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Classical nuclear localization signals: definition, function, and interaction with importin alpha.

ABSTRACT: The best understood system for the transport of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and the nucleus is the classical nuclear import pathway. In this pathway, a protein containing a classical basic nuclear localization signal (NLS) is imported by a heterodimeric import receptor consisting of the beta-karyopherin importin beta, which mediates interactions with the nuclear pore complex, and the adaptor protein importin alpha, which directly binds the classical NLS. Here we review recent studies that have advanced our understanding of this pathway and also take a bioinformatics approach to analyze the likely prevalence of this system in vivo. Finally, we describe how a predicted NLS within a protein of interest can be confirmed experimentally to be functionally important.

SUBMITTER: Lange A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4502416 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Classical nuclear localization signals: definition, function, and interaction with importin alpha.

Lange Allison A Mills Ryan E RE Lange Christopher J CJ Stewart Murray M Devine Scott E SE Corbett Anita H AH

The Journal of biological chemistry 20061214 8

The best understood system for the transport of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and the nucleus is the classical nuclear import pathway. In this pathway, a protein containing a classical basic nuclear localization signal (NLS) is imported by a heterodimeric import receptor consisting of the beta-karyopherin importin beta, which mediates interactions with the nuclear pore complex, and the adaptor protein importin alpha, which directly binds the classical NLS. Here we review recent studies th ...[more]

PMID: 17170104

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Project description:ORF73 latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is targeted to the nucleus of infected cells where it binds to chromatin and mediates viral episome persistence, interacts with cellular proteins and plays a role in latency and tumorigenesis. A structurally related LANA homolog has been identified in the retroperitoneal fibromatosis herpesvirus (RFHV), the macaque homolog of KSHV. Here, we report the evolutionary and functional conservation of a novel bi-functional nuclear localization signal (NLS) in KSHV and RFHV LANA. N-terminal peptides from both proteins were fused to EGFP or double EGFP fusions to examine their ability to induce nuclear transport of a heterologous protein. In addition, GST-pull down experiments were used to analyze the ability of LANA peptides to interact with members of the karyopherin family of nuclear transport receptors. Our studies revealed that both LANA proteins contain an N-terminal arginine/glycine (RG)-rich domain spanning a conserved chromatin-binding motif, which binds directly to importin ?1 in a RanGTP-sensitive manner and serves as an NLS in the importin ?1-mediated non-classical nuclear import pathway. Embedded within this domain is a conserved lysine/arginine-(KR)-rich bipartite motif that binds directly to multiple members of the importin ? family of nuclear import adaptors in a RanGTP-insensitive manner and serves as an NLS in the classical importin ?/?-mediated nuclear import pathway. The positioning of a classical bipartite kr-NLS embedded within a non-classical rg-NLS is a unique arrangement in these viral proteins, whose nuclear localization is critical to their functionality and to the virus life cycle. The ability to interact with multiple import receptors provides alternate pathways for nuclear localization of LANA. Since different import receptors can import cargo to distinct subnuclear compartments, a multifunctional NLS may provide LANA with an increased ability to interact with different nuclear components in its multifunctional role to maintain viral latency.

Dataset Information

Classical nuclear localization signals: definition, function, and interaction with importin alpha.

Publications

Classical nuclear localization signals: definition, function, and interaction with importin alpha.

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