Multiple nuclear localization signals function in the nuclear import of the transcription factor Nrf2.
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mediates the transcriptional response of cells to oxidative stress and is translocated into the nucleus following, or concomitant with, its activation by electrophiles or reactive oxygen species. The mechanism of its translocation into the nucleus is not entirely elucidated. Here we have identified two novel nuclear localization signal (NLS) motifs in murine Nrf2, one located near the N-terminal region (amino acid residues 42-53) and the other (residues 587-593) located near the C-terminal region. Imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Nrf2 revealed that mutation(s) in any of these sequences resulted in decreased nuclear fluorescence intensity compared with the wild-type Nrf2 when Nrf2 activation was induced with the electrophile tert-butylhydroquinone. The mutations also impaired Nrf2-induced transactivation of antioxidant response element-driven reporter gene expression to the same extent as the Nrf2 construct bearing mutation in a previously identified bipartite NLS that maps at residues 494-511. When linked to GFP or to GFP-PEPCK-C each of the novel NLS motifs was sufficient to drive nuclear translocation of the fusion proteins. Co-immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that importins alpha5 and beta1 associate with Nrf2, an interaction that was blocked by the nuclear import inhibitor SN50. SN50 also blocked tert-butylhydroquinone-induced nuclear fluorescence of GFP-Nrf2 in cells transfected with wild-type GFP-Nrf2. Overall these results reveal that multiple NLS motifs in Nrf2 function in its nuclear translocation in response to pro-oxidant stimuli and that the importin alpha-beta heterodimer nuclear import receptor system plays a critical role in the import process.
Theodore
Melanie
M
School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208-3599, USA.
Kawai
Yumiko
Y
Yang
Jianqi
J
Kleshchenko
Yuliya
Y
Reddy
Sekhar P
SP
Villalta
Fernando
F
Arinze
Ifeanyi J
IJ
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D020014:K562 Cells; D009154:Mutation; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D020218:Response Elements / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D028901:alpha Karyopherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D028961:beta Karyopherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006873:Hydroquinones; C423142:KPNA1 protein, human; C424166:KPNB1 protein, human; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D010455:Peptides; C118258:SN50 peptide; D028901:alpha Karyopherins; D028961:beta Karyopherins; C018855:2-tert-butylhydroquinone