home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- ****************************************
- * Bipartite nuclear targeting sequence *
- ****************************************
-
- The uptake of protein by the nucleus is extremely selective and nuclear
- proteins must therefore contain within their final structure a signal that
- specifies selective accumulation in the nucleus [1,2]. Studies on some nuclear
- proteins, such as the large T antigen of SV40, have indicated which part of
- the sequence is required for nuclear translocation. The known nuclear
- targeting sequences are generally basic, but there seems to be no clear
- common denominator between all the known sequences. Although some consensus
- sequence patterns have been proposed (see for example [3]), the current best
- strategy to detect a nuclear targeting sequence is based [4] on the following
- definition of what is called a 'bipartite nuclear targeting sequence':
-
- (1) Two adjacent basic amino acids (Arg or Lys).
- (2) A spacer region of any 10 residues.
- (3) At least three basic residues (Arg or Lys) in the five positions
- after the spacer region.
-
- -Sequences known to belong to this class detected by the pattern: 56% of known
- nuclear proteins according to [4].
- -Other sequence(s) detected in SWISS-PROT: about 4.2% of non-nuclear proteins
- according to [4].
-
- -Last update: October 1993 / Text revised.
-
- [ 1] Dingwall C., Laskey R.A.
- Annu. Rev. Cell Biol. 2:367-390(1986).
- [ 2] Garcia-Bustos J., Heitman J., Hall M.N.
- Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1071:83-101(1991).
- [ 3] Gomez-Marquez J., Segade F.
- FEBS Lett. 226:217-219(1988).
- [ 4] Dingwall C., Laskey R.A.
- Trends Biochem. Sci. 16:478-481(1991).
-