title: Characterization of mammalian Par 6 as a dual-location protein.
abstract: Par 6 acts as a scaffold protein to facilitate atypical protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of cytoplasmic protein complexes, leading to epithelial and neuronal cell polarization. In addition to its location in the cytoplasm, Par 6 is localized to the nucleus. However, its organization and potential functions in the nucleus have not been examined. Using an affinity-purified Par 6 antibody and a chimera of Par 6 and green fluorescent protein, we show that Par 6 localizes precisely to nuclear speckles, but not to other nuclear structures, and displays characteristics of speckle proteins. We show that Par 6 colocalizes in the nucleus with Tax, a transcriptional activator of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 long terminal repeat, but multiple lines of evidence show that Par 6 is not directly involved in known functions of speckle proteins, including general transcription, splicing, or mRNA transport. Significantly, however, the structure of nuclear speckles is lost when Par 6 levels are reduced by Par 6-specific small interfering RNA. Therefore, we hypothesize that Par 6 in the nucleus acts as a scaffolding protein in nuclear speckle complexes, similar to its role in the cytoplasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, The James A Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5430, USA.
authors.forename: Erin G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Cline
authors.forename: W James
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D016356:Gene Products, tax; C499657:PARD6A protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins