HNS, a nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling sequence in HuR

XC Fan, JA Steitz - Proceedings of the National Academy of …, 1998 - National Acad Sciences
XC Fan, JA Steitz
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1998National Acad Sciences
Proteins are transported into and out of the cell nucleus via specific signals. The two best-
studied nuclear transport processes are mediated either by classical nuclear localization
signals or nuclear export signals. There also are shuttling sequences that direct the
bidirectional transport of RNA-binding proteins. Two examples are the M9 sequence in
heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 and the heterogeneous nuclear
ribonucleoprotein K shuttling domain (KNS) sequence in heterogeneous nuclear …
Proteins are transported into and out of the cell nucleus via specific signals. The two best-studied nuclear transport processes are mediated either by classical nuclear localization signals or nuclear export signals. There also are shuttling sequences that direct the bidirectional transport of RNA-binding proteins. Two examples are the M9 sequence in heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 and the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K shuttling domain (KNS) sequence in heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K, both of which appear to contribute importantly to the export of mRNA to the cytoplasm. HuR is an RNA-binding protein that can stabilize labile mRNAs containing AU-rich elements in their 3′ untranslated regions and has been shown to shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm (18, 19). We have identified in HuR a shuttling sequence that also possess transcription-dependent nuclear localization signal activity. We propose that HuR first may bind AU-rich element-containing mRNAs in the nucleus and then escort them through the nuclear pore, providing protection during and after export to the cytoplasmic compartment.
National Acad Sciences