RAN system and Nuclear transport Flashcards
Describe the theory for formation of a eukaryote.
- An archaea loses its cell wall.
- This increases horizontal gene transfer, speeding evolution.
- digestion of other prokaryotes also increases speed of evolution
- membrane begins to invaginate to allow a more and more protected nucleus.
- A cell is consumed that is not digested, it is the 1st mitochondria
- Nucleus also helps to form the ER.
G Proteins
Bind GTP, hydrolyze to GDP. GTP is considered generally, the active state.
GAP
GTPase Accelerating Proteins. Catalyze GTP–>GDP
GEF
Guanine Nucleotide-Exchange Factors. Help with release of GDP from the G protein.
What are the two types of G-Proteins?
Heterotrimeric G proteins
Have three subunits, an Alpha (Which has GTPase activity), beta and gamma, form a heterodimer. Heterotrimeric G proteins often couple with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
Monomeric G proteins
- Evolutionary speaking, related to the alpha protein of the heterotrimeric G proteins.
- Exists in thousand varieties
- Ras was the first monomeric G protein discovered.
Where is RAN-GEF located?
Within the Nucleus. So RAN-GTP will exist exclusively in the nucleus.
Where is RAN-GAP located?
Within the Cytoplasm. So RAN-GDP will exist exclusively in the cytoplasm.
Is RAN monomeric or trimeric?
Monomeric G protein.
What is a Nuclear Import Receptor?
What is a Cargo Protein?
A Nuclear Import Receptor is a protein which can bind to RAN-GTP or a Cargo Protein (mutually exclusive). It has poor binding affinity for RAN-GDP.
A cargo protein is any protein carried in or out by import or export receptors.
What is a Nuclear Export Receptor?
It is a protein which can only bind it’s cargo protein if RAN-GTP is bound to it. It has low affinity for RAN-GDP (and no affinity for the cargo protein once RAN-GTP leaves).
Explain Nuclear Import.
A Nuclear Import Receptor binds a cargo protein. It travels into the nucleus. Inside the nucleus is where RAN-GTP dwells. RAN-GTP binds to the nuclear import receptor, either after it has already released its cargo protein or making it release the cargo protein as it binds. With RAN-GTP bound, the Nuclear Import Receptor cannot bind its cargo protein. Once it leaves the nucleus, RAN-GAP jumps it, and catalyzes GTP–>GDP. GDP has poor affinity for its current binding site, and falls off, leaving the site open for a binding protein.
Explain Nuclear Export.
A Nuclear Export Protein must bind RAN-GTP to bind its cargo protein. RAN-GTP is in the nucleus, so we will start our tail with a Nuclear Export Protein who has bound both RAN-GTP and its cargo protein. Once it has bound its cargo protein, the Nuclear Export Protein skedaddles to the cytosol, where RAN-GAP takes RAN-GTP –> RAN-GDP in ~10 ms. Binding of cargo protein is now impossible, so it leaves. The Nuclear Export Protein is returned to the nucleus, ready to undertake its journey once again.
Even though the slides didn’t describe one, why must there be a mechanism to move RAN-GDP into the nucleus?
Because RAN-GEF exists only in the nucleus. RAN-GDP rarely releases GDP without RAN-GEF and there is little RAN-GTP in the cytosol (due to RAN-GAP).
Given this, we know the only way to get more RAN-GTP, is to move RAN-GDP to the nucleus, where RAN-GEF can release GDP and GTP can bind to RAN.
Is GTP or GDP kept in higher concentrations in the cell? How much higher.
GTP is kept ~20x higher. Therefor by statistics alone it will bind to RAN more often.
What are nuclear lamina?
They are an internal structure of the membrane that looks like burlap sacks, and binds to protein pores.