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Involvement in surface antigen expression by a moonlighting FG-repeat nucleoporin in trypanosomes
Jennifer M Holden1, Ludek Koreny1, Samson Obado2
1School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
Molecular Biology of the Cell
|March 3, 2018
Summary
Researchers discovered a novel protein, TbNup53b, in trypanosomes that functions in both the nucleus and nuclear pore complexes. This protein regulates gene expression, suggesting ancient eukaryotic control of gene activity by FG-repeat nucleoporins.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Eukaryotic Gene Regulation
Background:
- The nuclear periphery is crucial for organizing nuclear functions like transport and gene expression.
- Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are key regulators of nucleocytoplasmic transport and can influence transcriptional activity.
- Trypanosomes, early-branching eukaryotes, possess unique nuclear components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize novel nuclear pore complex (NPC) components in trypanosomes.
- To investigate the localization and function of a specific FG-repeat nucleoporin, TbNup53b.
- To explore the evolutionary conservation of nucleoporin functions in gene regulation.
Main Methods:
- Localization studies of TbNup53b within the trypanosome nucleus and NPCs.
- Co-immunoprecipitation to identify interacting proteins, including TSR1.
- Analysis of TbNup53b's role in regulating the expression of surface proteins, specifically procyclin genes.
Main Results:
- TbNup53b exhibits dual localization in the nucleoplasm and NPCs.
- TbNup53b interacts with the trans-splicing factor TSR1.
- TbNup53b plays a role in controlling the expression of procyclin genes.
Conclusions:
- FG-repeat nucleoporins (FG-Nups) are frequently repurposed for transcriptional functions across evolution.
- TbNup53b extends the known functions of FG-Nups to include gene expression control in trypanosomes.
- This highlights a widespread and ancient eukaryotic mechanism for nucleoporin-mediated gene regulation.
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