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. 1991 Oct;11(10):5137–5146. doi: 10.1128/mcb.11.10.5137

A hydrophobic protein sequence can override a nuclear localization signal independently of protein context.

K van Zee 1, F Appel 1, E Fanning 1
PMCID: PMC361531  PMID: 1656223

Abstract

Simian virus 40 T antigen is specifically targeted to the nucleus by the signal Pro-Lys-Lys-128-Lys-Arg-Lys-Val. We have previously described the isolation of a simian virus 40 T-antigen mutant, 676FS, which retains a wild-type nuclear localization signal but fails to accumulate properly in the nucleus and interferes with the nuclear localization of heterologous proteins. Here we report that the hydrophobic carboxy-terminal sequence novel to 676FS T antigen overrides the nuclear localization signal if fused to other proteins, thereby anchoring the proteins in the cytoplasm. We discuss possible mechanisms by which missorting of such a fusion protein could interfere with the nuclear transport of heterologous proteins.

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