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Characterization of the sea urchin major vault protein: a possible role for vault ribonucleoprotein particles in nucleocytoplasmic transport.

Vaults are large ribonucleoprotein particles that have been identified in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms. Although present in thousands of copies per cell, their function remains unknown. In this report, we identify the major vault protein in sea urchins as a 107-kDa polypeptide that copurifies with microtubules and ribosomes. Although initially identified in microtubule preparations, the sea urchin major vault protein is not predominantly microtubule-associated in vivo. Rather, the sea urchin major vault protein is present throughout the cytoplasm in eggs and embryos and in the nucleus in adult somatic cells. Within the nucleus, the sea urchin major vault protein is concentrated in the region of the nucleolus and to punctate regions of the nuclear envelope. In addition, the vault protein localizes to short linear strings juxtaposed to the exterior of the nucleus and extending outward into the cytoplasm. Based on their copurification and intracellular distribution, vaults may be involved in the nucleocytoplasmic transport of ribosomes and/or mRNA.

Animals↗

Vaults. III. Vault ribonucleoprotein particles open into flower-like structures with octagonal symmetry.

The structure of rat liver vault ribonucleoprotein particles was examined using several different staining techniques in conjunction with EM and digestion with hydrolytic enzymes. Quantitative scanning transmission EM demonstrates that each vault particle has a total mass of 12.9 +/- 1 MD and contains two centers of mass, suggesting that each vault particle is a dimer. Freeze-etch reveals that each vault opens into delicate flower-like structures, in which eight rectangular petals are joined to a central ring, each by a thin hook. Vaults examined by negative stain and conventional transmission EM (CTEM) also reveal the flower-like structure. Trypsin treatment of vaults resulted exclusively in cleavage of the major vault protein (p104) and concurrently alters their structure as revealed by negative stain/CTEM, consistent with a localization of p104 to the flower petals. We propose a structural model that predicts the stoichiometry of vault proteins and RNA, defines vault dimer-monomer interactions, and describes two possible modes for unfolding of vaults into flowers. These highly dynamic structural variations are likely to play a role in vault function.

Animals↗

Evidence that vault ribonucleoprotein particles localize to the nuclear pore complex.

Vaults are cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein organelles that are highly conserved among diverse eukaryotic species. Their mass (12.9 MDa), diameter (26-35 nm) and shape (two halves, each with eightfold radial symmetry) have recently been determined and are similar to those ascribed to the central plug (or transporter) of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). The size and eightfold symmetry of the vault particle make it conducive to interacting physically in a complementary manner with NPCs. The present study demonstrates that vaults specifically associate with nuclei by both immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Immunogold EM confirmed that vaults associate with the nuclear envelope in tissue sections and with NPCs of isolated nuclei.

Animals↗

Axonal transport of ribonucleoprotein particles (vaults).

RNA was previously shown to be transported into both dendritic and axonal compartments of nerve cells, presumably involving a ribonucleoprotein particle. In order to reveal potential mechanisms of transport we investigated the axonal transport of the major vault protein of the electric ray Torpedo marmorata. This protein is the major protein component of a ribonucleoprotein particle (vault) carrying a non-translatable RNA and has a wide distribution in the animal kingdom. It is highly enriched in the cholinergic electromotor neurons and similar in size to synaptic vesicles. The axonal transport of vaults was investigated by immunofluorescence, using the anti-vault protein antibody as marker, and cytofluorimetric scanning, and was compared to that of the synaptic vesicle membrane protein SV2 and of the beta-subunit of the F1-ATPase as a marker for mitochondria. Following a crush significant axonal accumulation of SV2 proximal to the crush could first be observed after 1 h, that of mitochondria after 3 h and that of vaults after 6 h, although weekly fluorescent traces of accumulations of vault protein were observed in the confocal microscope as early as 3 h. Within the time-period investigated (up to 72 h) the accumulation of all markers increased continuously. Retrograde accumulations also occurred, and the immunofluorescence for the retrograde component, indicating recycling, was weaker than that for the anterograde component, suggesting that more than half of the vaults are degraded within the nerve terminal. High resolution immunofluorescence revealed a granular structure-in accordance with the biochemical characteristics of vaults. Of interest was the observation that the increase of vault immunoreactivity proximal to the crush accelerated with time after crushing, while that of SV2-containing particles appeared to decelerate, indicating that the crush procedure with time may have induced perikaryal alterations in the production and subsequent export to the axon of synaptic vesicles and vault protein. Our data show that ribonucleoprotein-immunoreactive particles can be actively transported within axons in situ from the soma to the nerve terminal and back. The results suggest that the transport of vaults is driven by fast axonal transport motors like the SV2-containing vesicles and mitochondria. Vaults exhibit an anterograde and a retrograde transport component, similar to that observed for the vesicular organelles carrying SV2 and for mitochondria. Although the function of vaults is still unknown studies of the axonal transport of this organelle may reveal insights into the mechanisms of cellular transport of ribonucleoprotein particles in general.

Animals↗

Vault ribonucleoprotein particles from rat and bullfrog contain a related small RNA that is transcribed by RNA polymerase III.

Vaults are large cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein particles with a sedimentation value of about 150 S. These particles contain a unique small RNA (vault RNA (vRNA)). We have determined the sequence of the RNA associated with vaults purified from both rat and bullfrog. The rat vRNA is 141 bases in length, whereas the bullfrog vRNA is present as two highly related species of 89 and 94 bases. Despite the differences in length the predicted secondary structures of the three vRNAs are clearly related. All of the vRNAs contain sequences related to the internal promoter elements necessary for transcription by RNA polymerase III. The gene for the rat vRNA was isolated and sequenced from a rat genomic library, and its transcription by RNA polymerase III was verified using an in vitro transcription assay. The rat vRNA gene was efficiently transcribed in vitro, producing a single transcript of about 140 bases. Unlike most RNA polymerase III genes, the rat vRNA is present as a single copy gene and has a distinct tissue-specific expression pattern.

Animals↗

Vaults: a ribonucleoprotein particle involved in drug resistance?

Vaults are ribonucleoprotein particles found in the cytoplasm of eucaryotic cells. The 13 MDa particles are composed of multiple copies of three proteins: an M(r) 100 000 major vault protein (MVP) and two minor vault proteins of M(r) 193 000 (vault poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase) and M(r) 240 000 (telomerase-associated protein 1), as well as small untranslated RNA molecules of approximately 100 bases. Although the existence of vaults was first reported in the mid-1980s no function has yet been attributed to this organelle. The notion that vaults might play a role in drug resistance was suggested by the molecular identification of the lung resistance-related (LRP) protein as the human MVP. MVP/LRP was found to be overexpressed in many chemoresistant cancer cell lines and primary tumor samples of different histogenetic origin. Several, but not all, clinico-pathological studies showed that MVP expression at diagnosis was an independent adverse prognostic factor for response to chemotherapy. The hollow barrel-shaped structure of the vault complex and its subcellular localization indicate a function in intracellular transport. It was therefore postulated that vaults contributed to drug resistance by transporting drugs away from their intracellular targets and/or the sequestration of drugs. Here, we review the current knowledge on the vault complex and critically discuss the evidence that links vaults to drug resistance.

Animals↗

Unimpaired dendritic cell functions in MVP/LRP knockout mice.

Dendritic cells (DCs) act as mobile sentinels of the immune system. By stimulating T lymphocytes, DCs are pivotal for the initiation of both T- and B-cell-mediated immune responses. Recently, ribonucleoprotein particles (vaults) were found to be involved in the development and/or function of human DCs. To further investigate the role of vaults in DCs, we examined the effects of disruption of the major vault protein (MVP/LRP) on the development and antigen-presenting capacity of DCs, using our MVP/LRP knockout mouse model. Mononuclear bone marrow cells were isolated from wild-type and knockout mice and stimulated to differentiate to DCs. Like human DCs, the wild-type murine DC cultures strongly expressed MVP/LRP. Nevertheless, the MVP/LRP-deficient DCs developed normally and showed similar expression levels of several DC surface markers. No differences were observed in in vitro studies on the antigen uptake and presenting capacities of the wild-type and MVP/LRP knockout DCs. Moreover, immunization of the MVP/LRP-deficient mice with several T-cell antigens led to responses similar to those observed in the wild-type mice, indicating that the in vivo DC migration and antigen-presentation capacities are intact. Moreover, no differences were observed in the induction of the T cell-dependent humoral responses and orally induced peripheral T-cell tolerance. In conclusion, vaults are not required for primary DC functions. Their abundance in DCs may, however, still reflect basic roles in myeloid cell proliferation and DC development.

Administration, Oral↗

Vault poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase is associated with mammalian telomerase and is dispensable for telomerase function and vault structure in vivo.

Vault poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (VPARP) was originally identified as a minor protein component of the vault ribonucleoprotein particle, which may be involved in molecular assembly or subcellular transport. In addition to the association of VPARP with the cytoplasmic vault particle, subpopulations of VPARP localize to the nucleus and the mitotic spindle, indicating that VPARP may have other cellular functions. We found that VPARP was associated with telomerase activity and interacted with exogenously expressed telomerase-associated protein 1 (TEP1) in human cells. To study the possible role of VPARP in telomerase and vault complexes in vivo, mVparp-deficient mice were generated. Mice deficient in mVparp were viable and fertile for up to five generations, with no apparent changes in telomerase activity or telomere length. Vaults purified from mVparp-deficient mouse liver appeared intact, and no defect in association with other vault components was observed. Mice deficient in mTep1, whose disruption alone does not affect telomere function but does affect the stability of vault RNA, showed no additional telomerase or telomere-related phenotypes when the mTep1 deficiency was combined with an mVparp deficiency. These data suggest that murine mTep1 and mVparp, alone or in combination, are dispensable for normal development, telomerase catalysis, telomere length maintenance, and vault structure in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection of the Mr 110,000 lung resistance-related protein LRP/MVP with monoclonal antibodies.

The Mr 110,000 lung resistance-related protein (LRP), also termed the major vault protein (MVP), constitutes >70% of subcellular ribonucleoprotein particles called vaults. Overexpression of LRP/MVP and vaults has been linked directly to MDR in cancer cells. Clinically, LRP/MVP expression can be of value to predict response to chemotherapy and prognosis. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against LRP/MVP have played a critical role in determining the relevance of this protein in clinical drug resistance. We compared the applicability of the previously described MAbs LRP-56, LMR-5, LRP, 1027, 1032, and newly isolated MAbs MVP-9, MVP-16, MVP-18, and MVP-37 for the immunodetection of LRP/MVP by immunoblotting analysis and by immunocyto- and histochemistry. The availability of a broader panel of reagents for the specific and sensitive immunodetection of LRP/MVP should greatly facilitate biological and clinical studies of vault-related MDR.

Animals↗

Major vault protein of electric ray is a phosphoprotein.

The major vault protein is the predominant member of a large cytosolic ribonucleoprotein particle, named vaults. Vaults are abundant in nerve terminals of the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata. Negative staining of isolated vaults reveals particle dimensions of 45x65 nm in size. Comparison of the major vault protein (MVP100) from the two electric ray species Torpedo marmorata and Discopyge ommata reveals few microheterogeneities in amino acid sequence. Potential phosphorylation sites for various protein kinases are highly conserved. Phosphorylation studies demonstrate that the major vault protein of Torpedo is a substrate of various protein kinases. MVP100 is phosphorylated by protein tyrosine kinase in vivo and protein kinase C and casein kinase II in vitro. Inhibitors and activators of protein kinases specifically modulate the phosphorylation of MVP100.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Major vault protein is a substrate of endogenous protein kinases in CHO and PC12 cells.

Major vault protein (MVP) is the predominant member of a large cytosolic ribonucleoprotein particle, termed vault. We have previously shown that MVP derived from electric ray electric organ becomes phosphorylated by protein kinase C in vitro and by tyrosine kinase in vivo. Here we show that MVP from two mammalian cell lines (CHO and PC12 cell) becomes highly phosphorylated by endogenous protein kinases in cell-free systems. The susceptibility to protein kinases differs substantially from those observed in MVP derived from electric organ. Phosphorylation of MVP depends on the presence of Mg2+ and can be inhibited by the chelating agent EDTA. Inhibitors of casein kinase II attenuate the phosphorylation of MVP. In contrast to CHO cells, addition of recombinant casein kinase II enhances the phosphorylation of MVP in PC12 cells. Endogenous kinase activity is of particulate nature and copurifies with vault particles. Immuno-affinity purified vaults containing recombinant tagged MVP expressed in CHO cells reveal no autophosphorylation, suggesting that protein kinase activity is not an intrinsic property of vaults. Our results suggest that cell-specific phosphorylation of MVP may play a critical role in vault function.

Animals↗

Up-regulation of vaults may be necessary but not sufficient for multidrug resistance.

Vaults are ribonucleoprotein complexes comprised of the 100 kDa major vault protein (MVP), the 2 high m.w. vault proteins p193 (VPARP) and p240 (TEP1) and an untranslated small RNA (vRNA). Increased levels of MVP, vault-associated vRNA and vaults have been linked directly to non-P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR). To further characterize the putative role of vaults in MDR, expression levels of all of the vault proteins were examined in various MDR cell lines. Subcellular fractionation of vault particles revealed that all 3 vault proteins are increased in MDR cells compared to the parental, drug-sensitive cells. Furthermore, protein analysis of subcellular fractions of the drug-sensitive, MVP-transfected AC16 cancer cell line indicated that vault levels are increased, in this stable line. Since TEP1 is shared by both vaults and the telomerase complex, TEP1 protein (and vault) levels were compared with telomerase activity in a variety of cell lines, including various MDR lines. Our studies demonstrate that while vault levels may be a good predictor of drug resistance, their up-regulation alone is not sufficient to confer the drug-resistant phenotype. This implies a requirement of an additional factor(s) for vault-mediated MDR.

Carrier Proteins↗

Relationship of LRP-human major vault protein to in vitro and clinical resistance to anticancer drugs.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) has been related to two members of the ABC-superfamily of transporters, P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and Multidrug Resistance-associated Protein (MRP). We have described a 110 kD protein termed the Lung Resistance-related Protein (LRP) that is overexpressed in several non-Pgp MDR cells lines of different histogenetic origin. Reversal of MDR parallels a decrease in LRP expression. In a panel of 61 cancer cell lines which have not been subjected to laboratory drug selection, LRP was a superior predictor for in vitro resistance to MDR-related drugs when compared to Pgp and MRP, and LRP's predictive value extended to MDR unrelated drugs, such as platinum compounds. LRP is widely distributed in clinical cancer specimens, but the frequency of LRP expression inversely correlates with the known chemosensitivity of different tumour types. Furthermore, LRP expression at diagnosis has been shown to be a strong and independent prognostic factor for response to chemotherapy and outcome in acute myeloid leukemia and ovarian carcinoma (platinum-based treatment) patients. Recently, LRP has been identified as the human major protein. Vaults are novel cellular organelles broadly distributed and highly conserved among diverse eukaryotic cells, suggesting that they play a role in fundamental cell processes. Vaults localise to nuclear pore complexes and may be the central plug of the nuclear pore complexes. Vaults structure and localisation support a transport function for this particle which could involve a variety of substrates. Vaults may therefore play a role in drug resistance by regulating the nucleocytoplasmic transport of drugs.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Lung resistance-related protein/major vault protein and vaults in multidrug-resistant cancer.

Tumor cells that are insensitive to anticancer drugs frequently have a multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype. Proteins that can be involved in this phenomenon are transport-associated proteins such as P-glycoprotein, multidrug-resistance protein 1, breast cancer resistance protein, and lung resistance-related protein (LRP). LRP was identified as the major vault protein (MVP), the main component of multimeric vault particles. With the recent identification of the two minor vault proteins as telomerase-associated protein (TEP1) and vault-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (VPARP), and with high-resolution three-dimensional imaging, the composition of vaults is almost unraveled. Although the first direct evidence for a causal relationship between LRP/MVP expression and drug resistance has been obtained, many functional aspects of vaults in normal physiology and in MDR still need to be clarified. The current clinical data on LRP/MVP detection indicate that LRP/MVP expression can be of high clinical value to predict the response to chemotherapy of several tumor types.

