Bryce M. Paschal

Mechanisms of Receptor‐Mediated Nuclear Import and Nuclear Export

Nuclear transport of proteins and RNA occurs through the nuclear pore complex and is mediated by a superfamily of transport receptors known collectively as karyopherins. Karyopherins bind to their cargoes by recognition of specific nuclear localization signals or nuclear export signals. Transport through the nuclear pore complex is facilitated by transient interactions between the karyopherins and the nuclear pore complex. The interactions of karyopherins with their cargoes are regulated by the Ras‐related GTPase Ran. Ran is assisted in this process by proteins that regulate its GTPase cycle and subcellular localization. In this review, we describe several of the major transport pathways that are conserved in higher and lower eukaryotes, with particular emphasis on the role of Ran. We highlight the latest advances in the structure and function of transport receptors and discuss recent examples of steroid hormone receptor import and regulation by signal transduction pathways. Understanding the molecular basis of nuclear transport may provide insight into human diseases by revealing how nucleocytoplasmic trafficking regulates protein activity.

DNA binding domains in diverse nuclear receptors function as nuclear export signals

BACKGROUND The nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors directs gene expression through DNA sequence-specific interactions with target genes. Nuclear import of these receptors involves recognition of a nuclear localization signal (NLS) by importins, which mediate translocation into the nucleus. Nuclear receptors lack a leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES), and export is insensitive to leptomycin B, indicating that nuclear export is not mediated by Crm1. RESULTS We set out to define the NES in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and to characterize the export pathway. We found that the 69 amino acid DNA binding domain (DBD) of GR, which is unrelated to any known NES, is necessary and sufficient for export. Mutational analysis revealed that a 15 amino acid sequence between the two zinc binding loops in the GR-DBD confers nuclear export to a GFP reporter protein, and alanine-scanning mutagenesis was used to identify the residues within this sequence that are critical for export. The DBD is highly related (41%-88% identity) in steroid, nonsteroid, and orphan nuclear receptors, and we found that the DBDs from ten different nuclear receptors all function as export signals. DBD-dependent nuclear export is saturable, and prolonged nuclear localization of the GR increases its transcriptional activity. CONCLUSIONS Multiple members of the nuclear receptor superfamily use a common pathway to exit the nucleus. We propose that NLS-mediated import and DBD-mediated export define a shuttling cycle that integrates the compartmentalization and activity of nuclear receptors.

Homology of a 150K cytoplasmic dynein-associated polypeptide with the Drosophila gene Glued

Nature 351, 579-583 EXAMINATION of the sequence for a homologue of the poly-peptide described in the above paper (EMBL accession number X62160) raised the possibility that a small segment of the rat sequence as originally reported was in an incorrect translational frame. We have closely examined theoriginal data and conclude that two sequencing errors caused the reading frame for nucleo-tides 1,099-1,214 to be shifted by one base.

Retrotranslocation of the Chaperone Calreticulin from the Endoplasmic Reticulum Lumen to the Cytosol

ABSTRACT Polypeptide folding and quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are mediated by protein chaperones, including calreticulin (CRT). ER localization of CRT is specified by two types of targeting signals, an N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence that directs insertion into the ER and a C-terminal KDEL sequence that is responsible for retention in the ER. CRT has been implicated in a number of cytoplasmic and nuclear processes, suggesting that there may be a pathway for generating cytosolic CRT. Here we show that CRT is fully inserted into the ER, undergoes processing by signal peptidase, and subsequently undergoes retrotranslocation to the cytoplasm. A transcription-based reporter assay revealed an important role for the C-terminal Ca2+ binding domain in CRT retrotranslocation. Neither ubiquitylation nor proteasome activity was necessary for retrotranslocation, which indicates that the pathway is different from that used by unfolded proteins targeted for destruction. Forced expression of cytosolic CRT is sufficient to rescue a cell adhesion defect observed in mouse embryo fibroblasts from crt −/− mice. The ability of CRT to retrotranslocate from the ER lumen to the cytosol explains how CRT can change compartments and modulate cell adhesion, transcription, and translation.

Ca2+-Dependent Nuclear Export Mediated by Calreticulin

ABSTRACT We have characterized a pathway for nuclear export of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in mammalian cells. This pathway involves the Ca2+ -binding protein calreticulin (CRT), which directly contacts the DNA binding domain (DBD) of GR and facilitates its delivery from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. In the present study, we investigated the role of Ca2+ in CRT-dependent export of GR. We found that removal of Ca2+ from CRT inhibits its capacity to stimulate the nuclear export of GR in digitonin-permeabilized cells and that the inhibition is due to the failure of Ca2+-free CRT to bind the DBD. These effects are reversible, since DBD binding and nuclear export can be restored by Ca2+ addition. Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ inhibits GR export in intact cells under conditions that do not inhibit other nuclear transport pathways, suggesting that there is a Ca2+ requirement for GR export in vivo. We also found that the Ran GTPase is not required for GR export. These data show that the nuclear export pathway used by steroid hormone receptors such as GR is distinct from the Crm1 pathway. We suggest that signaling events that increase Ca2+ could positively regulate CRT and inhibit GR function through nuclear export.

