title: A novel ubiquitin-like modification modulates the partitioning of the Ran-GTPase-activating protein RanGAP1 between the cytosol and the nuclear pore complex.
abstract: Ran is a nuclear Ras-like GTPase that is required for the bidirectional transport of proteins and ribnucleoproteins across the nuclear pore complex (NPC). A key regulator of the Ran GTP/GDP cycle is the 70-kD Ran-GTPase-activating protein RanGAP1. Here, we report the identification and localization of a novel form of RanGAP1. Using peptide sequence analysis and specific mAbs, RanGAP1 was found to be modified by conjugation to a ubiquitin-like protein. Immunoblot analysis and immunolocalization by light and EM demonstrated that the 70-kD unmodified from of RanGAP1 is exclusively cytoplasmic, whereas the 90-kD modified form of RanGAP1 is associated with the cytoplasmic fibers of the NPC. The modified form of RanGAP1 also appeared to associated with the mitotic spindle apparatus during mitosis. These findings have specific implications for Ran function and broad implications for protein regulation by ubiquitin-like modifications. Moreover, the variety and function of ubiquitin-like protein modifications in the cell may be more diverse than previously realized.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Matunis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coutavas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blobel
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001483:Base Sequence; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D025842:SUMO-1 Protein; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; C000602140:RanGAP1 protein, rat; D025842:SUMO-1 Protein; D014452:Ubiquitins; D004247:DNA; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases