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Vol. 18, Issue 10, 3966-3977, October 2007
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Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ONT, Canada, K1H 8M5
Submitted April 2, 2007;
Revised June 26, 2007;
Accepted July 13, 2007
Monitoring Editor: A. Gregory Matera
| ABSTRACT |
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1)+[L(
/N)(V/L)](n,n>1)}, that establishes high-affinity interactions between a group of proteins and the nucleolus in response to a specific signal. This position-independent code is referred to as a nucleolar detention signal regulated by H+ (NoDSH+) and the class of proteins includes the cIAP2 apoptotic regulator, VHL ubiquitylation factor, HSC70 heat shock protein and RNF8 transcription regulator. By identifying a common subnuclear targeting consensus sequence, our work reveals rules governing the dynamics of subnuclear organization and ascribes new modes of regulation to several proteins with diverse steady-state distributions and dynamic properties. | INTRODUCTION |
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Several molecules rely on common peptidic sequences to localize to a given membrane-bound compartment. This includes nuclear localization/export signals (NLS or NES, respectively; Conti and Izaurralde, 2001
; Kutay and Guttinger, 2005
; Lee et al., 2006
) and cell membrane localization signals (Shikano et al., 2005
). Identification of such sequences has been instrumental in the functional characterization of a very large number of proteins. Some similarities have also been observed within each class of subnuclear targeting signal. This has been the case for the nucleolus, a major nuclear substructure that coordinates many cellular activities including ribosomal production (Lam et al., 2005
; Shaw and Doonan, 2005
), cell cycle control (Shou et al., 1999
, 2001
; Visintin et al., 1999
; Azzam et al., 2004
), DNA damage repair (van den Boom et al., 2004
), and tRNA processing (Paushkin et al., 2004
). However, signals mediating the localization of proteins to the nucleolus (nucleolar localization signal [NoLS]) can range from a few to over a hundred amino acids (Weber et al., 2000
; Catez et al., 2002
; Hiscox, 2002
). Subnuclear localization signals also include nucleolar retention signals (NoRS; Tsai and McKay, 2005
; Reed et al., 2006
), and nuclear matrix targeting signals (NMTS; Zeng et al., 1997
; Barseguian et al., 2002
; Chatterjee and Fisher, 2002
; Zimber et al., 2004
), as well as signals targeting proteins to splicing speckles (Caceres et al., 1997
). Shared localization signals are thought to allow the coordinated response of different molecular networks to a given signaling cue.
We had previously reported that the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor is targeted for static detention (i.e., change in steady-state distribution coupled to a loss of dynamic properties) by nucleoli in response to increases in the environmental concentration of hydrogen ions (Mekhail et al., 2004a
, 2005
, 2006
). The relocation of VHL to the nucleolus switches the tumor suppressor from hypoxia-inducible gene-silencing to rRNA gene (rDNA)-restrictive molecular networks. This results in an increase in the production and a decrease in the consumption of energy under low oxygen tension (hypoxia; Mekhail et al., 2004a
, 2005
, 2006
).
Initial mapping analysis revealed that a VHL fragment constituted of 30 amino acids is capable of targeting a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter protein for static detention in the nucleolus after an increase in extracellular hydrogen ion concentration (Mekhail et al., 2005
). We named this new type of protein localization sequence NoDSH+ (nucleolar detention signal regulated by H+). NoDSH+ is inactivated after a return to neutral pH conditions, causing rapid release of detained VHL proteins into the nucleoplasm where they resume their dynamic profile. It is primarily the extremely high affinity of NoDSH+ toward nucleoli that makes this subnuclear localization signal considerably different from NoLS and NoRS. However, some similarities do exist as all of these three types of nucleolar targeting sequences contain arginine residues.
Therefore, we reasoned that unraveling the details of the NoDSH+ of VHL could provide an explanation for this unusually high affinity for nucleoli. We envisioned that these details could also be used to predict the subnuclear coordinates, dynamic properties, and novel modes of regulation of proteins harboring similar signals. More importantly, identification of similar peptidic codes in other proteins would provide insight into the rules governing subnuclear organization, general protein dynamics, and the role of hydrogen ions in basic cellular metabolism. Consistent with the hypothesis that nucleolar sequestration may be a general phenomenon is the observation that the nucleolus can capture and release several proteins in response to different cellular cues (Andersen et al., 2005
).
Mutagenesis studies coupled to steady-state and protein dynamic analyses allowed us to identify and test common characteristics hidden within the highly complex and modular NoDSH+ subnuclear targeting sequence of VHL. In addition, we find that, unlike some previously reported subnuclear targeting sequences, NoDSH+ does not harbor NLS-like activity. These findings allowed us to identify many proteins that harbor a NoDSH+ subnuclear targeting signal. Overall, six of the six proteins studied were targeted to the nucleolus under acidosis regardless of the initial steady state distribution before signal activation. By identifying a common subnuclear targeting consensus sequence, our work reveals rules governing the dynamics of subnuclear organization and ascribes new modes of regulation to several proteins.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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Cell Culture
Normoxic cells were incubated at 37°C under 5% CO2 environment. Hypoxia was achieved by incubation in a hypoxic chamber at 37°C under a 1% O2, 5% CO2, and N2–balanced atmosphere. Acidosis experiments were conducted as previously described (Mekhail et al., 2004a
, 2005
). For standard (SD) or acidosis-permissive (AP) conditions, buffer-free medium (DMEM; Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) was freshly prepared and supplemented with 5% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% (vol/vol) penicillin-streptomycin. Unless otherwise indicated, NaHCO3 was added at 44 mM (or 18 mM for normoxia experiments), and the pH was adjusted to 7.2 (SD) or 6.3 (AP) with HCl. Air was bubbled into both media at 22°C, which stabilized the pH at 7.2. The AP medium slowly reverted to its original pH (6.3) under hypoxia, whereas the SD medium remained at pH 7.2. Transfected or adenovirus-infected cells were grown for 24 h under standard conditions before any treatment.
Plasmids and Adenovirus Construction
VHL and VHL constructs were cloned between a Flag-tag and a C-terminal GFP and into pcDNA3.1, as previously described (Bonicalzi et al., 2001
; Groulx and Lee, 2002
). RNF8, cIAP2, HSC70, and their predicted NoDSH+, as well as PBK1 and HSP110, were cloned in the same manner as VHL. Cells were transiently transfected using Effectene Transfection Reagent (Qiagen, Mississauga, ONT, Canada).
Triton Solubility Assay
Cells were harvested in transport buffer containing 20 mM HEPES (pH 7.3), 110 mM potassium acetate, 5 mM sodium acetate, 2 mM magnesium acetate, 1 mM EGTA, 2 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), and a cocktail of protease inhibitors added shortly before use (leupeptin, 2 µg/ml; aprotinin, 2 µg/ml; and pepstatin A,1 µg/ml). Cells were left on ice to equilibrate for 1 min, and Triton X-100 was added (1% vol/vol). Permeabilization was monitored by fluorescence microscopy with Hoechst stain 33258 (Sigma, St. Louis, MO), which only stained nuclei of permeabilized cells. Cells were then centrifuged, to separate triton-insoluble from soluble material, and lysed at a final concentration of 5% SDS in a manner to maintain equal final volume for both fractions.
Nucleolar Isolation by Sucrose Gradient
Nucleoli of MCF-7 cells were essentially isolated as previously described (Andersen et al., 2002
). Briefly,
8 x 107 cells were collected by trypsinization, incubated with a hypotonic solution (10 mM HEPES, 10 mM KCl, 1.2 mM MgCl2, and 0.5 mM DTT in water) and homogenized using a Dounce tissue homogenizer until
90% of cells were lysed, but nuclei remained intact. Lysates were centrifuged at 300 relative centrifugal force (rcf) for 7 min, and the pellet was resuspended in 0.25 M sucrose, 10 mM MgCl2 solution (S1 solution) and layered over a 0.35 M sucrose, 0.5 mM MgCl2 solution (S2 solution) before centrifuging at 2000 rcf for 7 min at 4°C. Pure nuclei obtained were resuspended in S2 solution and sonicated for 6-8 25-s bursts (with 15-s intervals) using a 60 Sonic dismembrator (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA) set at power 6 (0.7 W). Sonicated material was layered over a 0.88 M sucrose, 0.5 mM MgCl2 solution (S3 solution) and centrifuged 15 min at 3100 rcf at 4°C, and the nucleolar pellet was washed with S2 solution, centrifuged 7 min at 2000 rcf and resuspended in 0.5 ml of S2 solution for storage at –80°C. The purity of isolated nucleoli was assessed both by light microscopy and by Western blot using antibodies against either nucleolar (fibrillarin) or cytoplasmic (LDH) proteins.
Western Blot Analysis
Samples were prepared and Western blots were performed as described (Mekhail et al., 2004a
). Primary monoclonal antibodies recognize hemagglutinin (HA), Flag-M2, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; Sigma) and p125 and HSC70 (Abcam, Cambridge, MA). Primary polyclonal antibodies detecting RNF8, cIAP2 (Abcam) and fibrillarin (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA) were also used. A secondary antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (Jackson ImmunoResearch, West Grove, PA) was used and detected by Western Lightning Chemiluminescence Reagent Plus (Perkin Elmer-Cetus, Boston, MA).
Immunofluorescence
Cells were seeded onto coverslips and fixed with prechilled (to –20°C) methanol for 10 min followed by acetone for 1 min. Anti-HSC70 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology), anti-cIAP2 and p125 (Abcam), and anti-B23 (Sigma) monoclonal antibodies were used. Cells were incubated for 1 h with a primary antibody solution containing 10% FBS and 1% Triton X-100 (vol/vol). Cells were washed several times in phosphate-buffered saline before 1-h incubation with a secondary Texas Red–labeled antibody (Jackson ImmunoResearch). Hoechst stain 33342 (Sigma) was added to visualize nuclei and coverslips were mounted using Fluoromount G (EMS, Hatfield, PA).
Photobleaching and Microscopy
As described by Mekhail et al. (2005)
, cells were cultured into 35-mm dishes with coverslip bottoms and visualized with a confocal microscope (MRC 1024; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Richmond, CA). A 60x plan Apo oil immersion lens with a 1.4 NA was used for bleaching and imaging. Indicated areas were exposed to five rapid pulses of a 488-nm argon laser at 100% power, and image acquisition was conducted at 1% of full laser power. For fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments, images were collected at 10-s intervals (or 1 s for highly mobile proteins). Recovery of the fluorescent signal within a bleached region was calculated as described by Mekhail et al. (2005)
. For fluorescence loss in photobleaching (FLIP) experiments, cells were repeatedly bleached and imaged at 5-s intervals, and fluorescence loss in unbleached areas was calculated to account for any losses in fluorescence by normalizing the fluorescence in the cell of interest to that of a neighboring cell according to Irel =(I(t)/I(0)) * (N(0)/N(t)), where I(t) is the average intensity of the unbleached nucleus at time point t, I(0) is the average prebleach intensity of the nucleus of interest, and N(0) and N(t) are the average total cellular fluorescence intensities of a neighboring cell in the same field of vision at prebleach or at time point t, respectively. For all bleaching experiments, at least three datasets were analyzed for each result. Average pixel intensities were normalized for background fluorescence. Images of living cells from experiments that do not implicate bleaching or of immunofluorescence experiments were captured with a microscope (Zeiss Axiovert S100TV; Carl Zeiss MicroImaging, Thornwood, NY) equipped with a 40x C-Apochromat water immersion objective with a 1.2 NA using a digital charged-coupled device camera (Empix, Mississauga, ONT, Canada). Pseudocoloring and software packages used to capture images, analyze data, and generate graphs were previously described (Mekhail et al., 2005
).
