title: A novel class of RanGTP binding proteins.
abstract: The importin-alpha/beta complex and the GTPase Ran mediate nuclear import of proteins with a classical nuclear localization signal. Although Ran has been implicated also in a variety of other processes, such as cell cycle progression, a direct function of Ran has so far only been demonstrated for importin-mediated nuclear import. We have now identified an entire class of approximately 20 potential Ran targets that share a sequence motif related to the Ran-binding site of importin-beta. We have confirmed specific RanGTP binding for some of them, namely for two novel factors, RanBP7 and RanBP8, for CAS, Pse1p, and Msn5p, and for the cell cycle regulator Cse1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have studied RanBP7 in more detail. Similar to importin-beta, it prevents the activation of Ran's GTPase by RanGAP1 and inhibits nucleotide exchange on RanGTP. RanBP7 binds directly to nuclear pore complexes where it competes for binding sites with importin-beta, transportin, and apparently also with the mediators of mRNA and U snRNA export. Furthermore, we provide evidence for a Ran-dependent transport cycle of RanBP7 and demonstrate that RanBP7 can cross the nuclear envelope rapidly and in both directions. On the basis of these results, we propose that RanBP7 might represent a nuclear transport factor that carries an as yet unknown cargo, which could apply as well for this entire class of related RanGTP-binding proteins.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. dg@mail.zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Görlich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dabrowski
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kutay
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bork
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prehn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Izaurralde
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001692:Biological Transport; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D028884:Karyopherins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000378:metabolism; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014981:Xenopus; D028961:beta Karyopherins; D020931:ran GTP-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; C466996:IPO7 protein, human; C107282:IPO8 protein, human; D028884:Karyopherins; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D028961:beta Karyopherins; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D020931:ran GTP-Binding Protein