Nuclear import of the stem-loop binding protein and localization during the cell cycle

A key factor involved in the processing of histone pre-mRNAs in the nucleus and translation of mature histone mRNAs in the cytoplasm is the stem-loop binding protein (SLBP). In this work, we have investigated SLBP nuclear transport and subcellular localization during the cell cycle. SLBP is predominantly nuclear under steady-state conditions and localizes to the cytoplasm during S phase when histone mRNAs accumulate. Consistently, SLBP mutants that are defective in histone mRNA binding remain nuclear. As assayed in heterokaryons, export of SLBP from the nucleus is dependent on histone mRNA binding, demonstrating that SLBP on its own does not possess any nuclear export signals. We find that SLBP interacts with the import receptors Imp alpha/Imp beta and Transportin-SR2. Moreover, complexes formed between SLBP and the two import receptors are disrupted by RanGTP. We have further shown that SLBP is imported by both receptors in vitro. Three sequences in SLBP required for Imp alpha/Imp beta binding were identified. Simultaneous mutation of all three sequences was necessary to abolish SLBP nuclear localization in vivo. In contrast, we were unable to identify an in vivo role for Transportin-SR2 in SLBP nuclear localization. Thus, only the Imp alpha/Imp beta pathway contributes to SLBP nuclear import in HeLa cells.