The nucleoporin Nup50 activates the Ran guanine nucleotide exchange factor RCC1 to promote NPC assembly at the end of mitosis

EMBO J. 2021 Dec 1;40(23):e108788. doi: 10.15252/embj.2021108788. Epub 2021 Nov 2.

Abstract

During mitotic exit, thousands of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) assemble concomitant with the nuclear envelope to build a transport-competent nucleus. Here, we show that Nup50 plays a crucial role in NPC assembly independent of its well-established function in nuclear transport. RNAi-mediated downregulation in cells or immunodepletion of Nup50 protein in Xenopus egg extracts interferes with NPC assembly. We define a conserved central region of 46 residues in Nup50 that is crucial for Nup153 and MEL28/ELYS binding, and for NPC interaction. Surprisingly, neither NPC interaction nor binding of Nup50 to importin α/β, the GTPase Ran, or chromatin is crucial for its function in the assembly process. Instead, an N-terminal fragment of Nup50 can stimulate the Ran GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factor RCC1 and NPC assembly, indicating that Nup50 acts via the Ran system in NPC reformation at the end of mitosis. In support of this conclusion, Nup50 mutants defective in RCC1 binding and stimulation cannot replace the wild-type protein in in vitro NPC assembly assays, whereas excess RCC1 can compensate the loss of Nup50.

Keywords: Nup50; RCC1; Xenopus egg extracts; mitotic exit; nuclear pore complex assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mitosis*
  • Mutation*
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • AHCTF1 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • NUP153 protein, human
  • NUP50 protein, human
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RCC1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors