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. 2015 Aug 29;4:e08647. doi: 10.7554/eLife.08647

KPNB1 mediates PER/CRY nuclear translocation and circadian clock function

Yool Lee 1, A Reum Jang 2, Lauren J Francey 1, Amita Sehgal 2, John B Hogenesch 1,*
Editor: Achim Kramer
PMCID: PMC4597257  PMID: 26319354

Abstract

Regulated nuclear translocation of the PER/CRY repressor complex is critical for negative feedback regulation of the circadian clock of mammals. However, the precise molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we report that KPNB1, an importin β component of the ncRNA repressor of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NRON) ribonucleoprotein complex, mediates nuclear translocation and repressor function of the PER/CRY complex. RNAi depletion of KPNB1 traps the PER/CRY complex in the cytoplasm by blocking nuclear entry of PER proteins in human cells. KPNB1 interacts mainly with PER proteins and directs PER/CRY nuclear transport in a circadian fashion. Interestingly, KPNB1 regulates the PER/CRY nuclear entry and repressor function, independently of importin α, its classical partner. Moreover, inducible inhibition of the conserved Drosophila importin β in lateral neurons abolishes behavioral rhythms in flies. Collectively, these data show that KPNB1 is required for timely nuclear import of PER/CRY in the negative feedback regulation of the circadian clock.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.001

Research organism: D. melanogaster, human, mouse

eLife digest

Most organisms have an internal clock—known as the circadian clock—that regulates many aspects of their biology and behavior in roughly 24-hr long cycles. In animals, the core of the circadian clock is made of two ‘activator’ proteins and two ‘repressor’ proteins that inhibit the activators so that the levels of all four proteins in cells fluctuate over the cycle.

The activator proteins switch on the genes that encode the repressor proteins. This increases the production of the repressor proteins in an area of the cell called the cytoplasm. The repressor proteins then bind to each other and then move into the nucleus of the cell to inactivate the activator proteins. However, it was not clear how the repressor proteins move into the nucleus.

Lee et al. used a technique called ‘RNA interference’ to study the circadian clock in human cells and fruit flies. The experiments show that a protein called importin β enables the repressor proteins to move into the nucleus. Importin β directly interacted with only one of the repressor proteins (called PER). Previous studies have shown that importin β is able to interact with another protein called importin α, but Lee et al.'s results show that this interaction is not important for importin β's role in the movement of the repressor proteins.

Blocking importin β activity resulted in the loss of circadian rhythms in both human cells and fruit flies, which suggests that importin β performs the same role in many different animals. The circadian clock is disrupted in many cancers, so Lee et al.'s findings may also help to lead us to new treatments to fight these diseases.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.002

Introduction

Nearly all organisms have circadian clocks, internal timing systems that anticipate and adapt physiology and behavior to daily changes in the light–dark cycle. In eukaryotes, the clock is an interlocked transcriptional–translational feedback loop, which drives rhythmic expression of both core clock genes that make up the oscillator and clock-output genes that drive biological rhythms. These include rhythms in the sleep wake cycle, body temperature, hormone secretion, and energy metabolism (Reppert and Weaver, 2002; Bass and Takahashi, 2010).

Many components and the molecular mechanism of the circadian clock are conserved between flies and mammals. Conserved components include the bHLH-PAS transactivators, CLOCK/NPAS2 (fly Clk) and BMAL1 (fly Cyc). This heterodimer binds E-box elements in the promoters of two families of transcriptional repressors, the PER1/PER2/PER3 (fly Per) and CRY1/CRY2 (fly Cry) genes. Once translated, PERs and CRYs (Per and Tim in flies) accumulate in a cytoplasmic complex and then translocate into the nucleus to repress the CLOCK-BMAL1 heterodimer, thereby repressing their own transcription (Panda et al., 2002). This primary negative-feedback loop is complemented by an ancillary loop, which while conserved, has different components in mammals and flies. In mammals, the ROR element binding repressors REV-ERBα/β and activators RORα/β/γ drive rhythmic expression of BMAL1. In flies, vrille (dVRI) or PAR-domain protein-1 (dPDP1) make up this ancillary loop and stabilize the Drosophila clock by driving rhythmic expression of Clk (Yu and Hardin, 2006). Further modulation of these feedback circuits occurs at the post-translational level as core clock proteins undergo phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and protein degradation by several conserved kinases (CKIδ/CKIε, GSK3β; double-time [dDBT] and shaggy [dSGG]), phosphatases (PP2A; dPP2A), and E3 ubiquitin ligases (FBXL3, FBXL21; dSLMB1) (Gallego and Virshup, 2007; Hirano et al., 2013; Yoo et al., 2013).

KPNB1 is a nuclear import receptor that mediates docking of nuclear localization signal (NLS)-containing cargo bound to importin α to the nuclear envelope, thereby facilitating nuclear entry of the target protein (van der Watt et al., 2013). KPNB1 can also directly recognize the cargo and facilitate nuclear transport independently of importin α (Lam et al., 1999; Forwood et al., 2001; Ghildyal et al., 2005). In several intensive molecular analyses, PER1/2 and CRY1/2, have been found to contain a functional NLS for their nuclear entry and transcriptional feedback function (Vielhaber et al., 2000; Miyazaki et al., 2001; Hirayama et al., 2003; Zhu et al., 2003). Furthermore, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of PER proteins, in conjunction with protein dimerization, phosphorylation and turnover, is critical for clock function (Yagita et al., 2000, 2002). However, the specific carrier molecules responsible for nuclear translocation of the clock proteins have not been fully elucidated. Interestingly, a previous biochemical and cellular study reported that nuclear transport of mouse Cry2 is mediated by its direct interaction with importin α family members (RCH1, QIP-1, NPI-2) (Sakakida et al., 2005). However, the functional relevance of these factors in the clock was not evaluated (Sakakida et al., 2005). Moreover, the role of importin β was not investigated.

In recent studies, KPNB1 was identified as a key nuclear importin component of ncRNA repressor of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) (NRON) (lncRNA repressor of the NFAT) RNA-protein-scaffold complex containing several kinases, CKIε, GSK3β, and DYRK2 that regulate NFAT phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in human and Drosophila cells (Gwack et al., 2006; Liu et al., 2011; Sharma et al., 2011). Notably, most of these kinases are also well-known to regulate phosphorylation-related proteolysis and nuclear entry of circadian clock proteins. These data suggested that the clock may share a common molecular mechanism of nuclear translocation with NFAT.

Here, we tested this hypothesis and report that KPNB1 mediates circadian nuclear translocation and feedback repression activities of the PER/CRY complex through direct complex formation, independently of importin α. Loss of KPNB1 abolished not only rhythmic gene expression in human cells, but also circadian behavior in Drosophila. Collectively, these results highlight the evolutionarily conserved role of the KPNB1 in regulating nuclear translocation and function of the circadian clock.

Results

KPNB1 is a required for nuclear translocation of PER/CRY

The NRON complex is composed of a variety of proteins involved in signal transduction, proteolysis, and nuclear transport of NFAT (Willingham et al., 2005; Sharma et al., 2011). We noted that three of these components, CK1ε (dco, Dbt), GSK3β (sgg), and DYRK1a (mnb), are clock components in both flies and mammals. Moreover, NFAT nuclear translocation has been suggested to be mediated by KPNB1 (Willingham et al., 2005; Sharma et al., 2011). Thus we hypothesized that KPNB1 would also be closely involved in nuclear entry of the PER/CRY complex and thus circadian clock function.

