Nuclear import of dimerized ribosomal protein Rps3 in complex with its chaperone Yar1.
After their cytoplasmic synthesis, ribosomal proteins need to be transported into the nucleus, where they assemble with ribosomal RNA into pre-ribosomal particles. Due to their physicochemical properties, they need protection from aggregation on this path. Newly synthesized ribosomal protein Rps3 forms a dimer that is associated with one molecule of its specific chaperone Yar1. Here we report that redundant pathways contribute to the nuclear import of Rps3, with the classical importin α/β pathway (Kap60/Kap95 in yeast) constituting a main import route. The Kap60/Kap95 heterodimer mediates efficient nuclear import of Rps3 by recognition of an N-terminal monopartite nuclear localization signal (NLS). This Rps3-NLS is located directly adjacent to the Yar1-binding site and, upon binding of Kap60 to Rps3, Yar1 is displaced from the ribosomal protein in vitro. While Yar1 does not directly interact with Kap60 in vitro, affinity purifications of Yar1 and Rps3, however, revealed that Kap60 is present in the Rps3/Yar1 complex in vivo. Indeed we could reconstitute such a protein complex containing Rps3 and both Yar1 and Kap60 in vitro. Our data suggest that binding of Yar1 to one N-domain and binding of Kap60 to the second N-domain of dimerized Rps3 orchestrates import and protection of the ribosomal protein.
Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Universität Graz, Humboldtstrasse 50, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Valentin
V
Mitterer
Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Universität Graz, Humboldtstrasse 50, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Nadine
N
Gantenbein
Institute of Pathology, Research Unit Functional Proteomics and Metabolic Pathways, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010 Graz, Austria.|Omics Center Graz, BioTechMed-Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Ruth
R
Birner-Gruenberger
Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
Guillaume
G
Murat
Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Universität Graz, Humboldtstrasse 50, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Helmut
H
Bergler
Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
Dieter
D
Kressler
Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften, Universität Graz, Humboldtstrasse 50, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Brigitte
B
Pertschy
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D000072417:Protein Domains; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000737:chemistry; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D028901:alpha Karyopherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D028961:beta Karyopherins / Q000378:metabolism*
C000621684:KAP95 protein, S cerevisiae; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; C501334:RPS3 protein, S cerevisiae; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C099981:YAR1 protein, S cerevisiae; D028901:alpha Karyopherins; D028961:beta Karyopherins; C044152:ribosomal protein S3