Nuclear protein transport is functionally conserved between yeast and higher eukaryotes

FEBS Lett. 1993 Apr 26;321(2-3):261-6. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(93)80121-a.

Abstract

The ability of a yeast nuclear protein to be transported into the nucleus of a higher eukaryotic cell was investigated. Mcm1, a transcriptional activator protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was microinjected into the cytoplasm of Xenopus laevis frog oocytes. Mcm1 was imported into the oocyte nucleus indicating that the machinery for nuclear transport is conserved from yeast to higher eukaryotes. Furthermore, by comparing the nuclear import of free proteins and protein-gold complexes, we found that protein-gold complex formation appears to partially and specifically inactivate the nuclear transport activity of Mcm1 and that nucleoplasmin is an exceptionally good nuclear import substrate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoradiography
  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Cell Nucleus / ultrastructure
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / administration & dosage
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Gold
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Microinjections
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Minichromosome Maintenance 1 Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Oocytes / metabolism*
  • Oocytes / ultrastructure
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / administration & dosage
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Xenopus laevis

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Minichromosome Maintenance 1 Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Gold