Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
11:32
Analysis of mRNA Nuclear Export Kinetics in Mammalian Cells by Microinjection
Published on: December 4, 2010
15.9K
LocNES: a computational tool for locating classical NESs in CRM1 cargo proteins
Darui Xu1, Kara Marquis1, Jimin Pei1
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9041, USA, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9050, USA, Department of Biophysics and Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75390-9050, USA.
Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)
|December 18, 2014
Summary
LocNES accurately predicts nuclear export signals (NESs), which are crucial for protein transport. This new tool improves upon existing methods for identifying these vital peptide sequences.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Nuclear export signals (NESs) are short peptides mediating protein export from the nucleus via the CRM1 pathway.
- CRM1-mediated export regulates numerous cellular functions and is implicated in various diseases.
- Predicting NESs is challenging due to their diverse and complex nature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel and accurate predictor for nuclear export signals (NESs).
Main Methods:
- Developed LocNES, a Support Vector Machine-based predictor.
- Utilized amino acid sequence, disorder propensity, and position-specific scoring matrix scores as features.
- Scanned query proteins for NES consensus-fitting peptides and assigned probability scores.
Main Results:
- LocNES demonstrates superior sensitivity and precision compared to existing NES prediction tools.
- Comparative analysis used experimentally identified NESs to validate performance.
Conclusions:
- LocNES offers a more reliable method for predicting nuclear export signals.
- Improved NES prediction can advance understanding of CRM1-mediated transport and related diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:42Nuclear Export
5.3K
The nucleus restricts several proteins within and allows others to pass. The restricted proteins possess a nuclear retention sequence or NRS, anchoring them to the nuclear lamins and preventing their transport to the cytosol. The non-restricted proteins, after their synthesis, are transported to their site of action, such as the cytosol or other organelles, with the help of nuclear export signals or NES.
NES are of three types- the canonical 10-residue long leucine-rich signal and other...
NES are of three types- the canonical 10-residue long leucine-rich signal and other...
5.3K
01:46Nuclear Localization Signals and Import
8.5K
Proteins targeted to the nucleus carry short stretches of amino acid sequences called the nuclear localization signal or NLS. Classical nuclear localization signals are of two types: monopartite and bipartite NLS. Monopartite classical NLS (cNLS) consists of a single cluster of 4-8 amino acids. Bipartite cNLS consists of two clusters of 2-3 amino acids and a 9-12 residue long proline-rich linker bridging the two clusters. Signal clusters are rich in positively charged amino acids such as...
8.5K
01:34Nuclear Protein Sorting
6.7K
Nuclear protein sorting is the selective trafficking of histones, polymerases, gene regulatory proteins into the nucleus and exporting RNAs and ribosomes to the cytosol. It is a tightly controlled process that regulates gene expression within a cell.
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...
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...
6.7K
01:45Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting
3.5K
Nuclear protein sorting regulates nucleus composition and gene expression, crucial for determining the fate of a eukaryotic cell. Hence, the entry and exit of molecules across the nuclear envelope is a tightly controlled process. Nuclear protein sorting can be inhibited by one of the following ways: 1) masking cargo signal sequences, 2) modifying the nuclear receptor's affinity for cargo, 3) controlling the nuclear pore size, 4) retaining the cargo during its transit to the cytosol or the...
3.5K
01:42Directionality of Nuclear Transport
5.2K
Ras-related nuclear protein or Ran is a small G protein that cycles between its GTP and GDP bound states. Ran specific regulators, a Ran GTPase Activating Protein or RanGAP present in the cytosol and a Ran guanine nucleotide exchange factor or RanGEF present inside the nucleus regulate GTP/GDP exchange. A high concentration of GTP inside the cells, in addition to this asymmetric distribution of Ran-specific regulators, leads to a higher RanGTP concentration inside the nucleus. This...
5.2K
02:31Nuclear Export of mRNA
9.4K
Before mRNAs are exported to the cytoplasm, it is crucial to check each mRNA for structural and functional integrity. Eukaryotic cells use several different mechanisms, collectively known as mRNA surveillance, to look for irregularities in mRNAs. Irregular or aberrant mRNA are rapidly degraded by various enzymes. If a defective mRNA escapes the surveillance, it would be translated into a protein which would either be non-functional or not function properly. One of the primary irregularities in...
9.4K