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PubMed1992

The nuclear pore: at the crossroads.

The nuclear pore complex is at the crossroads of macromolecular traffic across the nuclear envelope. Our knowledge of the mechanism whereby nuclear transport is mediated by the nuclear pore complex is also at a crossroads; a molecular understanding of this process has major implications for applied medical sciences. This becomes obvious with the realization that nuclear proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm and yet function in the nucleus, and that RNA is transcribed in the nucleus but translated in the cytoplasm. Thus, control of macromolecular traffic across the nuclear membrane is an important means for altering the levels and activities of such molecules as steroid hormone receptors, transcription factors, and enzymes involved in DNA replication. Nuclear proteins have been found to contain nuclear localization sequences (NLS) rich in basic amino acids, which target them for transport through the nuclear pore to the nucleus. It is also clear that a group of novel glycoproteins having a unique carbohydrate modification are required for transport across the nuclear pore complex. However, the mechanism by which the NLS is recognized to mediate transport across the nuclear envelope is poorly understood. It is the aim of this brief review to attempt a synthesis of what is known of this mechanism and what may be newly inferred on the basis of current experimental data.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Protein import through the nuclear pore complex is a multistep process.

The transport of macromolecules across the nuclear envelope is mediated by the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Using cryo-electron microscopy and image processing we have mapped the interaction of three specific gold probes with the NPC and obtained projection maps of two possible intermediates in nuclear import. The probes used in these experiments were (a) mAb-414, which cross-reacts with Xenopus nucleoporins containing O-linked N-acetyl glucosamines; (b) wheat germ agglutinin, a transport inhibitor; and (c) nucleoplasmin, a transport substrate. Strong binding sites of the three probes are circularly arrayed on NPCs between radii of 100 and 125 A and may be coextensive. These results suggest that nucleoplasmin-gold (NP-gold) can form at least three distinct complexes with a central transport assembly of the NPC, which may represent intermediates of a multistep protein import pathway. Initially, NP-gold appears to bind at multiple sites located around the periphery of the closed NPC transporter and also directly over the center where it can dock. In a subsequent step NP-gold is translocated through the nuclear pore.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1995

Reconstituted nuclei depleted of a vertebrate GLFG nuclear pore protein, p97, import but are defective in nuclear growth and replication.

Xenopus egg extracts provide a powerful system for in vitro reconstitution of nuclei and analysis of nuclear transport. Such cell-free extracts contain three major N-acetylglucosaminylated proteins: p200, p97, and p60. Both p200 and p60 have been found to be components of the nuclear pore. Here, the role of p97 has been investigated. Xenopus p97 was isolated and antisera were raised and affinity purified. Immunolocalization experiments indicate that p97 is present in a punctate pattern on the nuclear envelope and also in the nuclear interior. Peptide sequence analysis reveals that p97 contains a GLFG motif which defines a family of yeast nuclear pore proteins, as well as a peptide that is identical at 11/15 amino acids to a specific member of the GLFG family, NUP116. An additional peptide is highly homologous to a second sequence found in NUP116 and other members of the yeast GLFG family. A monoclonal antibody to the GLFG domain cross-reacts with a major Xenopus protein of 97 kD and polyclonal antiserum to p97 recognizes the yeast GLFG nucleoporin family. The p97 antiserum was used to immunodeplete Xenopus egg cytosol and p97-deficient nuclei were reconstituted. The p97-depleted nuclei remained largely competent for nuclear protein import. However, in contrast to control nuclei, nuclei deficient in p97 fail to grow in size over time and do not replicate their chromosomal DNA. ssDNA replication in such extracts remains unaffected. Addition of the N-acetylglucosaminylated nuclear proteins of Xenopus or rat reverses these replication and growth defects. The possible role(s) of p97 in these nuclear functions is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Functional coordination of three mitotic motors in Drosophila embryos.

It is well established that multiple microtubule-based motors contribute to the formation and function of the mitotic spindle, but how the activities of these motors interrelate remains unclear. Here we visualize spindle formation in living Drosophila embryos to show that spindle pole movements are directed by a temporally coordinated balance of forces generated by three mitotic motors, cytoplasmic dynein, KLP61F, and Ncd. Specifically, our findings suggest that dynein acts to move the poles apart throughout mitosis and that this activity is augmented by KLP61F after the fenestration of the nuclear envelope, a process analogous to nuclear envelope breakdown, which occurs at the onset of prometaphase. Conversely, we find that Ncd generates forces that pull the poles together between interphase and metaphase, antagonizing the activity of both dynein and KLP61F and serving as a brake for spindle assembly. During anaphase, however, Ncd appears to have no effect on spindle pole movements, suggesting that its activity is down-regulated at this time, allowing dynein and KLP61F to drive spindle elongation during anaphase B.

