Protein NPM3 interacts with the multifunctional nucleolar protein B23/nucleophosmin and inhibits ribosome biogenesis

Protein B23/nucleophosmin is a multifunctional protein that plays roles in ribosome biogenesis, control of centrosome duplication, and regulation of p53 expression. A yeast two-hybrid screen was performed in a search for interaction partners of B23. The complementary DNA for a highly acidic protein, nucleoplasmin 3 (NPM3), was found in multiple positive clones. Protein NPM3 and its interaction with B23 were further characterized. Endogenous B23 was able to be co-immunoprecipitated with NPM3, and this complex was resistant to ribonuclease treatment and high concentrations of salt. The N-terminal 35-90 amino acids of B23 were found to be required for their interaction. Separate co-immunoprecipitation studies of B23 and NPM3 suggested the existence of two different complexes, one containing B23 and 28 S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and another composed of B23, NPM3, and other proteins, but no RNA. NPM3 was localized in the nucleolus, and its nucleolar localization depended on active rRNA transcription. In the cells overexpressing NPM3, there were decreased rates of pre-rRNA synthesis and processing. Overexpression of a mutant of NPM3 that did not interact with B23 did not alter pre-rRNA synthesis and processing, suggesting that the interaction of NPM3 with B23 plays a role in the ribosome biogenesis.