Expanding the Definition of the Classical Bipartite Nuclear Localization Signal

• Authors: Allison Lange, Emory University; Laura M. McLane, University of Pennsylvania; Ryan E. Mills, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Scott E. Devine, University of Maryland; Anita Corbett, Emory University
• Journal Title: Traffic
• Volume: Volume 11, Number 3
• Publisher: Wiley: 12 months | 2010-03, Pages 311-323
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0854.2009.01028.x
• Subjects: Chemistry, Biochemistry
• Keywords: nuclear protein import; importin-α; classical nuclear localization signal (cNLS); bipartite cNLS; Ty1 integrase; nucleome; Rrp4

Abstract

Nuclear localization signals (NLSs) are amino acid sequences that target cargo proteins into the nucleus. Rigorous characterization of NLS motifs is essential to understanding and predicting pathways for nuclear import. The best-characterized NLS is the classical NLS (cNLS), which is recognized by the cNLS receptor, importin-α. cNLSs are conventionally defined as having one (monopartite) or two clusters of basic amino acids separated by a 9-12 amino acid linker (bipartite). Motivated by the finding that Ty1 integrase, which contains an unconventional putative bipartite cNLS with a 29 amino acid linker, exploits the classical nuclear import machinery, we assessed the functional boundaries for linker length within a bipartite cNLS. We confirmed that the integrase cNLS is a bona fide bipartite cNLS, then carried out a systematic analysis of linker length in an obligate bipartite cNLS cargo, which revealed that some linkers longer than conventionally defined can function in nuclear import. Linker function is dependent on the sequence and likely the inherent flexibility of the linker. Subsequently, we interrogated the Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteome to identify cellular proteins containing putative long bipartite cNLSs. We experimentally confirmed that Rrp4 contains a bipartite cNLS with a 25 amino acid linker. Our studies reveal that the traditional definition of bipartite cNLSs is too restrictive and linker length can vary depending on amino acid composition