title: A mutant nuclear protein with similarity to RNA binding proteins interferes with nuclear import in yeast.
abstract: We have isolated mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are defective in localization of nuclear proteins. Chimeric proteins containing the nuclear localization sequence from SV40 large T-antigen fused to the N-terminus of the mitochondrial F1 beta-ATPase are localized to the nucleus. Npl (nuclear protein localization) mutants were isolated by their ability to grow on glycerol as a consequence of no longer exclusively targeting SV40-F1 beta-ATPase to the nucleus. All mutants with defects in localization of nucleolar proteins and histones are temperature sensitive for growth at 36 degrees C. Seven alleles of NPL3 and single alleles of several additional genes were isolated. NPL3 mutants were studied in detail. NPL3 encodes a nuclear protein with an RNA recognition motif and similarities to a family of proteins involved in RNA metabolism. Our genetic analysis indicates that NPL3 is essential for normal cell growth; cells lacking NPL3 are temperature sensitive for growth but do not exhibit a defect in localization of nuclear proteins. Taken together, these results indicate that the mutant forms of Npl3 protein isolated by this procedure are interfering with nuclear protein uptake in a general manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bossie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeHoratius
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barcelo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C077734:NPL3 protein, S cerevisiae; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins