title: Identification of two functional nuclear localization signals in DNase gamma and their roles in its apoptotic DNase activity.
abstract: Among DNase I family members, only DNase gamma causes DNA fragmentation during apoptosis. However, the molecular basis for this functional feature of DNase gamma is poorly understood. Here we describe the identification of functional NLSs (nuclear localization signals) in DNase gamma and their roles in its apoptotic function. DNase gamma contains two NLSs: a classical bipartite-type NLS (NLS1) located in the N-terminal half, and a short basic domain (NLS2) at the C-terminus. No potential NLSs are found in the primary structures of other DNase I family DNases. Inactivation of either NLS1 or NLS2 causes reduced DNA ladder-producing activity in DNase gamma. Disruption of NLS2 suppresses ladder formation more effectively than disruption of NLS1. DNase gamma doubly mutated in both NLSs is enzymically active, but no longer catalyses apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Although DNase I fails to produce ladder formation during apoptosis, DNase I fused to NLS2 of DNase gamma through its C-terminus is able to catalyse DNA fragmentation in apoptotic cells. These results indicate that the presence of either NLS1 or NLS2 is necessary for the apoptotic function of DNase gamma, and that the most important domain for this function is NLS2. These findings also explain the lack of apoptotic DNase activity in the other DNase I family DNases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shiokawa
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shika
authors.forename: Sei-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004706:Endodeoxyribonucleases; C105124:deoxyribonuclease gamma; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I