Identification and characterization of a nuclear localization signal of TRIM28 that overlaps with the HP1 box.

Tripartite motif-containing 28 (TRIM28) is a transcription regulator, which forms a repressor complex containing heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1). Here, we report identification of a nuclear localization signal (NLS) within the 462-494 amino acid region of TRIM28 that overlaps with its HP1 binding site, HP1 box. GST-pulldown experiments revealed the interaction of the arginine-rich TRIM28 NLS with various importin α subtypes (α1, α2 and α4). In vitro transport assay demonstrated that nuclear localization of GFP-TRIM28 NLS is mediated by importin αs, in conjunction with importin ß1 and Ran. Further, we demonstrated that HP1 and importin αs compete for binding to TRIM28. Together, our findings suggest that importin α has an essential role in the nuclear delivery and preferential HP1 interaction of TRIM28.

The polycomb group protein EED varies in its ability to access the nucleus in porcine oocytes and cleavage stage embryos.

Chromatin-modifying complexes serve essential functions during mammalian embryonic development. Polycomb group proteins EED, SUZ12, and EZH2 have been shown to mediate methylation of the lysine 27 residue of histone protein H3 (H3K27), an epigenetic mark that is linked with transcriptional repression. H3K27 trimethylation has been shown to be present on chromatin in mature porcine oocytes, pronuclear and 2-cell stage embryos, with H3K27 trimethylation decreasing at the 4-cell stage and not detectable in blastocyst stage embryos. The goals of this study were to determine the intracellular localization of the polycomb group protein EED in porcine oocytes and cleavage stage porcine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization and to determine the binding abilities of karyopherin α subtypes toward EED. Our results revealed that EED had a strong nuclear localization in 4-cell and blastocyst stage embryos and a strong perinuclear staining in GV-stage oocytes; EED was not detectable in the nuclei of pronuclear or 2-cell stage embryos. An in vitro binding assay was performed to assess the ability of EED to interact with a series of karyopherin α subtypes; results from this experiment revealed that EED can interact with several karyopherin α subtypes, but with varying degrees of affinity. Together these data indicate that EED displays a dynamic change in intracellular localization in progression from immature oocyte to cleavage stage embryo and that EED possess differing in vitro binding affinities toward individual karyopherin α subtypes, which may in part regulate the nuclear access of EED during this window of development.

An ancient frame-shifting event in the highly conserved KPNA gene family has undergone extensive compensation by natural selection in vertebrates.

One of the prevailing arguments in evolutionary theory is that the duplicates of genes can acquire novel functionality. This is because only one of the paralogs need maintain the ancestral function, leaving room for natural experimentation due to a respite in purifying selection. Although many duplicates can subsequently become disabled by nullifying mutations, a few may also go on to diverge along a novel evolutionary trajectory. Here, evidence is provided that demonstrates how this scenario may not always be true. Rather, in the case of the highly conserved KPNA importin family, an initial relaxation in selection induced a frameshift that was later suppressed and heavily compensated for as part of a reparative and optimizing process. Despite a resulting divergence, there remains a distinct preservation of both sequence and functionality among the paralogs. This would indicate that duplicates can be retained by selection for reasons related to their redundant functionality. It also shows that, even when positive selection is inferred in duplicate genes, this may be of a compensatory nature rather than one representing any biochemical innovation. Generally, this development would perhaps be a more common outcome for gene duplication than is currently maintained.