A novel in vivo assay reveals inhibition of ribosomal nuclear export in ran-cycle and nucleoporin mutants

J Cell Biol. 1999 Feb 8;144(3):389-401. doi: 10.1083/jcb.144.3.389.

Abstract

To identify components involved in the nuclear export of ribosomes in yeast, we developed an in vivo assay exploiting a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged version of ribosomal protein L25. After its import into the nucleolus, L25-GFP assembles with 60S ribosomal subunits that are subsequently exported into the cytoplasm. In wild-type cells, GFP-labeled ribosomes are only detected by fluorescence in the cytoplasm. However, thermosensitive rna1-1 (Ran-GAP), prp20-1 (Ran-GEF), and nucleoporin nup49 and nsp1 mutants are impaired in ribosomal export as revealed by nuclear accumulation of L25-GFP. Furthermore, overexpression of dominant-negative RanGTP (Gsp1-G21V) and the tRNA exportin Los1p inhibits ribosomal export. The pattern of subnuclear accumulation of L25-GFP observed in different mutants is not identical, suggesting that transport can be blocked at different steps. Thus, nuclear export of ribosomes requires the nuclear/cytoplasmic Ran-cycle and distinct nucleoporins. This assay can be used to identify soluble transport factors required for nuclear exit of ribosomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport, Active
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Proteins / genetics
  • Ribosomal Proteins / metabolism
  • Ribosomes / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • ran GTP-Binding Protein

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NUP49 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • ribosomal protein L25
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • ran GTP-Binding Protein