title: Localization of prothymosin alpha in the nucleus.
abstract: Prothymosin alpha is a widely distributed acidic protein to which an immunological function that involved its secretion was initially assigned. However, recent experiments suggest that it is a nuclear protein related to cell proliferation. To study the subcellular distribution of prothymosin alpha we have used a polyclonal antibody raised against its C-terminus. Using indirect immunofluorescence prothymosin alpha was located in the nucleus of HeLa, L929, IT-45R1, and NIH3T3 cells, mouse thymocytes, and human thymic stromal cells. The levels of prothymosin alpha mRNA were increased when the proliferation of IT-45R1 cells was induced, as has been described by others in thymocytes and NIH3T3 cells. These results show that prothymosin alpha is a nuclear protein related to cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquimica y Biologia Molecular, Facultad de Biologia, Universidad de Santiago, Galicia, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Barcia
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007739:L Cells; D051379:Mice; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C040782:prothymosin alpha; D013947:Thymosin