Subcellular Localization of Basic Krüppel-like Factor

MA Xiao-Yun, WANG Mang-Ju¹, QU Xiang-Hu, XING Gui-Chun, ZHU Yun-Ping, HE Fu-Chu^*

( Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China; 1Department of Hematology,
First Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100034, China )

Abstract To understand the function of basic Krüppel-like factor (BKLF), it was confirmed by direct fluorescence and indirect fluorescence observation that hBKLF was localized in nucleus, and distributed throughout nucleoplasm in a speckled pattern, except the nucleoli. This pattern is similar to many but not all transcriptional factors. To clarify the specific sequence responsible for its nuclear localization, a series of deletion mutants of GFP/hBKLF were constructed. By observing their subcellular localization, it was found that the three zinc fingers of hBKLF and the N-terminus aside from the fingers all served as nuclear localization signals (NLS); the sub-NLS of hBKLF was located in the N-terminus, including the CtBP-binding motif and the proline rich domain. These results provide a basis for further clarifying the function of BKLF.

Key words BKLF; subcellular localization; NLS

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