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Protein localization to the nucleolus : a search for targeting domains in nucleolin

Schmidt-Zachmann, M. S. and Nigg, E. A.. (1993) Protein localization to the nucleolus : a search for targeting domains in nucleolin. Journal of cell science, Vol. 105, H. 3. pp. 799-806.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5249471

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Abstract

Nucleolin, a major nucleolar phosphoprotein, is presumed to function in rDNA transcription, rRNA packaging and ribosome assembly. Its primary sequence was highly conserved during evolution and suggests a multi-domain structure. To identify structural elements required for nuclear uptake and nucleolar accumulation of nucleolin, we used site-directed mutagenesis to introduce point- and deletion-mutations into a chicken nucleolin cDNA. Following transient expression in mammalian cells, the intracellular distribution of the corresponding wild-type and mutant proteins was determined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. We found that nucleolin contains a functional nuclear localization signal (KRKKEMANKSAPEAKKKK) that conforms exactly to the consensus proposed recently for a bipartite signal (Robbins, J., Dilworth, S.M., Laskey, R.A. and Dingwall, C. (1991) Cell 64, 615-623). Concerning nucleolar localization, we found that the N-terminal 250 amino acids of nucleolin are dispensible, but deletion of either the centrally located RNA-binding motifs (the RNP domain) or the glycine/arginine-rich C terminus (the GR domain) resulted in an exclusively nucleoplasmic distribution. Although both of these latter domains were required for correct subcellular localization of nucleolin, they were not sufficient to target non-nucleolar proteins to the nucleolus. From these results we conclude that nucleolin does not contain a single, linear nucleolar targeting signal. Instead, we propose that the protein uses a bipartite NLS to enter the nucleus and then accumulates within the nucleolus by virtue of binding to other nucleolar components (probably rRNA) via its RNP and GR domains.
Faculties and Departments:05 Faculty of Science > Departement Biozentrum
05 Faculty of Science > Departement Biozentrum > Former Organization Units Biozentrum > Cell Biology (Nigg)
UniBasel Contributors:Nigg, Erich A.
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Company of Biologists
ISSN:0021-9533
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:22 Mar 2012 14:19
Deposited On:22 Mar 2012 13:17

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