Bioinformatic Analyses
Searches for candidate proteins with the subnuclear targeting consensus sequence (with up to 110 residues separating the arginine from the first three-residue hydrophobic repeat) were conducted on the UniProtKB/SwissProt database (Bairoch et al., 2004
) with the SynaREX function of My Genomics Resource Centre (MGRC) using motifs R-R-I/L-X3-R-X0-100-L-
-V/L, L-
-V/L-X0-100-R-R-I/L-X3-R, R-R-I/L-X0-110-L-
-V/L, L-
-V/L-X0-110-R- R-I/L, where
symbolizes any hydrophobic residue. Retrieved entries were then filtered for low arginine domain disorder using the DisEMBL program (Linding et al., 2003
). Transmembrane proteins containing the consensus sequences were not eliminated from the list as acidosis could thus signal the nucleolar sequestration of these proteins.
| RESULTS |
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(V/L)]; and 3) STADs are preferably positioned within low disorder regions.
Rules Help Identify Additional Proteins Targeted to Nucleoli in Acidosis
We thus suspected that proteins that abide by these rules would be targeted for high-affinity interactions with the nucleolar architecture after signal activation. A search of human proteins in the SwissProt database (Bairoch et al., 2004
) using the SynaRex program of MGRC followed by filtering for low structure disorder of STADs with the DisEMBL program was performed (Supplementary Figure S4; data not shown; Linding et al., 2003
). This allowed us to generate a list of candidate proteins (Supplementary Table S1). We chose three of these—RING finger protein ubiquitin ligase/transcription regulator RNF8 (SwissProt entry O76064
[GenBank]
), inhibitor of apoptosis cIAP2 (Q13489
[GenBank]
), and DNA polymerase delta catalytic subunit p125 (P28340
[GenBank]
)—at random for analysis of the full-length proteins and their predicted subnuclear targeting sequences. As indicated in the SwissProt database, GFP-tagged wild-type RNF8 and cIAP2 displayed nucleoplasmic and nucleocytoplasmic distribution under standard growth conditions, respectively (Figure 5A). Both the GFP-tagged versions of RNF8 and cIAP2 as well as their predicted subnuclear targeting sequences alone exhibited a complete relocation to nucleoli upon acidosis as revealed by fluorescence microscopy as well as immunofluorescence colocalization studies with the resident nucleolar protein B23 (Figure 5, A, B, and G; data not shown). Similar relocation of endogenous cIAP2 and p125 was detected by immunofluorescence microscopy (Figure 5, C and D). Because of their inherent density, pure nucleoli can be isolated from cell culture using a combination of sonication and sucrose density centrifugation (see Materials and Methods; Andersen et al., 2002
). Endogenous RNF8, cIAP2, and p125 proteins behaved similar to VHL and were detected in nucleoli isolated from acidotic cells only (Figure 5E). In addition, detergent-based biochemical fractionation revealed that acidosis triggered a complete shift of endogenous cIAP2 and p125 from the triton-soluble to the triton-insoluble cellular fraction, which is enriched in resident nucleolar proteins such as fibrillarin (Figure 5F; Mekhail et al., 2004a
).
