Differential roles of two DDX17 isoforms in the formation of membraneless organelles

• Published in: Journal of biochemistry (Tokyo) Vol. 168; no. 1; pp. 33 - 40
• Main Authors: Hirai, Yuya, Domae, Eisuke, Yoshikawa, Yoshihiro, Tomonaga, Keizo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Cell Nucleolus - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; DEAD-box RNA Helicases - metabolism; Female; HeLa Cells; Humans; Organelles - metabolism; Protein Isoforms; RNA - metabolism; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - metabolism; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology; DDX17; nucleolus; stress granules; membraneless organelles; intrinsically disordered regions
• ISSN: 0021-924X; 1756-2651; 1756-2651
• DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvaa023

Abstract The RNA helicase, DDX17 is a member of the DEAD-box protein family. DDX17 has two isoforms: p72 and p82. The p82 isoform has additional amino acid sequences called intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), which are related to the formation of membraneless organelles (MLOs). Here, we reveal that p72 is mostly localized to the nucleoplasm, while p82 is localized to the nucleoplasm and nucleoli. Additionally, p82 exhibited slower intranuclear mobility than p72. Furthermore, the enzymatic mutants of both p72 and p82 accumulate into the stress granules. The enzymatic mutant of p82 abolishes nucleolar localization of p82. Our findings suggest the importance of IDRs and enzymatic activity of DEAD-box proteins in the intracellular distribution and formation of MLOs.