The C-terminal domain of TAP interacts with the nuclear pore complex and promotes export of specific CTE-bearing RNA substrates

RNA. 2000 Jan;6(1):136-58. doi: 10.1017/s1355838200991994.

Abstract

Messenger RNAs are exported from the nucleus as large ribonucleoprotein complexes (mRNPs). To date, proteins implicated in this process include TAP/Mex67p and RAE1/Gle2p and are distinct from the nuclear transport receptors of the beta-related, Ran-binding protein family. Mex67p is essential for mRNA export in yeast. Its vertebrate homolog TAP has been implicated in the export of cellular mRNAs and of simian type D viral RNAs bearing the constitutive transport element (CTE). Here we show that TAP is predominantly localized in the nucleoplasm and at both the nucleoplasmic and cytoplasmic faces of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). TAP interacts with multiple components of the NPC including the nucleoporins CAN, Nup98, Nup153, p62, and with three major NPC subcomplexes. The nucleoporin-binding domain of TAP comprises residues 508-619. In HeLa cells, this domain is necessary and sufficient to target GFP-TAP fusions to the nuclear rim. Moreover, the isolated domain strongly competes multiple export pathways in vivo, probably by blocking binding sites on the NPC that are shared with other transport receptors. Microinjection experiments implicate this domain in the export of specific CTE-containing RNAs. Finally, we show that TAP interacts with transportin and with two proteins implicated in the export of cellular mRNAs: RAE1/hGle2 and E1B-AP5. The interaction of TAP with nucleoporins, its direct binding to the CTE RNA, and its association with two mRNP binding proteins suggest that TAP is an RNA export mediator that may bridge the interaction between specific RNP export substrates and the NPC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • HeLa Cells
  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins
  • Humans
  • Karyopherins
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Envelope / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins*
  • Oocytes
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism
  • Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism*
  • Xenopus

Substances

  • Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins
  • Karyopherins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NUP214 protein, human
  • NXF1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • nuclear pore complex protein 98