Capture of AT-rich chromatin by ELYS recruits POM121 and NDC1 to initiate nuclear pore assembly

• Published in: Molecular biology of the cell Vol. 19; no. 9; pp. 3982 - 3996
• Main Authors: Rasala, Beth A, Ramos, Corinne, Harel, Amnon, Forbes, Douglass J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Society for Cell Biology 01.09.2008
• Series: An InCytes from MBC Selection
• Subjects: Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Chromatin - chemistry; Chromomycin A3 - chemistry; DNA - chemistry; DNA Mutational Analysis; DNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Humans; Membrane Glycoproteins - chemistry; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Nuclear Pore - metabolism; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins - chemistry; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins - metabolism; Point Mutation; S Phase; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Schizosaccharomyces - metabolism; Transcription Factors - chemistry; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Xenopus Proteins - chemistry; Xenopus Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 1059-1524; 1939-4586
• DOI: 10.1091/mbc.E08-01-0012

Assembly of the nuclear pore, gateway to the genome, from its component subunits is a complex process. In higher eukaryotes, nuclear pore assembly begins with the binding of ELYS/MEL-28 to chromatin and recruitment of the large critical Nup107-160 pore subunit. The choreography of steps that follow is largely speculative. Here, we set out to molecularly define early steps in nuclear pore assembly, beginning with chromatin binding. Point mutation analysis indicates that pore assembly is exquisitely sensitive to the change of only two amino acids in the AT-hook motif of ELYS. The dependence on AT-rich chromatin for ELYS binding is borne out by the use of two DNA-binding antibiotics. AT-binding Distamycin A largely blocks nuclear pore assembly, whereas GC-binding Chromomycin A(3) does not. Next, we find that recruitment of vesicles containing the key integral membrane pore proteins POM121 and NDC1 to the forming nucleus is dependent on chromatin-bound ELYS/Nup107-160 complex, whereas recruitment of gp210 vesicles is not. Indeed, we reveal an interaction between the cytoplasmic domain of POM121 and the Nup107-160 complex. Our data thus suggest an order for nuclear pore assembly of 1) AT-rich chromatin sites, 2) ELYS, 3) the Nup107-160 complex, and 4) POM121- and NDC1-containing membrane vesicles and/or sheets, followed by (5) assembly of the bulk of the remaining soluble pore subunits.