FKBP51 Promotes Assembly of the Hsp90 Chaperone Complex and Regulates Androgen Receptor Signaling in Prostate Cancer Cells

ABSTRACT Prostate cancer progression to the androgen-independent (AI) state involves acquisition of pathways that allow tumor growth under low-androgen conditions. We hypothesized that expression of molecular chaperones that modulate androgen binding to AR might be altered in prostate cancer and contribute to progression to the AI state. Here, we report that the Hsp90 cochaperone FKBP51 is upregulated in LAPC-4 AI tumors grown in castrated mice and describe a molecular mechanism by which FKBP51 regulates AR activity. Using recombinant proteins, we show that FKBP51 stimulates recruitment of the cochaperone p23 to the ATP-bound form of Hsp90, forming an FKBP51-Hsp90-p23 superchaperone complex. In cells, FKBP51 expression promotes superchaperone complex association with AR and increases the number of AR molecules that undergo androgen binding. FKBP51 stimulates androgen-dependent transcription and cell growth, and FKBP51 is part of a positive feedback loop that is regulated by AR and androgen. Finally, depleting FKBP51 levels by short hairpin RNA reduces the transcript levels of genes regulated by AR and androgen. Because the superchaperone complex plays a critical role in determining the ligand-binding competence and transcription function of AR, it provides an attractive target for inhibiting AR activity in prostate cancer cells.

NXT1 (p15) Is a Crucial Cellular Cofactor in TAP-Dependent Export of Intron-Containing RNA in Mammalian Cells

ABSTRACT TAP, the human homologue of the yeast protein Mex67p, has been proposed to serve a role in mRNA export in mammalian cells. We have examined the ability of TAP to mediate export of Rev response element (RRE)-containing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA, a well-characterized export substrate in mammalian cells. To do this, the TAP gene was fused in frame to either RevM10 or RevΔ78–79. These proteins are nonfunctional Rev mutant proteins that can bind to HIV RNA containing the RRE in vivo but are unable to mediate the export of this RNA to the cytoplasm. However, the fusion of TAP to either of these mutant proteins gave rise to chimeric proteins that were able to complement Rev function. Significantly, cotransfection with a vector expressing NXT1 (p15), an NTF2-related cellular factor that binds to TAP, led to dramatic enhancement of the ability of the chimeric proteins to mediate RNA export. Mutant-protein analysis demonstrated that the domain necessary for nuclear export mapped to the C-terminal region of TAP and required the domain that interacts with NXT1, as well as the region that has been shown to interact with nucleoporins. RevM10-TAP function was leptomycin B insensitive. In contrast, the function of this protein was inhibited by ΔCAN, a protein consisting of part of the FG repeat domain of CAN/Nup214. These results show that TAP can complement Rev nuclear export signal function and redirect the export of intron-containing RNA to a CRM1-independent pathway. These experiments support the role of TAP as an RNA export factor in mammalian cells. In addition, they indicate that NXT1 serves as a crucial cellular cofactor in this process.

Post-translational modification of the androgen receptor.

Regulation of the androgen receptor (AR) by its cognate ligand is well established, but how post-translational modification modulates AR activity is only emerging. The AR is subject to modification by phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, SUMOylation, and ubiquitination. As several of the enzymes that modify the AR are altered in prostate cancer, defining the context and physiological effects of these modifications could provide insight into mechanisms that underpin human disease. Here, we review how post-translational modification contributes to AR function as a transcription factor with particular emphasis on phosphorylation and dephosphorylation mechanisms.

Identification of an NTF2-related factor that binds Ran-GTP and regulates nuclear protein export.

ABSTRACT Active transport of macromolecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm requires signals for import and export and their recognition by shuttling receptors. Each class of macromolecule is thought to have a distinct receptor that mediates the transport reaction. Assembly and disassembly reactions of receptor-substrate complexes are coordinated by Ran, a GTP-binding protein whose nucleotide state is regulated catalytically by effector proteins. Ran function is modulated in a noncatalytic fashion by NTF2, a protein that mediates nuclear import of Ran-GDP. Here we characterize a novel component of the Ran system that is 26% identical to NTF2, which based on its function we refer to as NTF2-related export protein 1 (NXT1). In contrast to NTF2, NXT1 preferentially binds Ran-GTP, and it colocalizes with the nuclear pore complex (NPC) in mammalian cells. These properties, together with the fact that NXT1 shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, suggest an active role in nuclear transport. Indeed, NXT1 stimulates nuclear protein export of the NES-containing protein PKI in vitro. The export function of NXT1 is blocked by the addition of leptomycin B, a compound that selectively inhibits the NES receptor Crm1. Thus, NXT1 regulates the Crm1-dependent export pathway through its direct interaction with Ran-GTP.

Karyopherin α7 (KPNA7), a divergent member of the importin α family of nuclear import receptors

BackgroundClassical nuclear localization signal (NLS) dependent nuclear import is carried out by a heterodimer of importin α and importin β. NLS cargo is recognized by importin α, which is bound by importin β. Importin β mediates translocation of the complex through the central channel of the nuclear pore, and upon reaching the nucleus, RanGTP binding to importin β triggers disassembly of the complex. To date, six importin α family members, encoded by separate genes, have been described in humans.ResultsWe sequenced and characterized a seventh member of the importin α family of transport factors, karyopherin α 7 (KPNA7), which is most closely related to KPNA2. The domain of KPNA7 that binds Importin β (IBB) is divergent, and shows stronger binding to importin β than the IBB domains from of other importin α family members. With regard to NLS recognition, KPNA7 binds to the retinoblastoma (RB) NLS to a similar degree as KPNA2, but it fails to bind the SV40-NLS and the human nucleoplasmin (NPM) NLS. KPNA7 shows a predominantly nuclear distribution under steady state conditions, which contrasts with KPNA2 which is primarily cytoplasmic.ConclusionKPNA7 is a novel importin α family member in humans that belongs to the importin α2 subfamily. KPNA7 shows different subcellular localization and NLS binding characteristics compared to other members of the importin α family. These properties suggest that KPNA7 could be specialized for interactions with select NLS-containing proteins, potentially impacting developmental regulation.