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for degradation. Cullin-2 and HIF-1
provide two examples that do not follow the subnuclear targeting rules and do not accumulate in nucleoli of VHL-deficient cells under acidosis (Supplementary Table S2; Mekhail et al., 2004a
Next, we decided to investigate the functional implications of nucleolar sequestration of RNF8. We have previously shown that static detention of the VHL tumor suppressor protein results in the stabilization of its main target, the alpha subunit of the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-
; Mekhail et al., 2004a
). The RING finger protein RNF8 is known to interact with the retinoid X receptor alpha (RXR
) to enhance its transcription-stimulating activity, as demonstrated by the assessment of transcription of the RXR responsive element (RER)-containing cytosolic retinol binding protein II gene (CRBPII gene; Takano et al., 2004
). As expected, CRBPII mRNA levels were greatly reduced only when cells were incubated under acidification-permissive conditions (Supplementary Figure S5G). We next transfected cells to express high levels of RNF8-GFP to create a pool of dynamic nuclear molecules (Supplementary Figure S5E). This rescued CRBPII transcript levels in hypoxic-acidotic cells (Supplementary Figure S5G), as expected. Taken together, these findings reveal how the herein described rules and subnuclear targeting sequences can help uncover new modes of regulation of protein function.
Reverse Correlation of pH-responsive Proteins to the Rules
We next isolated nucleoli from cells incubated under either neutral or acidic conditions (Figure 7A). After the separation of purified nucleolar proteins by SDS-PAGE, a prominent
70-kDa band that appeared only in nucleoli isolated from cells incubated under acidic conditions was sliced from the gel (Figure 7B). Analysis of the protein content of this band using MALDI-MS after trypsin digestion identified the HSC70 (P11142
[GenBank]
) heat-shock protein as its major constituent (Figure 7B). Unlike HSC70, other proteins detected by MALDI-MS in this band were also found in a parallel area of the gel cut from the neutral lane (data not shown). Nucleolar targeting of HSP70, an inducible homologue of HSC70, was previously reported to contribute to the recovery of nucleolar morphology after heat shock (Pelham, 1984
). Endogenous HSC70, similar to VHL, was detected by immunofluorescence analysis performed on cells exposed to low pH conditions (Figure 7C) or by immunoblotting only in pure nucleoli isolated from acidotic cells (Figure 7D). Examination of amino acid sequences revealed the presence of leucine-containing three-residue hydrophobic repeats (although here some of these repeats had the middle residue as N) and an arginine domain (composed of residues RRL) that was located within a low disorder region of the wild-type protein (Figure 7E and Supplementary Figure S6A). RRL still matches the consensus sequence RR(I/L)X3r, as the last arginine of the STAD sequence seems to play a more accessory role in subnuclear targeting (Figures 3 and 4). Further examination of the amino acid sequence of VHL revealed the presence of three more LXVs (two LPVs and one LNV). Therefore, we tested the response of GFP-tagged HSC70 and its predicted subnuclear targeting sequence (harboring RRL and the LNV and LLL hydrophobic repeats) to acidosis. We compared that response to that of another heat-shock protein, HSP110 (Q92598
[GenBank]
), which contains a double arginine that is not followed by a leucine or an isoleucine (Figure 7E) and also contains several three-residue hydrophobic repeats that do not match our consensus sequence (e.g., VVG, VVF, FQV, FVV). As predicted, acidosis triggered the relocation of HSC70 and its predicted domain alone, but not HSP110, to nucleoli (Figure 7, F and G), suggesting the possible existence of variants of the three residue hydrophobic repeats where the middle residue might be substituted for specific nonhydrophobic amino acids (e.g., LNV and LPV). This is supported by our mapping analysis of VHL since if we take the LPVs and LNV repeats of VHL into account, all triple-plus mutants would now have at least two hydrophobic repeats (Figures 1![]()
–4, and Supplementary Figure S1A). In addition, LNV, and LPVs also cluster with the other hydrophobic repeats on the surface of the VHL macromolecule (data not shown). HSC70 became statically detained by nucleoli under acidosis (Figure 7, H and I), but HSP110 retained its dynamic nucleocytoplasmic profile (Supplementary Figure S6, A and B) as revealed by FRAP analysis. These findings establish a reverse correlation between a pH-responsive protein and the subnuclear targeting criteria. In addition, this indicates the potential for the expansion of the list of proteins harboring this flexible but resilient subnuclear targeting signal.
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| DISCUSSION |
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1)+[L(
/N)(V/L)](n,n>1)]}. In combination, these criteria provide substantial restrictions that constitute a robust filter in sequence space. This allowed us to uncover the regulated subnuclear targeting of a number of proteins and their subnuclear targeting domains. In addition, we reverse correlated the rules to a protein blindly isolated from nucleoli of acidotic cells. Interestingly, an in silico–identified protein, which displays a steady-state nucleolar distribution under standard conditions, increases its affinity of interaction with the nucleolar architecture after signal activation. This highlights the sharing of regulated subnuclear targeting sequences between proteins irrespective of their steady-state distribution in the absence of signal activation. It is important to mention that proteins that do not follow some or all of these rules might still be targeted to nucleoli in response to the same environmental cues. For example, although we have tested the effect of changing specific amino acids to alanines in an effort to change the composition or disorder level of the sequences reported here, it is still possible that some of the key residues identified here can be replaced by other specific ones in different proteins. Also, although we have tested the effect of disorder on nucleolar targeting using different mutations, the absolute requirement for low disorder within the wild-type protein setting awaits further characterization. Nonetheless, 1) we have shown that six randomly selected proteins of six that abide by these rules are responsive; 2) we have yet to stumble on a protein that harbors NoDSH+ but fails to undergo nucleolar sequestration in acidotic cells; 3) a protein that is enriched in nucleoli of acidotic cells follows the rules; and 4) five of five randomly selected proteins that do not encode a NoDSH+ did not localize to the nucleolus under acidosis. We expect that future work by us and others will help refine and possibly expand the consensus sequence presented here (Figure 8D). By identifying a common subnuclear targeting consensus sequence, our work reveals rules governing the dynamics of subnuclear organization and ascribes new modes of regulation to several proteins.
Proteins identified by the NoDSH+ rules include the antiapoptotic cIAP2, transcriptional regulator RNF8, the heat shock protein HSC70, and ribosomal L1 domain-containing protein PBK1. The functional relevance of nucleolar detention of the VHL and MDM2 ubiquitin ligases is already known because this regulates their HIF/rDNA- and p53-regulatory functions, respectively (Tao and Levine, 1999
; Weber et al., 1999
; Lohrum et al., 2003
; Mekhail et al., 2004a
, 2005
, 2006
). In addition, our findings suggest that H+-dependent nucleolar detention of RNF8 prevents it from acting as an enhancer of the transcriptional-stimulating activity of RXR
(Figure 5 and Supplementary Figure 5S; Takano et al., 2004
). Thus, we propose that reversible nucleolar detention is a general mechanism of regulation of protein function. For example, inactivation of the ATP-dependent chaperone HSC70 by nucleolar detention could allow the cell to rely more on the energy-independent HSP110, which does not localize to nucleoli under acidosis (Figure 7), when facing limited energy supply under hypoxia (Bukau and Horwich, 1998
; Easton et al., 2000
). We had previously reported that acidosis and perturbations to ribosomal biogenesis target VHL and MDM2 to the nucleolus, respectively (Mekhail et al., 2005
). Here, we uncover that the same signal—acidosis—can specifically target several different proteins for static nucleolar detention. In addition to our previous work, findings presented here therefore suggest the existence of a potential complex pattern of regulation of molecular networks. pH-dependent static nucleolar detention of several proteins such as VHL and RNF8 eliminates key interactions they perform within certain molecular networks (Figure 5 and Supplementary Figure 5S; see Mekhail et al., 2004a
,b
, 2005
, 2006
). This could also be the case for some of the proteins that exhibit a steady-state localization to the endoplasmic reticulum under standard growth conditions but harbor an NoDSH+ (Supplementary Table S1). Identification of putative NoDSH+ sequences within these proteins supports the existence of broader cellular programs that remodel various molecular networks in response to environmental cues. We also know that pH-dependent nucleolar targeting of VHL, for example, introduces it within a molecular network that restricts rRNA biogenesis (Mekhail et al., 2006
). It is also possible that the other herein identified pH-responsive proteins also participate with VHL in the restriction of rRNA biogenesis. Nucleolar targeting of HSP70, an inducible homologue of HSC70, was previously reported to contribute to the recovery of nucleolar morphology after heat shock (Pelham, 1984
). Therefore, further characterization of the sequences involved in the nucleolar targeting of these proteins in response to different environmental conditions could uncover general stress response sequence elements. Taken together, these findings support the proposal that the nucleolar proteome is dynamic and constantly changes its entity in response to environmental conditions (Andersen et al., 2002
, 2005
).
