Human cytomegalovirus UL84 protein contains two nuclear export signals and shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
Previous studies defined pUL84 of human cytomegalovirus as an essential regulatory protein with nuclear localization that was proposed to act during initiation of viral-DNA synthesis. Recently, we demonstrated that a complex domain of 282 amino acids within pUL84 functions as a nonconventional nuclear localization signal. Sequence inspection of this domain revealed the presence of motifs with homology to leucine-rich nuclear export signals. Here, we report the identification of two functional, autonomous nuclear export signals and show that pUL84 acts as a CRM-1-dependent nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein. This suggests an unexpected cytoplasmic role for this essential viral regulatory protein.
Lischka
Peter
P
Institut für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossgarten 4, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
Rauh
Claudia
C
Mueller
Regina
R
Stamminger
Thomas
T
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D028884:Karyopherins / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D049790:Nuclear Export Signals / Q000235:genetics*; D021381:Protein Transport; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097606:Exportin 1 Protein
D028884:Karyopherins; D049790:Nuclear Export Signals; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014764:Viral Proteins; D000097606:Exportin 1 Protein; C072218:UL84 protein, Cytomegalovirus