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ICP27 mediates HSV RNA export by shuttling through a leucine-rich nuclear export signal and binding viral intronless RNAs through an RGG motif.

Infection of metazoan cells with some viruses alters the balance of cellular mRNA export to favor viral RNA export and to retain cellular transcripts in the nucleus. Here, evidence is presented to show that the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) essential regulatory protein ICP27, which inhibits host cell-splicing, resulting in the accumulation of unspliced transcripts in the nucleus, mediates RNA export of viral intronless mRNAs. ICP27 was shown to shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm through a leucine-rich nuclear export signal, which alone was able to direct the export of the heterologous green fluorescent protein. In vivo UV irradiation studies demonstrated that ICP27 could be crosslinked to poly(A)+ RNA in the nucleus and the cytoplasm, supporting a role in export. Furthermore, the amount of hnRNP A1, which has been implicated in the export of cellular spliced mRNAs, that was bound to poly(A)+ RNA in HSV-1-infected cells was reduced compared with uninfected cells. In addition, it was demonstrated that ICP27 bound seven intronless HSV-1 transcripts in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and export of these transcripts was diminished substantially during infection with an ICP27 null mutant virus. In contrast, ICP27 did not bind to two HSV-1 mRNAs that undergo splicing. Finally, binding of ICP27 to RNA in vivo required an arginine-glycine region that resembles an RGG box. These results indicate that ICP27 is an important viral export factor that promotes the transport of HSV-1 intronless RNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Location of the HIV-1 Rev protein during mitosis: inactivation of the nuclear export signal alters the pathway for postmitotic reentry into nucleoli.

The HIV-1 Rev protein localizes predominantly to the nucleolus of HIV-1-infected or Rev-expressing cells. The subcellular location of Rev during mitotic nucleolar disintegration was examined at various stages of mitosis in synchronized Rev-expressing CMT3 cells. During early prophase Rev was predominantly located in disintegrating nucleoli and began to accumulate at the peripheral regions of chromosomes in late prophase, eventually distributing uniformly on all chromosomes in prometaphase. In anaphase Rev remained associated with the perichromosomal regions, but significant amounts of Rev were also seen in numerous nucleolus-derived foci. The movement of Rev from disintegrating nucleoli to perichromosomal regions and foci was similar to that of nonribosomal nucleolar proteins, including fibrillarin, nucleolin, protein B23 and p52 of the granular component. During telophase Rev remained associated with perichromosomal regions and mitotic foci until the nuclear envelope started to reform. When nuclear envelope formation was complete in late telophase, nonribosomal nucleolar proteins were present in prenucleolar bodies (PNBs) which were eventually incorporated into nucleoli; at the same time, Rev was excluded from nuclei. In contrast, a trans-dominant negative Rev protein containing an inactive nuclear export signal reentered nuclei by the nonribosomal nucleolar protein pathway in late telophase, associating with PNBs and reformed nucleoli. Rev protein reentry into postmitotic nuclei was delayed until early G1 phase, but before the arrival of ribosomal protein S6. Thus, Rev behaves like a nonribosomal nucleolar protein through mitosis until early telophase; however, its nuclear reentry seems to require reestablishment of both a nuclear import system and active nucleoli.

Animals↗

N-terminal region, C-terminal region, nuclear export signal, and deacetylation activity of histone deacetylase-3 are essential for the viability of the DT40 chicken B cell line.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are involved in the deacetylation of core histones, which is related to transcription regulation in eukaryotes through alterations in the chromatin structure. We cloned cDNA and genomic DNA encoding a chicken HDAC, chHDAC-3, which was localized in both the nuclei and cytoplasm in DT40 cells. Although one of the two chHDAC-3 alleles could be disrupted with high efficiency, no homozygous mutants were obtained after a second round of the gene-targeting technique due to its necessity for DT40 cells. We introduced a chHDAC-3 transgene under the control of a tetracycline-responsive promoter into the heterozygous mutant and subsequently disrupted the remaining endogenous chHDAC-3 allele to generate the homozygous chHDAC-3-deficient mutant, DeltachHDAC-3/FHDAC3. Inhibition of the expression of the regulatable chHDAC-3 transgene caused apoptotic cell death of the mutant. Complementation experiments involving truncated and missense chHDAC-3 mutant proteins revealed that the 1-23 N-terminal sequence, the 389-417 C-terminal sequence, the nuclear export signal, and the deacetylation activity of chHDAC-3 were essential for the cell viability. Taken together, these results indicate that chHDAC-3 plays an essential role, probably as a scavenger in the cytoplasm, in the proliferation of DT40 cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

