title: The PML-nuclear inclusion of human supraoptic neurons: a new compartment with SUMO-1- and ubiquitin-proteasome-associated domains.
abstract: It is well known that the cell nucleus is organized in structural and functional compartments involved in transcription, RNA processing and protein modifications such as conjugation with SUMO-1 and proteolysis. Promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) bodies are dynamic nuclear structures that concentrate PML protein, SUMO-1 and several sumoylated and non-sumoylated protein regulators of nuclear functions. PML bodies and their associated CBP has been involved in neuronal survival. By light and electron microscopy immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization we reported the presence, in non-pathological conditions, of a large PML-nuclear inclusion (PML-NI) in human supraoptic neurons. This inclusion appears as a single nuclear structure composed of a capsule enriched in PML, SUMO-1 and CBP proteins and a central lattice of filaments immunoreactive for class III beta-tubulin, ubiquitinated proteins and proteasomes. Furthermore, the PML-NI concentrates the SUMO-conjugating enzyme E2 (UBC9). The PML-NI may be considered a nuclear factory involved in sumoylation and proteolysis via ubiquitin-proteasome system, two nuclear pathways engaged in the control of the nucleoplasmic concentration of active transcriptional regulators. Interestingly, the structural and molecular organization of the PML-NI is related to the Marinesco bodies, age-associated ubiquitinated intranuclear inclusions, and to the intranuclear rodlets enriched in class III beta-tubulin, which are nuclear structures markedly decreased in Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Villagra
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navascues
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casafont
authors.forename: J Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Val-Bernal
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lafarga
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Berciano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000502:physiology; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D045586:Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D025842:SUMO-1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025842:SUMO-1 Protein; D025801:Ubiquitin; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex