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The SR proteins constitute a large family of nuclear phosphoproteins required for constitutive pre-mRNA splicing. These factors also have global, concentration-dependent effects on alternative splicing regulation and this activity is antagonized by members of the hnRNP A/B family of proteins. We show here that whereas some human SR proteins are confined to the nucleus, three of them-SF2/ASF, SRp20, and 9G8-shuttle rapidly and continuously between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. By swapping the corresponding domains between shuttling and nonshuttling SR proteins, we show that the carboxy-terminal arginine/serine-rich (RS) domain is required for shuttling. This domain, however, is not sufficient to promote shuttling of an unrelated protein reporter, suggesting that stable RNA binding mediated by the RNA-recognition motifs may be required for shuttling. Consistent with such a requirement, a double point-mutation in RRM1 of SF2/ASF that impairs RNA binding prevents the protein from shuttling. In addition, we show that phosphorylation of the RS domain affects the shuttling properties of SR proteins. These findings show that different SR proteins have unique intracellular transport properties and suggest that the family members that shuttle may have roles not only in nuclear pre-mRNA splicing but also in mRNA transport, cytoplasmic events, and/or processes that involve communication between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

Original publication

DOI

10.1101/gad.12.1.55

Type

Journal article

Journal

Genes Dev

Publication Date

01/01/1998

Volume

12

Pages

55 - 66

Keywords

3T3 Cells, Animals, Binding Sites, Biological Transport, Cell Nucleus, Cytoplasm, HeLa Cells, Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins, Humans, Mice, Nuclear Proteins, Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins, Phosphoproteins, Phosphorylation, RNA-Binding Proteins, Ribonucleoproteins, Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors