Investigation of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport using UV-guided microinjection

Different intracellular distribution of avian reovirus core protein sigmaA in cells of avian and mammalian origin

A comparative analysis of the intracellular distribution of avian reovirus (ARV) core protein sigmaA in cells of avian and mammalian origin revealed that, whereas the viral protein accumulates in the cytoplasm and nucleolus of avian cells, most sigmaA concentrates in the nucleoplasm of mammalian cells in tight association with the insoluble nuclear matrix fraction. Our results further showed that sigmaA becomes arrested in the nucleoplasm of mammalian cells via association with mammalian cell-specific factors and that this association prevents nucleolar targeting. Inhibition of RNA polymerase II activity, but not of RNA polymerase I activity, in infected mammalian cells induces nucleus-to-cytoplasm sigmaA translocation through a CRM1- and RanGTP-dependent mechanism, yet a heterokaryon assay suggests that sigmaA does not shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The scarcity of sigmaA in cytoplasmic viral factories of infected mammalian cells could be one of the factors contributing to limited ARV replication in mammalian cells.

Translocation Biosensors - Cellular System Integrators to Dissect CRM1-Dependent Nuclear Export by Chemicogenomics

Fluorescent protein biosensors are powerful cellular systems biology tools for dissecting the complexity of cellular processes with high spatial and temporal resolution. As regulated nucleo-cytoplasmic transport is crucial for the modulation of numerous (patho)physiological cellular responses, a detailed understanding of its molecular mechanism would open up novel options for a rational manipulation of the cell. In contrast to genetic approaches, we here established and employed high-content cellular translocation biosensors applicable for dissecting nuclear export by chemicogenomics. A431 cell lines, stably expressing a translocation biosensor composed of glutathione S-transferase, GFP and a rational combination of nuclear import and export signals, were engineered by antibiotic selection and flow cytometry sorting. Using an optimized nuclear translocation algorithm, the translocation response could be robustly quantified on the Cellomics Arrayscan^® VTI platform. Subsequent to assay optimization, the assay was developed into a higher density 384-well format high-content assay and employed for the screening of the 17K ChemBioNet compound collection. This library was selected on the basis of a genetic algorithm used to identify maximum common chemical substructures in a database of annotated bioactive molecules and hence, is well-placed in the chemical space covered by bioactive compounds. Automated multiparameter data analysis combined with visual inspection allowed us to identify and to rationally discriminate true export inhibitors from false positives, which included fluorescent compounds or cytotoxic substances that dramatically affected the cellular morphology. A total of 120 potential hit compounds were selected for Cellomics Arrayscan^® VTI based rescreening. The export inhibitory activity of 20 compounds effective at concentrations < 25 μM were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy in several cell lines. Interestingly, kinetic analysis allowed the identification of inhibitors capable to interfere with the export receptor CRM1-mediated nuclear export not only in an irreversible, but also in a reversible fashion. In sum, exploitation of biosensor based screening allows the identification of chemicogenomic tools applicable for dissecting nucleo-cytoplasmic transport in living cells.

Translocation Biosensors to Study Signal-Specific Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Transport, Protease Activity and Protein-Protein Interactions

Regulated nucleo-cytoplasmic transport is crucial for cellular homeostasis and relies on protein interaction networks. In addition, the spatial division into the nucleus and the cytoplasm marks two intracellular compartments that can easily be distinguished by microscopy. Consequently, combining the rules for regulated nucleo-cytoplasmic transport with autofluorescent proteins, we developed novel cellular biosensors composed of glutathione S-transferase, mutants of green fluorescent protein and rational combinations of nuclear import and export signals. Addition of regulatory sequences resulted in three classes of biosensors applicable for the identification of signal-specific nuclear export and import inhibitors, small molecules that interfere with protease activity and compounds that prevent specific protein-protein interactions in living cells. As a unique feature, our system exploits nuclear accumulation of the cytoplasmic biosensors as the reliable readout for all assays. Efficacy of the biosensors was systematically investigated and also demonstrated by using a fully automated platform for high throughput screening (HTS) microscopy and assay analysis. The introduced modular biosensors not only have the potential to further dissect nucleo-cytoplasmic transport pathways but also to be employed in numerous screening applications for the early stage evaluation of potential drug candidates.

Efficient NES-dependent protein nuclear export requires ongoing synthesis and export of mRNAs

The mechanisms regulating nuclear export of proteins are not fully understood. To investigate whether the efficiency of protein nuclear export may depend on ongoing RNA synthesis and/or mRNA nuclear export, we used a microinjection approach with a fluorescent reporter protein containing a nuclear export signal (NES) and scored protein export in human fibroblasts under conditions when the synthesis or export of mRNAs was inhibited. We show that inhibition of transcription significantly attenuated generic NES-dependent nuclear export. Furthermore, digestion of endogenous nuclear RNAs by co-microinjection of RNAse A inhibited NES-dependent nuclear export. Finally, nuclear export of the NES reporter protein was significantly inhibited in cells in which nuclear export of mRNAs had been specifically blocked by microinjection of anti-TAP antibodies or by expression of a dominant negative form of NUP160. These results demonstrate a novel role for ongoing synthesis and export of mRNAs in NES-dependent protein nuclear export.

The adenovirus type 5 E1B-55K oncoprotein actively shuttles in virus-infected cells, whereas transport of E4orf6 is mediated by a CRM1-independent mechanism

The E1B-55K and E4orf6 proteins of adenovirus type 5 are involved in viral mRNA export. Here we demonstrate that adenovirus infection does not inhibit the function of the E1B-55K nuclear export signal and that E1B-55K also shuttles in infected cells. Even during virus infection, E1B-55K was exported by the leptomycin B-sensitive CRM1 pathway, whereas E4orf6 transport appeared to be mediated by an alternative mechanism. Our results strengthen the potential role of E1B-55K as the "driving force" for adenoviral late mRNA export.