title: Nuclear localization signal(s) required for nuclear targeting of the maize regulatory protein Opaque-2.
abstract: The maize regulatory protein Opaque-2 (O2) localizes to the nucleus in both maize and tobacco cells. Here we show that in-frame carboxy- and amino-terminal fusions of O2 to reporter protein beta-glucuronidase (GUS) were sufficient to direct GUS to the nucleus in transgenic tobacco plants and in transiently transformed onion cells. Two independent regions of O2 containing 135 and 149 amino acids were identified that were able to redirect GUS to the nucleus in both systems. A quantitative biochemical analysis of GUS in nuclei isolated from transgenic tobacco plants revealed that the second region was more efficient than the first one. The precise location of nuclear localization signals (NLSs) was determined using an onion transformation system. The first NLS was located between residues 101 and 135 and had the structure of a simian virus 40 NLS. The second NLS was located in the basic, DNA binding domain (between residues 223 and 254) and had a bipartite structure. The presence of one of the O2 NLSs in the basic domain is in complete agreement with similar findings of NLSs in the basic domain of three other basic/leucine zipper proteins, suggesting that this domain may be bifunctional. The effect of amino- versus carboxy-terminal GUS fusions is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1312.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Varagona
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Raikhel
mesh_terms: D000490:Allium / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001692:Biological Transport; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C067402:opaque-2 protein, Zea mays