Anaphase↗
PubMed2006

Rtn1p is involved in structuring the cortical endoplasmic reticulum.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contains both cisternal and reticular elements in one contiguous structure. We identified rtn1Delta in a systematic screen for yeast mutants with altered ER morphology. The ER in rtn1Delta cells is predominantly cisternal rather than reticular, yet the net surface area of ER is not significantly changed. Rtn1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) associates with the reticular ER at the cell cortex and with the tubules that connect the cortical ER to the nuclear envelope, but not with the nuclear envelope itself. Rtn1p overexpression also results in an altered ER structure. Rtn proteins are found on the ER in a wide range of eukaryotes and are defined by two membrane-spanning domains flanking a conserved hydrophilic loop. Our results suggest that Rtn proteins may direct the formation of reticulated ER. We independently identified Rtn1p in a proteomic screen for proteins associated with the exocyst vesicle tethering complex. The conserved hydophilic loop of Rtn1p binds to the exocyst subunit Sec6p. Overexpression of this loop results in a modest accumulation of secretory vesicles, suggesting impaired exocyst function. The interaction of Rtn1p with the exocyst at the bud tip may trigger the formation of a cortical ER network in yeast buds.

Endoplasmic Reticulum↗
PubMed1998

Nup116p and nup100p are interchangeable through a conserved motif which constitutes a docking site for the mRNA transport factor gle2p.

Nup116p and Nup100p are highly related yeast GLFG nucleoporins, but only Nup116p is stoichiometrically bound to Gle2p, a previously identified mRNA export factor. A short Gle2p-binding sequence within Nup116p (GLEBS; residues 110-166) is sufficient and necessary to anchor Gle2p at the nuclear pores, whereas the carboxy-terminal domain of Nup116p mediates its own nuclear pore complex (NPC) association. The GLEBS is evolutionarily conserved and found in rat/Xenopus Nup98 and an uncharacterized Caenorhabditis elegans ORF, but is absent from Nup100p. When the GLEBS is deleted from Nup116p, Gle2p dissociates from the nuclear envelope and clusters of herniated nuclear pores form. When the GLEBS is inserted into Nup100p, Nup100p-GLEBS complements both the thermosensitive and NPC-herniated phenotype of nup116- cells, and Gle2p is retargeted concomitantly to the NPCs. Thus, the in vivo function of Gle2p is strictly coupled to the short GLEBS within Nup116p which links this putative mRNA transport factor to the nuclear pores.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Importin alpha from Arabidopsis thaliana is a nuclear import receptor that recognizes three classes of import signals.

Protein import into the nucleus is a two-step process. In vitro import systems from vertebrate cell extracts have shown several soluble factors are required. One of these factors is the receptor importin alpha, which binds to nuclear localization signals (NLS) in vitro. We previously cloned an importin alpha homolog from Arabidopsis thaliana (At-IMP alpha) and demonstrated that this protein was not depleted from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) protoplasts after permeabilization of the plasma membrane, (Hicks et al., 1996). To determine if At-IMP alpha is functional, we used an in vitro NLS-binding assay. We found that At-IMP alpha is specific, and the receptor is able to recognize three classes of NLS identified in plants. Purified antibodies to At-IMP alpha were used to determine the in vivo location of importin alpha in tobacco protoplasts. Importin alpha is found in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and it is most highly concentrated at the nuclear envelope. The biochemical properties of nuclear importin alpha and localization studies using purified nuclei demonstrate that importin alpha is tightly associated with the plant nucleus. Moreover, these results suggest that a fraction of nuclear importin alpha interacts with the nuclear pore complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Emerin caps the pointed end of actin filaments: evidence for an actin cortical network at the nuclear inner membrane.

X-linked Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is caused by loss of emerin, a LEM-domain protein of the nuclear inner membrane. To better understand emerin function, we used affinity chromatography to purify emerin-binding proteins from nuclear extracts of HeLa cells. Complexes that included actin, alphaII-spectrin and additional proteins, bound specifically to emerin. Actin polymerization assays in the presence or absence of gelsolin or capping protein showed that emerin binds and stabilizes the pointed end of actin filaments, increasing the actin polymerization rate 4- to 12-fold. We propose that emerin contributes to the formation of an actin-based cortical network at the nuclear inner membrane, conceptually analogous to the actin cortical network at the plasma membrane. Thus, in addition to disrupting transcription factors that bind emerin, loss of emerin may destabilize nuclear envelope architecture by weakening a nuclear actin network.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed2006

Functional interaction of CREB binding protein (CBP) with nuclear transport proteins and modulation by HDAC inhibitors.

Nuclear transport proteins such as CSE1, NUP93 and Importin-alpha have recently been shown to be chromatin-associated proteins in yeast, which have unexpected functions in gene regulation. Here we report interactions between the mammalian histone acetyltransferase CBP with nuclear transport proteins CAS (a CSE1 homologue) and Importin-alpha (Impalpha) and NUP93. CAS was found to bind the SRC1 interaction domain (SID) of CBP via a leucine-rich motif in the N-terminus of the protein, that is conserved in other SID-binding proteins. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments also revealed that CBP and Impalpha proteins form a complex. As Impalpha is a known acetylation target of CBP/p300, and is recycled to the cytoplasm via the exportin CAS, we investigated whether HDAC inhibitors would alter the subcellular localization of these proteins. Treatment of COS-1 cells with the HDAC inhibitors trichostatin A or sodium butyrate resulted in sequestration of Impalpha in the nuclear envelope, accumulation of CAS in nuclear aggregates, and an increased number of CBP-containing PML bodies per cell. In addition, HDACi treatment appeared to enhance the association of Impalpha and CBP in coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Our results provide evidence for novel functional interactions between the chromatin modification enzyme CBP and nuclear transport proteins in mammalian cells.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1995

Depletion of calcium from the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum reversibly inhibits passive diffusion and signal-mediated transport into the nucleus.

Nuclear pore complexes provide channels for molecular transport across the nuclear envelope. Translocation of most proteins and RNAs through the pore complex is mediated by signal- and ATP-dependent mechanisms, while transport of small molecules is accomplished by passive diffusion. We report here that depletion of calcium from the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope with ionophores or the calcium pump inhibitor thapsigargin rapidly and potently inhibits signal mediated transport of proteins into the nucleus. Lumenal calcium depletion also inhibits passive diffusion through the pore complex. Signal-mediated protein import and passive diffusion are rapidly restored when the drugs depleting lumenal calcium are removed and cells are incubated at 37 degrees C in calcium-containing medium. These results indicate that loss of calcium from the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope reversibly affects properties of pore complex components located on the nuclear/cytoplasmic membrane surfaces, and they provide direct functional evidence for conformational flexibility of the pore complex. These methods will be useful for achieving reversible inhibition of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking for in vivo functional studies, and for studying the structure of the passive diffusion channel(s) of the pore complex.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of lamin proteins in BHK cells.

Lamins are structural proteins found in rat liver nuclear envelope and are major constituents of the nuclear matrix. 2-D gel electrophoresis indicates that BHK cell nuclear matrix is composed of four major proteins (62 kD, 68 kD, 70 kD and 72 kD). Three of these proteins are very similar to lamins A, B and C of rat liver nuclear envelope according to their molecular mass and isoelectric points. An anti-serum specific to BHK matrix proteins has been raised. On 2-D immunoblot, this serum detects all the 62, 68 and 72 kD polypeptide isovariants but only one of the two isovariants of the 70 kD polypeptide. Rat lamins A, B and C react with the anti-BHK matrix serum. However, when a monoclonal antibody to rat liver lamins A, B and C is used (Burke, B, Tooze, J & Warren, G, EMBO j 2 (1983) 361 [23]), only the 72 kD (lamin A-like) and the 62 kD (lamin C-like) BHK polypeptides are detected. Our results suggest that although a strong similarity exists between BHK and rat lamins, there is no identical cross-reactivity between the two species.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

From proto-mitosis to mitosis--an alternative hypothesis on the origin and evolution of the mitotic spindle.

Based on the assumption that the ancestral proto-eukaryote evolved from an ameboid prokaryote I propose the hypothesis that nuclear division of the proto-eukaryote was effected by the same system of contractile filaments it used for ameboid movement and cytosis . When the nuclear membranes evolved from the cell membrane, contractile filaments remained associated with them. The attachment site of the genome in the nuclear envelope was linked to the cell membrane by specialized contractile filaments. During protomitosis , i.e., nuclear and cell division of the proto-eukaryote, these filaments performed segregation of the chromosomes, whereas others constricted and cleaved the nucleus and the mother cell. When microtubules (MTs) had evolved in the cytoplasm, they also became engaged in nuclear division. Initially, an extranuclear bundle of MTs assisted chromosome segregation by establishing a defined axis. The evoluntionary tendency then was towards an increasingly important role for MTs. Spindle pole bodies ( SPBs ) developed from the chromosomal attachment sites in the nuclear envelope and organized an extranuclear central spindle. The chromosomes remained attached to the SPBs during nuclear division. In a subsequent step the spindle became permanently lodged inside the nucleus. Chromosomes detached from the SPBs and acquired kinetochores and kinetochore-MTs. At first, this spindle segregated chromosomes by elongation, the kinetochore-MTs playing the role of static anchors. Later, spindle elongation was supplemented by poleward movement of the chromosomes. When dissolution of the nuclear envelope at the beginning of mitosis became a permanent feature, the open spindle of higher eukaryotes was born.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Nuclear surface complex as observed with the high resolution scanning electron microscope. Visualization of the membrane surfaces of the neclear envelope and the nuclear cortex from Xenopus laevis oocytes.

The nuclear envelope and associated structures from Xenopus laevis oocytes (stage VI) have been examined with the high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM). The features of the inner and outer surfaces of the nuclear surface complex were revealed by manual isolation , whereas the membranes facing the perinuclear space (the space between the inner and outer nuclear membranes) were observed by fracturing the nuclear envelope in this plane and splaying the corresponding regions apart. Pore complexes were observed on all four membrane surfaces of this double-membraned structure. The densely packed pore complexes (55/micron2) are often clustered into triplets with shared walls (outer diameter = 90 nm; inner diameter = 25 nm; wall thickness = aproximately 30 nm), and project aproximately 20 nm above each membrane except where they are flush with the innermost surface. The pore complex appears to be an aggregate of four 30-nm subunits. The nuclear cortex, a fibrous layer (300 nm thickness) associated with the inner surface of the nuclear envelope, has been revealed by rapid fixation. This cortical layer is interrupted by funnel-shaped intranuclear channels (120-640 nm diam) which narrow towards the pore complexes. Chains of particles, arranged in spirals, are inserted into these intranuclear channels. The fibers associated with the innermost face of the nuclear envelope can be extraced with 0.6 MKI to reveal the pore complexes. A model of the nuclear surface complex, compiled from the visualization of all the membrane faces and the nuclear cortex, demonstrates relations between the intranuclear channels (3.2/micron2) and the numerous pore complexes, and the possibility of their role in nucleocytoplasmic interactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Active involvement of Ca2+ in mitotic progression of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.

Global Ca2+ transients have been observed to precede nuclear envelope breakdown and the onset of anaphase in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts in 8% (vol/vol) FBS. The occurrence of these Ca2+ transients was dependent on intracellular stores. These Ca2+ transients could be (a) abolished by serum removal without halting mitosis, and (b) eliminated by increasing intracellular Ca2+ buffering capacity through loading the cells with 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) buffer, via the tetra(acetoxymethyl) ester, without hindering the transition into anaphase. Microinjection of sufficient concentrations of BAPTA buffer could block nuclear envelope breakdown. Pulses of Ca2+ generated by flash photolysis of intracellularly trapped nitr-5, a "caged" Ca2+, could precipitate precocious nuclear envelope breakdown in prophase cells. In metaphase cells, photochemically generated Ca2+ pulses could cause changes in the appearance of the chromosomes, but the length of time required for cells to make the transition from metaphase to anaphase remained essentially unchanged regardless of whether a Ca2+ pulse was photoreleased during metaphase. The results from these photorelease experiments were not dependent on the presence of serum in the medium. Discharging intracellular Ca2+ stores with ionomycin in the presence of 1.8 mM extracellular Ca2+ doubled the time for cells to pass from late metaphase into anaphase, whereas severe Ca2+ deprivation by treatment with ionomycin in EGTA-containing medium halted mitosis. Our results collectively indicate that Ca2+ is actively involved in nuclear envelope breakdown, but Ca2+ signals are likely unnecessary for the metaphase-anaphase transition in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Additional studies of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in mitotic REF52 and PtK1 cells revealed that Ca2+ transients are not observed at all mitotic stages in all cells. The absence of observable global Ca2+ transients, where calcium buffers can block and pulses of Ca2+ can advance mitotic stages, may imply that the relevant Ca2+ movements are too local to be detected.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Ultrastructural and morphometric analysis of nucleolar and nuclear changes during the early growth period in hamster facial neurons.

In this study, progressive developmental changes in the nucleus and associated organelles, including the nucleolus, coiled bodies, nuclear envelope, and nucleoplasm, of hamster facial motor neurons were characterized by two parallel analyses: ultrastructural and morphometric. Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) used for this series were the 14-day fetus, newborn (less than 6 hr), and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 days postnatal ages, with 3 animals per group. Following anesthesia and perfusion fixation, facial nuclear groups were dissected and processed for electron microscopy. Electron micrographs and camera lucida tracings of nuclear profiles were collected and analyzed. The ultrastructural analysis revealed progressive changes in the nucleolus from a compact, segregated type to a reticulated form characteristic of actively protein-secreting cells. Nucleolar microbodies and fibrillar centers were seen at all ages; the latter structures appeared to decrease in size and increase with age in the series. The nucleolus-associated chromatin became less condensed, suggesting an increase in the incorporation of rDNA into the nucleolus proper. Coiled bodies, both free and attached to nucleoli, were found in varying frequencies. The nucleoplasm of neurons at the earliest stages contained large numbers of heterochromatin clumps, which decreased concomitantly with an increase in interchromatin granules and fibrils during the later stages. Nuclear envelope invaginations, polarized along one side of the nucleus, increased throughout the developmental period examined. These changes occurred in concert with a 61% increase in nuclear size and a 47% increase in the length of nuclear envelope. The sequence of nuclear changes observed during this early period of normal facial neuronal growth completes the study of a series of distinctly defined cytomorphic events in this cell type, the lability of which can be experimentally tested for their functional roles in neuronal development.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A role for the p34cdc2 kinase and phosphatases in the regulation of phosphorylation and disassembly of lamin B2 during the cell cycle.

While the p34cdc2 kinase is considered to be a critical regulator of mitosis, its function has not yet been directly linked to one of the key events during the onset of mitosis: nuclear envelope breakdown. Here we show that a major structural protein of the nuclear envelope, lamin B2, is phosphorylated by p34cdc2. Results from two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping experiments demonstrate that the p34cdc2-specific phosphopeptides represent both mitotic and interphase specific phosphorylations of lamin B2 and include the major interphase phosphorylation site. In mitotic cells we detected two distinct forms of lamin B2 which differ in electrophoretic mobility and in degree of phosphorylation. The phosphorylation pattern of lamin B2 generated in vitro by p34cdc2 was more closely related to the less phosphorylated mitotic lamin B2, suggesting that another kinase(s) in addition to p34cdc2 is involved in generating the mitotic phosphorylation pattern. In addition, we show that treatment of interphase cells with okadaic acid, a potent phosphatase inhibitor, leads to the acquisition of mitosis-specific phosphopeptides and can reversibly increase the detergent-solubility of lamin B2. However, the M-phase-like phosphorylation of lamin B2 in itself is not sufficient to induce its disassembly from the nuclear lamina suggesting that an additional event(s) besides phosphorylation is required.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Inhibiting MAP kinase activity prevents calcium transients and mitosis entry in early sea urchin embryos.

A transient calcium increase triggers nuclear envelope breakdown (mitosis entry) in sea urchin embryos. Cdk1/cyclin B kinase activation is also known to be required for mitosis entry. More recently, MAP kinase activity has also been shown to increase during mitosis. In sea urchin embryos, both kinases show a similar activation profile, peaking at the time of mitosis entry. We tested whether the activity of both kinases is required for mitosis entry and whether either kinase controls mitotic calcium signals. We found that reducing the activity of either mitotic kinase prevents nuclear envelope breakdown, despite the presence of a calcium transient, when cdk1/cyclin B kinase activity is alone inhibited. When MAP kinase activity alone was inhibited, the calcium signal was absent, suggesting that MAP kinase activity is required to generate the calcium transient that triggers nuclear envelope breakdown. However, increasing intracellular free calcium by microinjection of calcium buffers or InsP(3) while MAP kinase was inhibited did not itself induce nuclear envelope breakdown, indicating that additional MAP kinase-regulated events are necessary. After MAP kinase inhibition early in the cell cycle, the early events of the cell cycle (pronuclear migration/fusion and DNA synthesis) were unaffected, but chromosome condensation and spindle assembly are prevented. These data indicate that in sea urchin embryos, MAP kinase activity is part of a signaling complex alongside two components previously shown to be essential for entry into mitosis: the calcium transient and the increase in cdk1/cyclinB kinase activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Identification of hSRP1 alpha as a functional receptor for nuclear localization sequences.

Import of proteins into the nucleus is a two-step process, involving nuclear localization sequence (NLS)-dependent docking of the substrate at the nuclear envelope followed by translocation through the nuclear pore. A recombinant human protein, hSRP1 alpha, bound in vitro specifically and directly to substrates containing either a simple or bipartite NLS motif. hSRP1 alpha promoted docking of import substrates to the nuclear envelope and together with recombinant human Ran reconstituted complete nuclear protein import. Thus, hSRP1 alpha has the properties of a cytosolic receptor for both simple and bipartite NLS motifs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