title: Nuclear import of Ran is mediated by the transport factor NTF2.
abstract: A concentration gradient of the GTP-bound form of the GTPase Ran across nuclear pores is essential for the transport of many proteins and nucleic acids between the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments of eukaryotic cells [1] [2] [3] [4]. The mechanisms responsible for the dynamics and maintenance of this Ran gradient have been unclear. We now show that Ran shuttles between the nucleosol and cytosol, and that cytosolic Ran accumulates rapidly in the nucleus in a saturable manner that is dependent on temperature and on the guanine-nucleotide exchange factor RCC1. Nuclear import in digitonin-permeabilized cells in the absence of added factors was minimal. The addition of energy and nuclear transport factor 2 (NTF2) [5] was sufficient for the accumulation of Ran in the nucleus. An NTF2 mutant that cannot bind Ran [6] was unable to facilitate Ran import. A GTP-bound form of a Ran mutant that cannot bind NTF2 was not a substrate for import. A dominant-negative importin-beta mutant inhibited nuclear import of Ran, whereas addition of transportin, which accumulates in the nucleus, enhanced NTF2-dependent Ran import. We conclude that NTF2 functions as a transport receptor for Ran, permitting rapid entry into the nucleus where GTP-GDP exchange mediated by RCC1 [7] converts Ran into its GTP-bound state. The Ran-GTP can associate with nuclear Ran-binding proteins, thereby creating a Ran gradient across nuclear pores.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cell Signaling, Health Sciences Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brownawell
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Macara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics; D028884:Karyopherins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029543:Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020931:ran GTP-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D028884:Karyopherins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D029543:Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D020931:ran GTP-Binding Protein