during the 4th cell cycle. However, in vivo developed embryos flushed together with later developmental stages displayed premature activation of these processes. Parthenogenetic bovine embryos, on the other hand, displayed a delayed activation.

Animals↗

Shotgun proteome analysis of protein cleavage in apoptotic cells.

A new shotgun proteomics approach was employed to identify degraded proteins. Jurkat T-cells were induced to undergo apoptosis by Fas (CD95/Apo-1) stimulation. The proteins were separated by large (30 cm) sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after digestion of 100 gel slices with trypsin. The molecular masses of the individual gel slices were calculated through the known theoretical masses of the identified proteins. Proteins were defined as degradation candidates if either the empirical determined molecular mass was at most 80% of the theoretical value, or if proteins were identified in clearly different gel slices. In this manner, the degradation of 11 already identified apoptosis-modified proteins was confirmed and nine until now unknown degradation candidate proteins identified. Degradation during apoptosis must be verified by additional techniques such as in vitro caspase assays as shown for nucleolin and Rho GDI 2. The results presented confirm the suitability of a shotgun approach for the identification of putative protease targets.

Apoptosis↗

Simultaneous localization of transcription and early processing markers allows dissection of functional domains in the plant cell nucleolus.

Nucleolar transcription in isolated onion cell nuclei was visualized, after Br-UTP incorporation, under the conventional fluorescence microscope, the confocal microscope, and the transmission electron microscope. The confocal microscopy study of transcription was combined with immunodetection of fibrillarin, a component of the RNP complex involved in the early processing of pre-rRNA. Superposition of transcription and fibrillarin images from the same optical section showed some small "black holes" in the nucleolus, around which a lateral and radial differentiation of labeling was observed: laterally, zones corresponding to transcription labeling alternated with zones of fibrillarin labeling; radially, areas of transcription gradually became areas of colocalization of transcription and fibrillarin, and, further outward, of fibrillarin alone, which occupied the major part of the labeled nucleolar area. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the nucleolar transcription labeling, from confocal optical sections, showed clusters of foci arranged around an area of low or no labeling. Thin labeled extensions, connecting single foci, were observed. Visualization of transcription at the ultrastructural level identified the black holes as fibrillar centers, in view of their size and the absence of labeling in them. In fact, most of the labeling was observed in discrete areas of the dense fibrillar component, near fibrillar centers, including the transition area between these two components. This observation was supported by a quantitative study. Otherwise, the outline of fibrillar centers did not appear entirely surrounded by particles, and a minor proportion of particles was detected dispersed throughout the dense fibrillar component. As a complementary study, the transcription factor upstream binding factor (UBF) and the protein NopA64, a plant nucleolin homologue, were immunolocalized. Small foci of UBF localization alone and other foci in which the two protein markers overlapped were observed. The outer areas of the nucleolus showed the exclusive presence of NopA64. Under the electron microscope, UBF labeling, quantitatively assessed, appeared as clusters of particles, most of them surrounding fibrillar centers. A graphic model is presented to give a molecular interpretation of these data.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗

Enhancement of the immunocytochemical detection of antigens by microwave irradiation. Benefits and limitations analysed in isolated plant nuclei and Drosophila embryos in toto.

Performing the antibody reaction under controlled heating through microwave irradiation results in significant improvements in the immunovisualization of antigens, such as shortening the times of incubation, lowering the antibody titres used and allowing the detection of difficult, inaccessible antigens. In addition to investigate the basis of the enhancement, we have extended to more intact samples such as isolated plant nuclei and in toto Drosophila embryos the results previously reported only with tissue sections. A drop of heterologous anti-nucleolin antibody covering isolated nuclei from onion root meristems spread on a glass slide was microwave irradiated, resulting in clear immunofluorescent labelling of the nucleoli. This result was never previously obtained in the absence of microwave treatment, even using the complicated procedure previously reported for the homologous identification of this nuclear protein. Using the much larger and to some extent impermeable Drosophila embryos, we were able to show that the incubation time and concentration of the anti-myosin antibody can be strongly reduced by performing the reaction at 45 degrees C under microwave irradiation. The controlled increase in temperature is the main factor responsible for these improvements; the importance of maintaining an adequate mixing of the samples is also emphasized. The proper implementation of these two experimental conditions will require the introduction of appropriate mixing accessories and temperature measuring probes for samples of small volume in current microwave laboratory ovens.

Animals↗

Subnucleolar location of fibrillarin and NopA64 in Lepidium sativum root meristematic cells is changed in altered gravity.

Fibrillarin and the plant nucleolin homolog NopA64 are two important nucleolar proteins involved in pre-rRNA processing. In order to determine the effects of the altered gravity environment on the nucleolus, we have investigated the location of fibrillarin and NopA64 in nucleolar subcomponents of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) root meristematic cells grown under clinorotation, which reproduces an important feature of microgravity, namely, the absence of the orienting action of a gravity vector, and compared it to the location in control cells grown in normal 1 g conditions. Prior to these experiments, we report here the characterization of cress fibrillarin as a 41 kDa protein which can be isolated from meristematic cells in three nuclear fractions, namely, the soluble ribonucleoprotein fraction, the chromatin fraction, and the nuclear-matrix fraction. Furthermore, as reported for other species, the location of both fibrillarin and NopA64 in the cress cell nucleolus was in zones known to contain complex ribonucleoprotein particles involved in early pre-rRNA processing, i.e., processomes. Under altered gravity, a decrease in the quantity of both fibrillarin and NopA64 compared to controls was observed in the transition zone between fibrillar centers and the dense fibrillar component, as well as in the bulk of the dense fibrillar component. These data suggest that altered (reduced) gravity results in a lowered level of functional activity in the nucleolus.

Blotting, Western↗

Phosphorothioate oligonucleotides bind in a non sequence-specific manner to the nucleolar protein C23/nucleolin.

To design optimal strategies for intracellular delivery of antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides, it may be useful to understand their interaction with cellular macromolecules. Nuclear extracts from LOX amelanotic myeloma cells were studied for protein binding to phosphorothioate oligonucleotides using a Southwestern protocol. Multiple nuclear proteins bound to the phosphorothioate oligonucleotides but no detectable protein binding was found to phosphodiester oligonucleotides. The protein with the strongest binding signals was shown by immunoprecipitation to be nucleolar C23/nucleolin, a 110 kDa protein. With glutathione S-transferase/nucleolin fusion protein constructs, the region of nucleolin containing the RNA recognition motifs had binding activity to phosphorothioate oligonucleotides.

Base Sequence↗

Major nucleolar proteins shuttle between nucleus and cytoplasm.

Nucleolin is a 92 kd nucleolar protein implicated in regulating polymerase I transcription and binding of preribosomal RNA. Another abundant nucleolar protein of 38 kd (B23/No38) is thought to be involved in intranuclear packaging of preribosomal particles. Although both proteins have previously been detected only in nuclei, we conclude that they shuttle constantly between nucleus and cytoplasm. This conclusion is based on monitoring the equilibration of these proteins between nuclei present in interspecies heterokaryons, and on observing the antigen-mediated nuclear accumulation of cytoplasmically injected antibodies. Our unexpected results suggest a role for these major nucleolar proteins in the nucleocytoplasmic transport of ribosomal components. Moreover, they suggest that transient exposure of shuttling proteins to the cytoplasm may provide a mechanism for cytoplasmic regulation of nuclear activities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nuclear export of proteins: the role of nuclear retention.

Proteins that shuttle between nucleus and cytoplasm are implicated in transport and signal transduction processes. Using assays based on interspecies heterokaryons and microinjection of Xenopus oocytes, we examined what structural features determine nuclear export of shuttling proteins. Three classes of proteins were studied: first, wild-type and mutant forms of nucleolin, one of the first shuttling proteins identified; second, artificial nuclear reporter proteins derived from cytoplasmic pyruvate kinase; and third, wild-type and mutant lamins differing in their abilities to be incorporated into the lamina. Our results show that a protein does not require positively acting export signals to be transported from nucleus to cytoplasm; instead, its shuttling ability is limited primarily by intranuclear interactions. We conclude that nucleocytoplasmic shuttling is a general phenomenon not restricted to proteins involved in nucleocytoplasmic transport.

Amino Acid Sequence↗