Subcellular distribution affects BAG1 function
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Adenofection: A Method for Studying the Role of Molecular Chaperones in Cellular Morphodynamics by Depletion-Rescue Experiments
Published on: September 16, 2016
Jan Liman1, Lena Faida, Christoph P Dohm
1Department of Neurology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
Abstract:
BAG1 is a potent neuroprotectant as well as a marker of differentiation in neuronal cells. It is known that BAG1 mainly localizes to the nucleus during neuronal development, whereas BAG1 shifts to the cytosol upon neuronal differentiation suggesting that distinct BAG1 functions depend on its subcellular localization. Here, we show that forced BAG1 expression within the nucleus when compared to full-length BAG1 expression and to control cells completely abolishes the neuroprotective effects of BAG1 supporting the notion that cytosolic interaction with Hsp70 is mandatory for BAG1 mediated neuroprotection. At the same time, we observed that cells can no longer differentiate into post-mitotic neurons when BAG1 is only present in the nucleus. In addition, phospho-Erk levels are decreased in those cells indicating that BAG1 has to translocate to the cytosol for Raf-dependent MAPK activation.
Related Concept Videos
ER Retrieval Pathway
The ER uses many checkpoints to prevent the entry of incorrectly folded or a resident protein as cargo onto a transport vesicle. These mechanisms...
Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting
Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport
Protein sorting can be of two types: signal-based sorting and vesicle-based trafficking. In signal-based sorting, specific amino acid sequences called sorting signals target proteins to the proper location inside the cell either via gated transport or by protein translocation. In gated transport, folded...
Overview of Secretory Vesicles
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...
Nuclear Protein Sorting
Proteins targeted to the nucleus carry nuclear localization signals or NLS recognized by import receptors in the cytosol. Similarly, proteins with nuclear export signals are recognized by export receptors. Import and export receptors are...
Vesicular Tubular Clusters
With the help of motor proteins such...

