scholarly journals A Pandas complex adapted for piRNA-guided transposon silencing

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kang Zhao ◽  
Sha Cheng ◽  
Na Miao ◽  
Ping Xu ◽  
Xiaohua Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Nuclear Retention ◽  
Heterochromatin Formation ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Uba Domain ◽  
Rna Export ◽  
Nascent Transcripts ◽  
Functional Analyses ◽  
Pirna Pathway

AbstractThe repression of transposons by the Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is essential to protect animal germ cells. In Drosophila ovaries, Panoramix (Panx) enforces transcriptional silencing by binding to the target-engaged Piwi-piRNA complex, although the precise mechanisms by which this occurs remain elusive. Here, we show that Panx functions together with a germline specific paralogue of a nuclear export factor, dNxf2, and its cofactor dNxt1 (p15), as a ternary complex to suppress transposon expression. Structural and functional analyses demonstrate that dNxf2 binds Panx via its UBA domain, which plays an important role in transposon silencing. Unexpectedly, dNxf2 interacts directly with dNxf1 (TAP), a general nuclear export factor. As a result, dNxf2 prevents dNxf1 from binding to the FG repeats of the nuclear pore complex, a process required for proper RNA export. Transient tethering of dNxf2 to nascent transcripts leads to their nuclear retention. Therefore, we propose that dNxf2 may function as a Pandas (Panoramix-dNxf2 dependent TAP/p15 silencing) complex, which counteracts the canonical RNA exporting machinery and restricts transposons to the nuclear peripheries. Our findings may have broader implications for understanding how RNA metabolism modulates epigenetic gene silencing and heterochromatin formation.

scholarly journals A heterochromatin-specific RNA export pathway facilitates piRNA production

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa F. ElMaghraby ◽  
Peter Refsing Andersen ◽  
Florian Pühringer ◽  
Katharina Meixner ◽  
Thomas Lendl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Mrna Export ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Rna Surveillance ◽  
Export Pathway ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Nuclear Rna ◽  
Rna Export ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Pirna Pathway

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) guide transposon silencing in animals. The 22-30nt piRNAs are processed in the cytoplasm from long non-coding RNAs. How piRNA precursors, which often lack RNA processing hallmarks of export-competent transcripts, achieve nuclear export is unknown. Here, we uncover the RNA export pathway specific for piRNA precursors in theDrosophilagermline. This pathway requires Nxf3-Nxt1, a variant of the hetero-dimeric mRNA export receptor Nxf1-Nxt1. Nxf3 interacts with UAP56, a nuclear RNA helicase essential for mRNA export, and CG13741/Bootlegger, which recruits Nxf3-Nxt1 and UAP56 to heterochromatic piRNA source loci. Upon RNA cargo binding, Nxf3 achieves nuclear export via the exportin Crm1, and accumulates together with Bootlegger in peri-nuclear nuage, suggesting that after export, Nxf3-Bootlegger delivers precursor transcripts to the piRNA processing sites. Our findings indicate that the piRNA pathway bypasses nuclear RNA surveillance systems to achieve export of heterochromatic, unprocessed transcripts to the cytoplasm, a strategy also exploited by retroviruses.

scholarly journals Mutations in Tap Uncouple RNA Export Activity from Translocation through the Nuclear Pore Complex

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 931-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyne Lévesque ◽  
Yeou-Cherng Bor ◽  
Leah H. Matzat ◽  
Li Jin ◽  
Stephen Berberoglu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling ◽  
Transport Receptors ◽  
Cellular Mrnas ◽  
Rna Export ◽  
Rna Complex ◽  
Transport Receptor

Interactions between transport receptors and phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats on nucleoporins drive the translocation of receptor-cargo complexes through nuclear pores. Tap, a transport receptor that mediates nuclear export of cellular mRNAs, contains a UBA-like and NTF2-like folds that can associate directly with FG repeats. In addition, two nuclear export sequences (NESs) within the NTF2-like region can also interact with nucleoporins. The Tap-RNA complex was shown to bind to three nucleoporins, Nup98, p62, and RanBP2, and these interactions were enhanced by Nxt1. Mutations in the Tap-UBA region abolished interactions with all three nucleoporins, whereas the effect of point mutations within the NTF2-like domain of Tap known to disrupt Nxt1 binding or nucleoporin binding were nucleoporin dependent. A mutation in any of these Tap domains was sufficient to reduce RNA export but was not sufficient to disrupt Tap interaction with the NPC in vivo or its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. However, shuttling activity was reduced or abolished by combined mutations within the UBA and either the Nxt1-binding domain or NESs. These data suggest that Tap requires both the UBA- and NTF2-like domains to mediate the export of RNA cargo, but can move through the pores independently of these domains when free of RNA cargo.

scholarly journals The GLFG repetitive region of the nucleoporin Nup116p interacts with Kap95p, an essential yeast nuclear import factor.

1995 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
pp. 1699-1713 ◽  
Author(s):  
M K Iovine ◽  
J L Watkins ◽  
S R Wente
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Nuclear Import ◽  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Repetitive Region ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Section Electron ◽  
Rna Export

Nup116p is a member of a family of five yeast nuclear pore complex (NPC) proteins that share an amino terminal region of repetitive tetrapeptide "GLFG" motifs. Previous experiments characterized the unique morphological perturbations that occur in a nup116 null mutant: temperature-sensitive formation of nuclear envelope seals over the cytoplasmic face of the NPC (Wente, S. R., and G. Blobel. 1993. J. Cell Biol. 123:275-284). Three approaches have been taken to dissect the structural basis for Nup116p's role in NPC function. First, deletion mutagenesis analysis of NUP116 revealed that the GLFG region was required for NPC function. This was not true for the other four yeast GLFG family members (Nup49p, Nup57p, Nup100p, and Nup145p). Moreover, deletion of either half of Nup116p's GLFG repeats or replacement of Nup116p's GLFG region with either Nup100p's GLFG region or Nsp1p's FXFG repetitive region abolishes the function of Nup116p. At a semipermissive growth temperature, the cells lacking Nup116p's GLFG region displayed a diminished capacity for nuclear import. Second, overexpression of Nup116p's GLFG region severely inhibited cell growth, rapidly blocked polyadenylated-RNA export, and fragmented the nucleolus. Although it inhibited nuclear export, the overexpressed GLFG region appeared predominantly localized in the cytoplasm and NPC/nuclear envelope structure was not perturbed in thin section electron micrographs. Finally, using biochemical and two-hybrid analysis, an interaction was characterized between Nup116p's GLFG region and Kap95p, an essential yeast homologue of the vertebrate nuclear import factor p97/Imp90/karopherin beta. These data show that Nup116p's GLFG region has an essential role in mediating nuclear transport.

scholarly journals Analysis of Cellular Factors That Mediate Nuclear Export of RNAs Bearing the Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus Constitutive Transport Element

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (13) ◽  
pp. 5863-5871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yibin Kang ◽  
Hal P. Bogerd ◽  
Bryan R. Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Constitutive Transport Element ◽  
Rna Export

ABSTRACT There is now convincing evidence that the human Tap protein plays a critical role in mediating the nuclear export of mRNAs that contain the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus constitutive transport element (CTE) and significant evidence that Tap also participates in global poly(A)+ RNA export. Previously, we had mapped carboxy-terminal sequences in Tap that serve as an essential nucleocytoplasmic shuttling domain, while others had defined an overlapping Tap sequence that can bind to the FG repeat domains of certain nucleoporins. Here, we demonstrate that these two biological activities are functionally correlated. Specifically, mutations in Tap that block nucleoporin binding also block both nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and the Tap-dependent nuclear export of CTE-containing RNAs. In contrast, mutations that do not inhibit nucleoporin binding also fail to affect Tap shuttling. Together, these data indicate that Tap belongs to a novel class of RNA export factors that can target bound RNA molecules directly to the nuclear pore without the assistance of an importin β-like cofactor. In addition to nucleoporins, Tap has also been proposed to interact with a cellular cofactor termed p15. Although we were able to confirm that Tap can indeed bind p15 specifically both in vivo and in vitro, a mutation in Tap that blocked p15 binding only modestly inhibited CTE-dependent nuclear RNA export. However, p15 did significantly enhance the affinity of Tap for the CTE in vitro and readily formed a ternary complex with Tap on the CTE. This result suggests that p15 may play a significant role in the recruitment of the Tap nuclear export factor to target RNA molecules in vivo.

scholarly journals The Nucleoporin Nup153 Plays a Critical Role in Multiple Types of Nuclear Export

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine S. Ullman ◽  
Sundeep Shah ◽  
Maureen A. Powers ◽  
Douglass J. Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Adaptor Protein ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Transport ◽  
Protein Export ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Physical Interaction ◽  
Receptor Complexes ◽  
Importin Α ◽  
Rna Export

The fundamental process of nucleocytoplasmic transport takes place through the nuclear pore. Peripheral pore structures are presumably poised to interact with transport receptors and their cargo as these receptor complexes first encounter the pore. One such peripheral structure likely to play an important role in nuclear export is the basket structure located on the nuclear side of the pore. At present, Nup153 is the only nucleoporin known to localize to the surface of this basket, suggesting that Nup153 is potentially one of the first pore components an RNA or protein encounters during export. In this study, anti-Nup153 antibodies were used to probe the role of Nup153 in nuclear export in Xenopus oocytes. We found that Nup153 antibodies block three major classes of RNA export, that of snRNA, mRNA, and 5S rRNA. Nup153 antibodies also block the NES protein export pathway, specifically the export of the HIV Rev protein, as well as Rev-dependent RNA export. Not all export was blocked; Nup153 antibodies did not impede the export of tRNA or the recycling of importin β to the cytoplasm. The specific antibodies used here also did not affect nuclear import, whether mediated by importin α/β or by transportin. Overall, the results indicate that Nup153 is crucial to multiple classes of RNA and protein export, being involved at a vital juncture point in their export pathways. This juncture point appears to be one that is bypassed by tRNA during its export. We asked whether a physical interaction between RNA and Nup153 could be observed, using homoribopolymers as sequence-independent probes for interaction. Nup153, unlike four other nucleoporins including Nup98, associated strongly with poly(G) and significantly with poly(U). Thus, Nup153 is unique among the nucleoporins tested in its ability to interact with RNA and must do so either directly or indirectly through an adaptor protein. These results suggest a unique mechanistic role for Nup153 in the export of multiple cargos.

scholarly journals Localization of HIV-1 RNA in mammalian nuclei.

1996 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Zhang ◽  
M L Zapp ◽  
G Yan ◽  
M R Green
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Splice Junction ◽  
Stable Population ◽  
Beta Globin ◽  
Nuclear Retention ◽  
Viral Rnas ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Nascent Transcripts ◽  
Hiv 1

The Rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) facilitates the nuclear export of unspliced and partially spliced viral RNAs. In the absence of Rev, these intron-containing HIV-1 RNAs are retained in the nucleus. The basis for nuclear retention is unclear and is an important aspect of Rev regulation. Here we use in situ hybridization and digital imaging microscopy to examine the intranuclear distributions of intron-containing HIV RNAs and to determine their spatial relationships to intranuclear structures. HeLa cells were transfected with an HIV-1 expression vector, and viral transcripts were localized using oligonucleotide probes specific for the unspliced or spliced forms of a particular viral RNA. In the absence of Rev, the unspliced viral RNAs were predominantly nuclear and had two distinct distributions. First, a population of viral transcripts was distributed as approximately 10-20 intranuclear punctate signals. Actinomycin D chase experiments indicate that these signals represent nascent transcripts. A second, stable population of viral transcripts was dispersed throughout the nucleoplasm excluding nucleoli. Rev promoted the export of this stable population of viral RNAs to the cytoplasm in a time-dependent fashion. Significantly, the distributions of neither the nascent nor the stable populations of viral RNAs coincided with intranuclear speckles in which splicing factors are enriched. Using splice-junction-specific probes, splicing of human beta-globin pre-mRNA occurred cotranscriptionally, whereas splicing of HIV-1 pre-mRNA did not. Taken together, our results indicate that the nucleolus and intranuclear speckles are not involved in Rev regulation, and provide further evidence that efficient splicing signals are critical for cotranscriptional splicing.

scholarly journals The nascent RNA binding complex SFiNX licenses piRNA-guided heterochromatin formation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Batki ◽  
Jakob Schnabl ◽  
Juncheng Wang ◽  
Dominik Handler ◽  
Veselin I. Andreev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Transcriptional Silencing ◽  
Genome Integrity ◽  
Rna Transport ◽  
Heterochromatin Formation ◽  
Genome Defense ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Pirna Pathway ◽  
Transport Receptor

ABSTRACTThe PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway protects animal genome integrity in part through establishing repressive heterochromatin at transposon loci. Silencing requires piRNA-guided targeting of nuclear PIWI proteins to nascent transposon transcripts, yet the subsequent molecular events are not understood. Here, we identify SFiNX (Silencing Factor interacting Nuclear eXport variant), an interdependent protein complex required for Piwi-mediated co-transcriptional silencing in Drosophila. SFiNX consists of Nxf2-Nxt1, a gonad-specific variant of the heterodimeric mRNA export receptor Nxf1-Nxt1, and the Piwi-associated protein Panoramix. SFiNX mutant flies are sterile and exhibit transposon de-repression because piRNA-loaded Piwi is unable to establish heterochromatin. Within SFiNX, Panoramix recruits the heterochromatin effectors, while the RNA binding Nxf2 protein licenses co-transcriptional silencing. Our data reveal how Nxf2 evolved from an RNA transport receptor into a co-transcriptional silencing factor. Thus, NXF-variants, which are abundant in metazoans, can have diverse molecular functions and might have been co-opted for host genome defense more broadly.

scholarly journals Specialization of the Drosophila nuclear export family protein, Nxf3, for piRNA precursor export

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Kneuss ◽  
Marzia Munafò ◽  
Evelyn L. Eastwood ◽  
Undine-Sophie Deumer ◽  
Jonathan B. Preall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Small Rna ◽  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Mrna Export ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Family Protein ◽  
Pirna Pathway ◽  
Harmful Effects ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Mature Mrnas

AbstractThe piRNA pathway is a conserved, small RNA-based immune system that protects animal germ cell genomes from the harmful effects of transposon mobilisation. In Drosophila ovaries, most piRNAs originate from dual-strand clusters, which generate piRNAs from both genomic strands. Dual-strand clusters use non-canonical transcription mechanisms. Although transcribed by RNA polymerase II, cluster transcripts lack splicing signatures and poly(A) tails. mRNA processing is important for general mRNA export mediated by Nuclear export factor 1. Although UAP56, a component of the transcription and export complex, has been implicated in piRNA precursor export, it remains unknown how dual-strand cluster transcripts are specifically targeted for piRNA biogenesis by export from the nucleus to cytoplasmic processing centers. Here we report that dual-strand cluster transcript export requires CG13741/Bootlegger and the Drosophila Nuclear export factor family protein, Nxf3. Bootlegger is specifically recruited to piRNA clusters and in turn brings Nxf3. We find that Nxf3 specifically binds to piRNA precursors and is essential for their export to piRNA biogenesis sites, a process that is critical for germline transposon silencing. Our data shed light on how dual-strand clusters compensate for a lack of canonical features of mature mRNAs to be specifically exported via Nxf3, ensuring proper piRNA production.

scholarly journals Dimerisation of the PICTS complex via LC8/Cut-up drives co-transcriptional transposon silencing in Drosophila

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn L Eastwood ◽  
Kayla A Jara ◽  
Susanne Bornelöv ◽  
Marzia Munafò ◽  
Vasileios Frantzis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Integrity ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Dynein Light Chain ◽  
Heterochromatin Formation ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Cellular Machinery ◽  
Transposon Insertions ◽  
Pirna Pathway ◽  
Fundamental Requirement ◽  
Rna And Dna

In animal gonads, the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway guards genome integrity in part through the co-transcriptional gene silencing of transposon insertions. In Drosophila ovaries, piRNA-loaded Piwi detects nascent transposon transcripts and instructs heterochromatin formation through the Panoramix-induced co-transcriptional silencing (PICTS) complex, containing Panoramix, Nxf2 and Nxt1. Here, we report that the highly conserved dynein light chain LC8/Cut-up (Ctp) is an essential component of the PICTS complex. Loss of Ctp results in transposon de-repression and a reduction in repressive chromatin marks specifically at transposon loci. In turn, Ctp can enforce transcriptional silencing when artificially recruited to RNA and DNA reporters. We show that Ctp drives dimerisation of the PICTS complex through its interaction with conserved motifs within Panoramix. Artificial dimerisation of Panoramix bypasses the necessity for its interaction with Ctp, demonstrating that conscription of a protein from a ubiquitous cellular machinery has fulfilled a fundamental requirement for a transposon silencing complex.

scholarly journals Channel Nuclear Pore Complex subunits are required for transposon silencing in Drosophila

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzia Munafò ◽  
Victoria R Lawless ◽  
Alessandro Passera ◽  
Serena MacMillan ◽  
Susanne Bornelöv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Follicle Cells ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Tissue Specific ◽  
Transposon Silencing ◽  
Multiple Copies ◽  
Pirna Pathway ◽  
Inner Channel

The Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC) is the principal gateway between nucleus and cytoplasm that enables exchange of macromolecular cargo. Composed of multiple copies of ~30 different nucleoporins (Nups), the NPC acts as a selective portal, interacting with factors which individually license passage of specific cargo classes. Here we show that two Nups of the inner channel, Nup54 and Nup58, are essential for transposon silencing via the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway in the Drosophila ovary. In ovarian follicle cells, loss of Nup54 and Nup58 results in compromised piRNA biogenesis exclusively from the flamenco locus, whereas knockdowns of other NPC subunits have widespread consequences. This provides evidence that some nucleoporins can acquire specialised roles in tissue-specific contexts. Our findings consolidate the idea that the NPC has functions beyond simply constituting a barrier to nuclear/cytoplasmic exchange, as genomic loci subjected to strong selective pressure can exploit NPC subunits to facilitate their expression.

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