LPP, an actin cytoskeleton protein related to zyxin, harbors a nuclear export signal and transcriptional activation capacity.

The LPP gene is the preferred translocation partner of the HMGIC gene in a subclass of human benign mesenchymal tumors known as lipomas. Here we have characterized the LPP gene product that shares 41% of sequence identity with the focal adhesion protein zyxin. LPP localizes in focal adhesions as well as in cell-to-cell contacts, and it binds VASP, a protein implicated in the control of actin organization. In addition, LPP accumulates in the nucleus of cells upon treatment with leptomycin B, an inhibitor of the export factor CRM1. The nuclear export of LPP depends on an N-terminally located leucine-rich sequence that shares sequence homology with well-defined nuclear export signals. Moreover, LPP displays transcriptional activation capacity, as measured by GAL4-based assays. Altogether, these results show that the LPP protein has multifunctional domains and may serve as a scaffold upon which distinct protein complexes are assembled in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus.

3T3 Cells↗

Heat-stable inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase carry a nuclear export signal.

The heat-stable inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKI) was shown previously to export the kinase catalytic subunit (C) from the nucleus (Fantozzi, D. A., Harootunian, A. T., Wen, W., Taylor, S. S., Feramisco, J.R., Tsien, R. Y., and Meinkoth, J. L. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 2676-2686), in addition to its ability to inhibit kinase activity. In this study, the mechanism of PKI export is investigated. The injection of a C-PKI complex containing both labeled PKI and C-subunit revealed that both proteins exit the nucleus in unison. A fusion protein of C-subunit with glutathione S-transferase (GST) (140 kDa) cannot transverse the nuclear membrane in either direction, but can be exported from the nucleus when complexed with PKI, supporting the presence of a nuclear export signal (NES) in the C-PKI complex. Fusions of PKI alpha with GST (70 kDa) or PKI beta 1 with maltose-binding protein (MBP) (50 kDa) remain effective at exporting complexes with C-subunit. The export of C-PKI is also sensitive to temperature and energy depletion. Taken together, these results demonstrate that export is both energy- and temperature-dependent, but size-independent, consistent with an active signal-mediated export process. GST-PKI exits from the nucleus even in the absence of C-subunit, indicating that the NES resides entirely on PKI, but suggesting that fusion of PKI to GST leads to a conformational change that mimics the exposure of the NES caused by the binding of C. Since both PKI alpha and PKI beta 1 can export C-subunit, the predicted export signal is likely to reside on the residues conserved between PKI alpha and PKI beta 1.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Functional analysis of the interaction of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev nuclear export signal with its cofactors.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Rev-mediated nuclear export of viral RNAs involves the interaction of its leucine-rich nuclear export sequence (NES) with nuclear cofactors. In yeast two-hybrid screens of a human lymph node derived cDNA expression library, we identified the human nucleoporin Nup98 as a highly specific and potent interactor of the Rev NES. Using an extensive panel of nuclear export positive and negative mutants of the functionally homologous NESs of the HIV-1 Rev, human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Rex, and equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) Rev proteins, physiologically significant interaction of hNup98 with the various NESs was demonstrated. Missense mutations in the yeast nuclear export factor Crm1p that abrogated Rev NES interaction with the XXFG repeat-containing nucleoporin, Rab/hRIP, had minimal effects on the interaction of GLFG repeat-containing hNup98. Functional analysis of Nup98 domains required for nuclear localization demonstrated that the entire ORF was required for efficient incorporation into the nuclear envelope. A putative nuclear localization signal was identified downstream of the GLFG repeat region. Whereas overexpression of both full-length Nup98 and the amino-terminal GLFG repeat region, but not the unique carboxy-terminal region, induced significant suppression of HIV unspliced RNA export, lower levels of exogenous Nup98 expression resulted in a relatively modest increase in unspliced RNA export. These results suggest a physiological role for hNup98 in modulating Rev-dependent RNA export during HIV infection.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

A novel nuclear export activity in HIV-1 matrix protein required for viral replication.

An important aspect of the pathophysiology of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection is the ability of the virus to replicate in non-dividing cells. HIV-1 matrix (MA), the amino-terminal domain of the Pr55 gag polyprotein (Pr55), bears a nuclear localization signal that promotes localization of the viral preintegration complex to the nucleus of non-dividing cells following virus entry. However, late during infection, MA, as part of Pr55, directs unspliced viral RNA to the plasma membrane, the site of virus assembly. How MA can mediate these two opposing targeting functions is not understood. Here we demonstrate that MA has a previously undescribed nuclear export activity. Although MA lacks the canonical leucine-rich nuclear export signal, nuclear export is mediated through the conserved Crm1p pathway and functions in both mammalian cells and yeast. A mutation that disrupts the MA nuclear export signal (MA-M4) mislocalizes Pr55 and genomic viral RNA to the nucleus, thereby severely impairing viral replication. Furthermore, we show that MA-M4 can act in a dominant-negative fashion to mislocalize genomic viral RNA even in the presence of wild-type MA. We conclude that the MA nuclear export signal is required to counteract the MA nuclear localization signal, thus ensuring the cytoplasmic availability of the components required for virion assembly.

Biological Transport↗

Apoptin nuclear accumulation is modulated by a CRM1-recognized nuclear export signal that is active in normal but not in tumor cells.

Tumor cell-specific activity of chicken anemia virus viral protein 3 (VP3 or apoptin) is believed to be dependent on its ability to localize in the nucleus of transformed but not of primary or nontransformed cells. The present study characterizes the signals responsible for the novel nucleocytoplasmic trafficking properties of VP3 using two isogenic tumor/nontumor cell pairs. In addition to the tumor cell-specific nuclear targeting signal, comprising two stretches of basic amino acids in the VP3 COOH terminus which are highly efficient in tumor but not in normal cells, we define the CRM1-recognized nuclear export sequence (NES) within the VP3 tumor cell-specific nuclear targeting signal for the first time. Intriguingly, the NES (amino acids 97-105) is functional in normal but not in tumor cells through the action of the threonine 108 phosphorylation site adjacent to the NES which inhibits its action. In addition, we characterize a leucine-rich sequence (amino acids 33-46) that assists VP3 nuclear accumulation by functioning as a nuclear retention sequence, conferring association with promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies. This unique combination of signals is the basis of the tumor cell-specific nuclear targeting abilities of VP3.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

CRM1/Ran-mediated nuclear export of p27(Kip1) involves a nuclear export signal and links p27 export and proteolysis.

We show that p27 localization is cell cycle regulated and we suggest that active CRM1/RanGTP-mediated nuclear export of p27 may be linked to cytoplasmic p27 proteolysis in early G1. p27 is nuclear in G0 and early G1 and appears transiently in the cytoplasm at the G1/S transition. Association of p27 with the exportin CRM1 was minimal in G0 and increased markedly during G1-to-S phase progression. Proteasome inhibition in mid-G1 did not impair nuclear import of p27, but led to accumulation of p27 in the cytoplasm, suggesting that export precedes degradation for at least part of the cellular p27 pool. p27-CRM1 binding and nuclear export were inhibited by S10A mutation but not by T187A mutation. A putative nuclear export sequence in p27 is identified whose mutation reduced p27-CRM1 interaction, nuclear export, and p27 degradation. Leptomycin B (LMB) did not inhibit p27-CRM1 binding, nor did it prevent p27 export in vitro or in heterokaryon assays. Prebinding of CRM1 to the HIV-1 Rev nuclear export sequence did not inhibit p27-CRM1 interaction, suggesting that p27 binds CRM1 at a non-LMB-sensitive motif. LMB increased total cellular p27 and may do so indirectly, through effects on other p27 regulatory proteins. These data suggest a model in which p27 undergoes active, CRM1-dependent nuclear export and cytoplasmic degradation in early G1. This would permit the incremental activation of cyclin E-Cdk2 leading to cyclin E-Cdk2-mediated T187 phosphorylation and p27 proteolysis in late G1 and S phase.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

Postrepression activation of NF-kappaB requires the amino-terminal nuclear export signal specific to IkappaBalpha.

One of the most prominent NF-kappaB target genes in mammalian cells is the gene encoding one of its inhibitor proteins, IkappaBalpha. The increased synthesis of IkappaBalpha leads to postinduction repression of nuclear NF-kappaB activity. However, it is unknown why IkappaBalpha, among multiple IkappaB family members, is involved in this process and what significance this feedback regulation has beyond terminating NF-kappaB activity. Herein, we report an important IkappaBalpha-specific function dictated by its amino-terminal nuclear export sequence (N-NES). The IkappaBalpha N-NES is necessary for the postinduction export of nuclear NF-kappaB, which is a critical event in reestablishing a permissive condition for NF-kappaB to be rapidly reactivated. We show that although IkappaBalpha and another IkappaB member, IkappaBbeta, can enter the nucleus and repress NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity during the postinduction phase, only IkappaBalpha allows the efficient export of nuclear NF-kappaB. Moreover, swapping the N-terminal region of IkappaBbeta for the corresponding IkappaBalpha sequence is sufficient for the IkappaB chimera protein to export NF-kappaB similarly to IkappaBalpha during the postinduction state. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation of why IkappaBalpha but not other IkappaB members is crucial for postrepression activation of NF-kappaB. We propose that this IkappaBalpha-specific function is important for certain physiological and pathological conditions where NF-kappaB needs to be rapidly reactivated.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

A nuclear kinesin-like protein interacts with and stimulates the activity of the leucine-rich nuclear export signal of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 rev protein.

The Rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is essential for the nucleocytoplasmic transport of unspliced and partially spliced HIV mRNAs containing the Rev response element (RRE). In a yeast two-hybrid screen of a HeLa cell-derived cDNA expression library for human factors interacting with the Rev leucine-rich nuclear export sequence (NES), we identified a kinesin-like protein, REBP (Rev/Rex effector binding protein), highly homologous to Kid, the carboxy-terminal 75-residue region of which interacts specifically with the NESs of HIV-1 Rev, human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Rex, and equine infectious anemia virus Rev but not with functionally inactive mutants thereof. REBP is a nuclear protein that colocalizes with Rev in the nucleoplasm and nuclear periphery of transfected cells. Specific, albeit weak, interaction between REBP and Rev could be demonstrated in coimmunoprecipitation assays in BSC-40 cells. REBP can modestly enhance Rev-dependent RRE-linked reporter gene expression both independently and in cooperation with the nucleoporin cofactor Rab/hRIP. Thus, REBP displays the characteristics expected of an authentic mediator of Rev NES function and may play a role in RRE RNA transport during HIV infection.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

Nucleocytoplasmic transfer of the NF2 tumor suppressor protein merlin is regulated by exon 2 and a CRM1-dependent nuclear export signal in exon 15.

The neurofibromatosis 2 protein merlin is a classical tumor suppressor protein. Germline mutations predispose to the development of schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas. Merlin has been implicated in cellular migration and adhesion. This function is reflected in its subcellular localization at the plasma membrane and known interacting partners. Merlin has been regarded as an exception in not exerting a functional role within the nucleus as other tumor suppressors do. Here, we show that detection of wild-type protein in the nucleus is a rare event. However, splicing out of exon 2 leads to unrestricted entry into the nucleus. Skipping of adjacent exon 3 has no comparable effect ruling out an unspecific effect due to misfolding of the 4.1/JEF domain. Exon 2 functions as a cytoplasmic retention factor as it is able to confer sole cytoplasmic localization to a GFP fusion protein. Nuclear entry of merlin is thus regulated by alternative splicing within the 4.1/JEF domain and analogous to band 4.1 protein. Merlin's ability to enter the nucleus is complemented by a full nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttle protein with a functional Rev-type nuclear export sequence (NES) within exon 15 that facilitates export via the CRM1/exportin pathway. Deletion of this NES or treatment with the CRM1-specific inhibitor leptomycin B leads to overall nuclear accumulation of merlin isoforms missing exon 2. A cellular function different to the wild-type protein is implied for naturally occurring splice variants lacking exon 2. A putative effect of merlin as a transcriptional regulator and identification of nuclear binding partners remains to be elucidated.

3T3 Cells↗

Trichostatin and leptomycin. Inhibition of histone deacetylation and signal-dependent nuclear export.

Trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of the eukaryotic cell cycle and an inducer of morphological reversion of transformed cells, inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC) at nanomolar concentrations. Recently, trapoxin, oxamflatin, and FR901228, antitumor agents structurally unrelated to TSA, were found to be potent HDAC inhibitors. These inhibitors activate expression of p21Waf1 and 16INK4A in a p53-independent manner. Changes in the expression of these cell cycle regulators by an increase in histone acetylation may be responsible for cell cycle arrest and antitumor activity by HDAC inhibitors. The target molecule of leptomycin B (LMB), a potent antitumor agent, was genetically and biochemically identified as CRM1, a protein reported as being required for chromosome structure control. We showed that CRM1 was a receptor for the nuclear export signal (NES) and that LMB inhibited nuclear export of proteins. Using LMB, we identified a novel NES in fission yeast transcription factor Pap1, the function of which is abolished by oxidative stress in a manner conserved in eukaryotes.

Acetylation↗

Leptomycin B inhibition of signal-mediated nuclear export by direct binding to CRM1.

Leptomycin B (LMB) is a Streptomyces metabolite that inhibits nuclear export of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 regulatory protein Rev at low nanomolar concentrations. Recently, LMB was shown to inhibit the function of CRM1, a receptor for the nuclear export signal (NES). Here we show evidence that LMB binds directly to CRM1 and that CRM1 is essential for NES-dependent nuclear export of proteins in both yeast and mammalian cells. Binding experiments with a biotinylated derivative of LMB and a HeLa cell extract led to identifying CRM1 as a major protein that bound to the LMB derivative. Microinjection of a purified anti-human CRM1 antibody into the mammalian nucleus specifically inhibited nuclear export of NES-containing proteins, as did LMB. Consistent with this, CRM1 was found to interact with NES, when assayed with immobilized NES and HeLa cell extracts. This association was disrupted by adding LMB or purified anti-human CRM1 antibody. The inhibition of CRM1 by LMB was also observed in fission yeast. The fission yeast crm1 mutant was defective in the nuclear export of NES-fused proteins, but not in the import of nuclear localization signal (NLS)-fused proteins. Interestingly, a protein containing both NES and NLS, which is expected to shuttle between nucleus and cytoplasm, was highly accumulated in the nucleus of the crm1 mutant cells or of cells treated with LMB. These results strongly suggest that CRM1 is the target of LMB and is an essential factor for nuclear export of proteins in eukaryotes.

Biological Transport, Active↗