Ribosomal protein S9 is a novel B23/NPM-binding protein required for normal cell proliferation

B23 (NPM/nucleophosmin) is a multifunctional nucleolar protein and a member of the nucleoplasmin superfamily of acidic histone chaperones. B23 is essential for normal embryonic development and plays an important role in genomic stability, ribosome biogenesis, and anti-apoptotic signaling. Altered protein expression or genomic mutation of B23 is encountered in many different forms of cancer. Although described as multifunctional, a genuine molecular function of B23 is not fully understood. Here we show that B23 is associated with a protein complex consisting of ribosomal proteins and ribosome-associated RNA helicases. A novel, RNA-independent interaction between ribosomal protein S9 (RPS9) and B23 was further investigated. We found that S9 binding requires an intact B23 oligomerization domain. Depletion of S9 by small interfering RNA resulted in decreased protein synthesis and G(1) cell cycle arrest, in association with induction of p53 target genes. We determined that S9 is a short-lived protein in the absence of ribosome biogenesis, and proteasomal inhibition significantly increased S9 protein level. Overexpression of B23 facilitated nucleolar storage of S9, whereas knockdown of B23 led to diminished levels of nucleolar S9. Our results suggest that B23 selectively stores, and protects ribosomal protein S9 in nucleoli and therefore could facilitate ribosome biogenesis.     

Characterization and cellular localization of nucleophosmin/B23 in HeLa cells treated with selected cytotoxic agents (studies of B23-translocation mechanism).

Previous studies indicated that nucleophosmin/B23, an abundant nucleolar phosphoprotein, accumulated in the nucleoplasm (B23-translocation) of cells after exposure to selected cytotoxic drugs. Attempts were made to understand the B23-translocation mechanism. This paper reports that: (1) B23-translocation is a reversible process. Upon removal of camptothecin, which induced B23-translocation in HeLa cells, nucleophosmin/B23 relocalized into nucleoli within 2 h. Relocation occurs in the presence of cycloheximide which inhibits new protein synthesis. There is no reduction or degradation of nucleophosmin/B23 detected during drug treatments. Nucleophosmin/B23 has a half-life of 18-20 h. Taken together, these results indicate that B23-translocation is a reversible process. Drug treatment causes redistribution of nucleophosmin/B23 in nucleoplasm. (2) Inhibition of RNA synthesis does not cause the B23-translocation. Over 80% of RNA synthesis was inhibited in HeLa cells by treatment with actinomycin D, camptothecin, and methotrexate. While actinomycin D and camptothecin cause B23-translocation in all cells, 40% of methotrexate-treated cells remain untranslocated. (3) There is no significant change of phosphorylation in nucleophosmin/B23 during drug treatment. An identical oligomeric cross-linkage pattern was obtained in drug-treated cells. (4) HeLa cells treated with B23-translocation effective drugs have small and round nucleoli while control cells have large and irregular-shaped nucleoli.     

Effects of Cytotoxic Drugs on Translocation of Nucleolar RNA Helicase RH-II/Gu

Some cytotoxic drugs cause translocation of nucleophosmin/B23 and other nucleolar proteins to the nucleoplasm. The present study shows that these drugs caused a similar translocation of RH-II/Gu, a nucleolar RNA helicase. Other nucleolar proteins including p120, UBF, RNA polymerase I large subunit, fibrillarin, p40, and Ren-1 did not translocate. A 2-h treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with 0.008 or 0.16 μMactinomycin D resulted in translocation of RH-II/Gu to the nucleoplasm; these effects were not reversed by 100 μMguanosine. The effects of 0.008 μMactinomycin D, but not 0.16 μMactinomycin D, on the translocation of RH-II/Gu were reversed when the drug was removed. However, the effects of 0.008 or 0.16 μMactinomycin D on the translocation of nucleophosmin/B23 were not reversible. The translocation effects of 50 μMtoyocamycin on RH-II/Gu were reversed when the drug was replaced with fresh medium. RH-II/Gu mostly relocalized to the nucleoli within 15 min after toyocamycin was withdrawn; only partial relocalization of nucleophosmin/B23 occurred 40 h after removal of the drug. The effects of toyocamycin were not blocked by 100 μMguanosine. Mycophenolic acid (50 μM,2-h treatment) caused partial translocation of RH-II/Gu; this effect was slowly reversed upon drug removal and was inhibited by 100 μMguanosine, in a manner similar to the effects of mycophenolic acid on the localization of nucleophosmin/B23. This study shows similarities and differences in the drug-induced translocation and relocalization of RH-II/Gu and nucleophosmin/B23. Analysis of translocation of specific nucleolar proteins may offer a quantitative approach to assessment of potency and duration of effects of cytotoxic agents.     

ARF impedes NPM/B23 shuttling in an Mdm2-sensitive tumor suppressor pathway

The ARF tumor suppressor is widely regarded as an upstream activator of p53-dependent growth arrest and apoptosis. However, recent findings indicate that ARF can also regulate the cell cycle in the absence of p53. In search of p53-independent ARF targets, we isolated nucleophosmin (NPM/B23), a protein we show is required for proliferation, as a novel ARF binding protein. In response to hyperproliferative signals, ARF is upregulated, resulting in the nucleolar retention of NPM and concomitant cell cycle arrest. The Mdm2 oncogene outcompetes NPM/B23 for ARF binding, and introduction of Mdm2 reverses ARF's p53-independent properties: in vitro, NPM is released from ARF-containing protein complexes, and in vivo S phase progression ensues. ARF induction by oncogenes or replicative senescence does not alter NPM/B23 protein levels but rather prevents its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling without inhibiting rRNA processing. By actively sequestering NPM in the nucleolus, ARF utilizes an additional mechanism of tumor suppression, one that is readily antagonized by Mdm2.     

The N-terminal half of NPM dissociates from nucleoli of HeLa cells after anticancer drug treatments.

NPM (nucleophosmin/B23) is a nucleolar phosphoprotein abundant in tumor cells. It dissociates from nucleoli of cells after treatments with various anticancer drugs. To determine the domain of NPM responsible for nucleolar binding, the N- and C-terminal halves of NPM were fused to GFP (green fluorescent protein) and introduced into HeLa cells. The N-terminal half (aa 1-150) of NPM (GFP-NPM(N)) was found localized in the nucleoli. A stable transformant of GFP-NPM(N) in HeLa cells was prepared and tested for association to nucleoli after anticancer drug treatments. GFP-NPM(N) dissociates from nucleoli after treatments with daunomycin, actinomycin D, camptothecin, and toyocamycin. The dissociation is time- and dose-dependent, and correlates with the cytotoxicity induced by the drugs. These results indicate that a stable transformant of GFP-NPM(N) in HeLa cells may be useful for the screening of anticancer drugs.     

Analysis of the proliferative activity of a cell using new monoclonal antibodies to nucleolar protein B23/nucleophosmin

Nowadays, antinucleolar antibodies are widely used for exploration of the nucleolar organization and molecular mechanisms of ribosome production. Here we have described a new monoclonal antibody against the major nucleolar phosphoprotein B23/nucleophosmin (3C9) that is involved in the terminal stages of ribosome production. It is used to examine immunocytochemical peculiarities of the nucleolus in terms of the cell proliferative status and also during mitosis. In human peripheral blood lymphocytes, activated for proliferation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), PHA stimulation of lymphocytes was shown to result in accumulation of protein B23 in augmentative nucleoli. A comparative study of 3C9 and two other anti-B23 antibodies 20B2 and anti-B23 by Western blots and indirect immunofluorescence favored the idea that 3C9 cross-reacted with the major isoform of B23, B23.1, that have an apparent molecular weight of 40 kDa.     

Uptake and intracellular transportation of a bacterial surface protein in lymphoid cells

Some strains of the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes express a surface protein called protein H, which is released from the streptococcal surface by a cysteine proteinase produced by the bacteria. Here, we find that soluble protein H binds to the surface of lymphocytes and granulocytes, and that the molecule is taken up by lymphocytes and transported to the perinuclear region. The translocation over the cell membrane is rapid, and the uptake and intracellular transportation is not dependent on actin polymerization. Protein H could be immunoprecipitated from cell extracts and nuclear preparations of lymphocytes, and analysis of molecular interactions between protein H and proteins of different cellular compartments demonstrated a binding to nucleophosmin/ B23, a protein known to shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and to the nuclear proteins SET and hnRNP A2/B1. Nucleophosmin/B23 was co-immunoprecipitated with protein H from cell and nuclear extracts, and binding experiments, including kinetic analyses, suggest that protein H dissociating from nucleophosmin/B23 complexes in the perinuclear region or in the nucleus binds to proteins SET and hnRNP A2/B1. Finally, the uptake and intracellular transportation of protein H was found to result in a cytostatic effect on B and T lymphocytes.     

Alterations in immunolocalization of the phosphoprotein B23 in HeLa cells during serum starvation

Bright nucleolar immunofluorescence was observed in HeLa S3 cells by immunostaining with a monoclonal antibody to the nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 (MW 37 kD/pI 5.1). After 48 h of incubation in a serum-free medium, the nucleolar fluorescence was diminished and a general nuclear immunofluorescence was observed. This change in localization of fluorescence indicated that protein B23 had migrated out of the nucleoli. No gross morphological change in nucleoli was observed by light microscopy and the immunolocalization of another nucleolar phosphoprotein, C23, was unaffected by serum deprivation. Relocation of protein B23 in nucleoli was observed after refeeding with serum-containing medium. This re-entry process was not observed after treatment with actinomycin D (50 ng/ml-5 micrograms/ml), but the process was unaffected by cycloheximide (0.2 mM). Quantitation of protein B23 in the nucleoli of the control (fed) or starved HeLa cells was done by ELISA immunoassay. A marked decrease in the amount of protein B23 occurred in the nucleoli of the starved cells (11.8 micrograms B23/mgDNA) as compared with the control nucleoli (20.8 micrograms B23/mgDNA). The amount of protein B23 in the nucleoplasm (excluding nucleoli) was 70% higher in the starved cells. Protein B23 was analysed by one- and two-dimensional PAGE. Three components of protein B23 with slightly different molecular weights and pIs (37 kD/5.1, 35 kD/5.1 and 35 kD/5.3) were observed in nucleoli. The lower molecular weight components were predominantly found in the nucleoplasm.     

Translocation of nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 (37 kDa/pI 5.1) induced by selective inhibitors of ribosome synthesis

To elucidate the possible role of nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 in ribosome synthesis, drugs which inhibit the processing of ribosomal RNA were employed. After treatment with actinomycin D, toyocamycin or high doses of alpha-amanitin, a uniform nucleoplasmic fluorescence was observed. Low doses of alpha-amanitin and the protein synthesis inhibitor puromycin and cycloheximide had no effect on protein B23 translocation. By ELISA immunoassay, there was a 60% decrease in the amount of protein B23 in the nucleoli of the actinomycin D-treated cells as compared with the control nucleoli. Conversely, the amount of protein B23 in the nucleoplasm (excluding nucleoli) was 3-fold higher in the actinomycin D-treated cells. Preribosomal ribonucleoprotein particles (pre-rRNPs) were extracted from isolated nucleoli of Novikoff hepatoma ascites cells and fractionated on sucrose density gradients. Protein B23 was found co-localized with the pre-rRNPs as determined by ELISA assays which agrees with previous studies. The proteins in these 80 S and 55 S pre-ribosomal ribonucleoprotein particles were fractionated by 10% gel electrophoresis. Immunoblots showed protein B23 was present in both pre-rRNPs.     

Overexpression of the nucleolar protein nucleophosmin/B23 in collagen lattice-cultured fibroblasts: Potential role in the control of protein synthesis

Fibroblasts cultivated in tridimensional collagen lattices exhibit a downregulation of protein synthesis, related to decreased ribosomal RNA (rRNA) content and half life, when compared to monolayer cultivated cells. The involvement in this process of nucleophosmin/B23, a nucleolar phosphoprotein with ribonuclease properties, was checked. We compared production of nucleophosmin/B23 in monolayer and collagen lattice cultured fibroblasts. A significant increase of nucleophosmin/B23 mRNA levels was noticed in lattice-cultured fibroblasts vs monolayers (+154%, p < 0.05). A concomitant enhancement of nucleolar nucleophosmin/B23 content was found (+112%, p < 0.001). Simultaneously, ribonuclease activity contained in nucleolar extracts from collagen lattice-cultured fibroblasts was significantly increased (+54%, p < 0.01). These data demonstrate that extracellular collagen matrix induces the overexpression of nucleophosmin/B23, and suggest that the regulation of protein syntheses in collagen lattice cultures may be explained, at least partly, by an increased degradation of neosynthesized rRNAs dependent on nucleophosmin.