We find that the high-affinity character of nucleolus-NoDSH+ interactions provided us with a large window where saturated mutagenesis was capable of revealing the relative contribution of different amino acids before complete loss of activity was observed. In addition, the regulated nature of the system provided us with an additional layer for the assessment of specificity. Different scenarios can be envisioned for the nature of biochemical interactions mediating static nucleolar detention. We previously reported that VHL interacts with the intergenic spacer of rRNA genes (rDNA) under acidosis (Mekhail et al., 2006
). Our data here cannot uncouple nucleolar localization and detention activities suggesting that STADs and STHDs cooperate in mediating the herein analyzed high-affinity interactions. Thus, one possibility is that different combinations of hydrophobic repeats confer features required for arginine domains to physically associate with their nucleolar binding sites. Another possibility is that the presence of arginine domains allows the hydrophobic repeats to act as anticodon-like (three residues per single repeat) structures that physically associate with specific regions of rDNA, depending on the nature of distribution of hydrophobic repeat recognition sites on the chromatin lattice. Although several of our smaller VHL fragments are efficiently targeted to nucleoli, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that the differential positioning of NoDSH+ components does not contribute in any way to the function or the regulation of the sequence within the setting of the wild-type VHL protein. Arginine/lysine-rich cryptic NoLS sequences have been identified in several proteins including HDM2, Coilin, and Survivin (Hebert and Matera, 2000
; Lohrum et al., 2000
; Weber et al., 2000
; Catez et al., 2002
; Hiscox, 2002
; Song and Wu, 2005
). Therefore, it is possible that acidosis induces a conformational change in the wild-type VHL protein that changes the positioning of the STHD relative to the STADs to reveal the functional "cryptic" NoDSH+ sequence. Identification of potential posttranslational modifications within VHL could help uncover such a mechanism.
In conclusion, dissection of the NoDSH+ of VHL allowed us to identify a common subnuclear targeting consensus sequence. Our work thus provides insight into the rules governing subnuclear organization/dynamics and ascribes new modes of regulation to several proteins. We thus propose that proteins with diverse steady-state distribution share the higher order code NoDSH+, which determines their subnuclear coordinates under specific environmental cues once they enter the nucleus.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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| Footnotes |
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The online version of this article contains supplemental material at MBC Online (http://www.molbiolcell.org). ![]()
* These authors contributed equally to this work. ![]()
These authors contributed equally to this work. ![]()
Present address: Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. ![]()
Address correspondence to: Stephen Lee (slee{at}uottawa.ca)
Abbreviations used: AP, acidification-permissive; B23, rRNA processing factor nucleophosmin; cIAP2, inhibitor of apoptosis 1; E3, ubiquitin ligase; FLIP, fluorescence loss in photobleaching; FRAP, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching; HIF, hypoxia-inducible factor; HSC70, heat-shock cognate 71-kDa protein; NES, nuclear export signal; NLS, nuclear localization signal; NoDSH+, nucleolar detention signal regulated by [H+]; NoLS, nucleolar localization signal; NoRS, nucleolar retention signal; PBK1, ribosomal L1 domain–containing protein 1; RNF8, RING finger protein 8 ubiquitin ligase; SD medium, standard (medium); VHL, von Hippel-Lindau.
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