Animals↗

A very early induction of major vault protein accompanied by increased drug resistance in U-937 cells.

U-937 human leukemia cells were selected for resistance to doxorubicin in the presence or absence of a specific drug modulator that inhibits the activity of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), encoded by the multidrug-resistance gene (MDR1). Parental cells expressed low basal levels of the multidrug-resistance-associated gene (MRP1) and major vault protein (MVP) mRNAs and no MDR1 mRNA. Two doxorubicin-resistant cell lines were selected. Both drug-resistant cell lines upregulated the MVP mRNA level 1.5-fold within 1 cell passage. The MVP mRNA level continued to increase over time as the doxorubicin selection pressure was increased. MVP protein levels generally paralleled the mRNA levels. The 2 high molecular weight vault protein mRNAs were always expressed at constitutive levels. Fully formed vault particles consisting of the MVP, the 2 high molecular weight proteins and the vault RNA assembled and accumulated to increased levels in drug-selected cells. MVP induction is therefore the rate-limiting step for vault particle formation in U-937 cells. By passage 25 and thereafter, the selected cells were resistant to doxorubicin, etoposide, mitoxantrone and 5-fluorouracil by a pathway that was independent of MDR1, MRP1, MRP2 and breast cancer resistance protein. In summary, U-937 doxorubicin-selected cells are programmed to rapidly upregulate MVP mRNA levels, to accumulate vault particles and to become multidrug resistant.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter in human salivary ducts.

P-glycoprotein expression has been observed in normal tissues as well as malignant tumours and thus does not appear to be induced by anticancer drugs. Knowledge of the distribution of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters other than P-glycoprotein in normal salivary tissue is essential for understanding the physiological secretion or excretion of potentially toxic substances. Here the expression of ABC transporters was studied immunohistochemically in normal salivary gland tissue from nine patients. In striated duct cells, staining was strong for P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) 1, MRP 2/canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT), and lung resistance-related protein (LRP). The staining intensity of acinar and intercalated duct cells for MRP 1 expression was distinct from that for MRP2/cMOAT, but was similar to that for P-glycoprotein. LRP was observed as particles between the nuclear and luminal membranes in the cytoplasm of intercalated duct cells. The expression of ABC transporters suggests that numerous transporters other than those studied might be isolated from normal salivary tissues. These observations indicate that these ABC transporters may not arise from any previous contact with anticancer drugs but are expressed physiologically. The achieved drug resistance as well as the physiological secretory function of ABC transporters could contribute to the responsiveness to chemotherapy of malignant salivary tumours.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Major vault protein/lung resistance-related protein (MVP/LRP) expression in nervous system tumors.

Lung resistance-related protein (LRP) was identified as the major vault protein (MVP), the main component of multimeric vault particles. It functions as a transport-associated protein that can be associated with multidrug resistance. In previous studies, expression of MVP/LRP has been documented in tumors of various types. In general, good correlations have been reported for expression of MVP/LRP and decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy and poor prognosis. MVP/LRP expression has been documented in glioblastomas, but its expression in nervous system tumors in general has not been well characterized. Immunohistochemistry using anti-human MVP/LRP antibody (LRP-56) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue from 69 primary central nervous system tumors. Expression of MVP/LRP was observed in 81.2% (56/69) of primary nervous system tumors, including astrocytomas (11/13), oligodendrogliomas (1/2), oligoastrocytomas (5/5), ependymoma (1/1), meningiomas (35/45), schwannomas (2/2), and neurofibroma (1/1). Various degrees and distributions of immunoreactivity to MVP/ LRP were observed. Neither the presence nor the degree of immunoreactivity to MVP/LRP showed any correlation with either tumor grade or the presence of brain invasion.

Animals↗