Detergent-salt resistance of LAP2α in interphase nuclei and phosphorylation-dependent association with chromosomes early in nuclear assembly implies functions in nuclear structure dynamics

Thomas Dechat, Josef Gotzmann, Andreas Stockinger, Crafford A. Harris, Mary Ann Talle, John J. Siekierka, Roland Foisner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lamina-associated polypeptide (LAP) 2 of the inner nuclear membrane (now LAP2β) and LAP2α are related proteins produced by alternative splicing, and contain a common 187 amino acid N-terminal domain. We show here that, unlike LAP2β, LAP2α behaved like a nuclear non-membrane protein in subcellular fractionation studies and was localized throughout the nuclear interior in interphase cells. It co-fractionated with LAP2β in nuclear lamina/matrix-enriched fractions upon extraction of nuclei with detergent, salt and nucleases. During metaphase LAP2α dissociated from chromosomes and became concentrated around the spindle poles. Furthermore, LAP2α was mitotically phosphorylated, and phosphorylation correlated with increased LAP2α solubility upon extraction of cells in physiological buffers. LAP2α relocated to distinct sites around chromosomes at early stages of nuclear reassembly and intermediarily co-localized with peripheral lamin B and intranuclear lamin A structures at telophase. During in vitro nuclear assembly LAP2α was dephosphorylated and assembled into insoluble chromatin-associated structures, and recombinant LAP2α was found to interact with chromosomes in vitro. Some LAP2α may also associate with membranes prior to chromatin attachment. Altogether the data suggest a role of LAP2α in post-mitotic nuclear assembly and in the dynamic structural organization of the nucleus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4887-4902
Number of pages16
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume17
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - 17 Aug 1998

Keywords

  • Chromosome
  • Lamina
  • Mitosis
  • Nuclear matrix
  • Post-mitotic nuclear reassembly

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