To test this, first, we explored how KPNB1 knockdown affects cellular localization of the core clock factors. Interestingly, in immunofluorescence (IF) analysis of cells expressing several flag-tagged clock proteins, knockdown of KPNB1 completely blocked (PER1, PER2), partly blocked (CRY1), or didn't significantly block (CRY2, REVERBα, CLOCK, CHRONO [Anafi et al., 2014]) nuclear accumulation (Figure 1—figure supplement 1). Similar to the flag-tagged proteins, microscopy and immunoblot analysis of cells expressing the Venus (V)-tagged clock proteins (PER1-V, PER2-V, CRY1-V, CRY2-V), KPNB1 knockdown markedly blocked PER1 and PER2 localization and slightly or negligibly effected CRY1 and CRY2 nuclear localization (Figure 1A,B). In many previous studies, PER and CRY proteins have been shown to work together (Tamanini et al., 2005). Hence, we looked into the effect of KPNB1 knockdown on the subcellular localization of various PERs/CRYs complexes using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) (Shyu et al., 2006). The BiFC assay showed that KPNB1 depletion significantly impaired nuclear localization of various combinations of PER and CRY proteins (Figure 1C). Notably, nuclear accumulation of the PER2/CRY1 complex was totally blocked by KPNB1 knockdown (Figure 1C). In addition to ectopically expressed clock proteins, KPNB1 depletion substantially increased cytoplasmic accumulation of endogenous PER1/2 and CRY1/2 proteins thus reducing their relative levels in nuclei in most cells (Figure 1D, Figure 1—figure supplement 2). Taken together, these evidence show that KPNB1 serves as an integral nuclear transport receptor of the PER/CRY complex.

Figure 1. KPNB1 knockdown blocks nuclear translocation of PERs/CRYs complex.

(A) Fluorescence microscopic analysis of the effect of KPNB1 depletion on subcellular localization of PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2. Representative fluorescence images of U2 OS cells expressing Venus-tagged PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 (PER1-V, PER2-V, CRY1-V, CRY2-V) in the presence of control and KPNB1 siRNA (left). Quantification of the subcellular distribution of the imaged cells (right). Subcellular localization is categorized as nuclear (Nuc.; orange), cytoplasmic and nuclear (Cyto./Nuc.; gray), and cytoplasmic (Cyto.; blue-green). More than 100 fluorescent cells for each of the images were evaluated. Scale bar: 30 µm. (B) Immunoblot analysis of nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts of U2 OS cells expressing PER1-V, PER2-V, CRY1-V, and CRY2-V in the presence of control and KPNB1 siRNA using the indicated antibodies to GFP for Venus fused proteins (αGFP), KPNB1 (αKPNB1), Tubulin for cytoplasmic fraction (C) marker (αTubulin), and TATA box binding protein (TBP) for nuclear fraction (N) marker (αTBP). Representative images from two independent experiments are shown. (C) Bi-molecular fluorescence complementation analysis of the effect of KPNB1 depletion on subcellular localization of PER1/2-CRY1/2 dimeric complex in various combinations in U2 OS cells. Representative fluorescence images of cells expressing Venus N terminal (VN) or C-terminal (VC)-tagged PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 (PER1-VN, PER2-VN, CRY1-VC, CRY2-VC) as indicated combinations in the presence of control (siCTL) and KPNB1 siRNA (siKPNB1) (left). Quantification of the subcellular distribution of the imaged cells (right). Subcellular localization is categorized as nuclear (Nuc.; orange), cytoplasmic and nuclear (Cyto./Nuc.; gray), and cytoplasmic (Cyto.; blue-green). More than fluorescent 100 cells for each of the images were evaluated. Scale bar: 30 µm. (D) Immunoblot analysis of nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts of U2 OS cells in the presence of control and KPNB1 siRNA using the indicated antibodies for endogenous PER1 (αPER1), PER1 (αPER2), CRY1 (αCRY1), CRY2 (αCRY2), KPNB1 (αKPNB1), Tubulin for cytoplasmic fraction (C) marker (αTubulin), and Lamin for nuclear fraction (N) marker (αLamin). Representative images from three independent experiments are shown.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.003

Figure 1.

Figure 1—figure supplement 1. Inhibition of KPNB1 alters nuclear localization of core clock repressor proteins.

Figure 1—figure supplement 1.

(A) Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of KPNB1 knockdown efficiency in control (siCTL) and KPNB1 siRNA (siKPNB1)-treated U2 OS cells. The data presented are the means ± S.E. of triplicate samples. (B) Representative images of IF detection of endogenous expression of KPNB1 using anti-KPNB1 (αKPNB1) in control and KPNB1 siRNA-treated U2 OS cells. Scale bar: 10 μm. (C) Fluorescence microscopic analysis of KPNB1 knockdown effect on subcellular localization of PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY1 in U2 OS cells. Representative images were captured after immunostaining cells expressing flag-tagged PER1, PER2, CRY1, CRY2, CLOCK, REV-VERBα, CHRONO (PER1Flag, PER2Flag, CRY1Flag, CRY2Flag, CLOCKFlag, REV-VERBαFlag, CHRONOFlag) in the presence of control or KPNB1 siRNA (left panels). The images were taken with fluorescence imaging microscopy using specific filter sets for TRITC (Red; Flag tagged protein) and DAPI (Blue; Nuclei). DAPI (Blue) merged images was presented in each of the image panels. For quantification analysis, subcellular localization is categorized as nuclear (Nuc.; orange), cytoplasmic and nuclear (Cyto./Nuc.; gray), and cytoplasmic (Cyto.; blue-green) (right panels). More than 100 cells for each of the images were evaluated. Scale bar: 50 μm.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.004
Figure 1—figure supplement 2. IF analyses of KPNB1 depletion effect on subcellular localization of endogenous PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY1.

Figure 1—figure supplement 2.

Representative images were captured after immunostaining endogenous PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 with anti-PER1 (αPER1), anti-PER2 (αPER2), anti-CRY1 (αCRY1), or anti-CRY2 (αCRY2) in control (siCTL) and KPNB1 siRNA (siKPNB1)-treated U2 OS cells. DAPI (Blue) merged images was presented below each of the image panels. Scale bar: 20 μm. For quantification of subcellular localization, nuclear (Nuc.; orange) and cytoplasmic (Cyto.; blue-green) signals in cells (CTL, n = 10; siKPNB1, n = 10) for each of the image panels were measured using densitometer and presented in the bottom. Asteriks denote the statistical significance (***p < 0.0005, by Student's t-test).
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.005
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KPNB1 regulates rhythmic nuclear localization and repressor activity of PER/CRY through direct complex formation

To investigate the detailed mechanism of the PER/CRY nuclear entry by KPNB1, we performed co-immunoprecipitation experiments with cells expressing the Venus-tagged PER and CRY proteins. KPNB1 interacted more strongly with PER1 and PER2 proteins than either CRY1 or CRY2 (Figure 2, Figure 2—figure supplement 1A,B). This suggested that PER proteins may play the leading role in PERs/CRYs nuclear translocation with KPNB1. In support of this, by IF KPNB1 co-localized with both cytoplasmic and nuclear PER2 (Figure 2B, Figure 2—figure supplement 1C). Correspondingly, KPNB1 strongly interacted with the endogenous PER2 in co-immunoprecipitation analysis using mouse liver tissue extracts (Figure 2C). To investigate the circadian role of KPNB1 in nuclear localization of PER/CRY, we prepared cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts from mouse liver tissues collected at 4 hr intervals for 24 hr in constant darkness. By immunoblot analysis, KPNB1 exhibited a circadian pattern of nucleocytoplasmic localization with its nuclear abundance peaking at circadian time (CT) 14–18, when the intensive nuclear accumulation of PER2 and CRY1 occurred (Figure 2D). Concomitantly, we observed the significant decrease of mRNA expression of E-box dependent clock genes (Per1, Dbp, Nr1d1, Nr1d2) targeted by the clock repressors in their nuclear accumulation phase (Figure 2E). Thus, these data clearly suggest that KPNB1 is responsible for circadian nuclear import and repressor activity of the PER/CRY complex in clock gene expression in mouse liver.

Figure 2. KPNB1 interacts with PER2 for circadian nuclear entry and repressor activity of PER/CRY.

(A) Immunoprecipitation (IP) analysis of interactions of KPNB1 with PER2. U2 OS cells were transfected with Venus-tagged PER2, and then immunoprecipitated with anti-GFP antibody (IP: αGFP). The immunoprecipitates were analyzed by immunoblotting with anti-KPNB1 (IB: αKPNB1) or anti-GFP antibody (IB: αGFP). Representative images from three independent experiments are shown. (B) Immunofluorescence (IF) analyses of subcellular colocalization of PER2 with KPNB1. U2 OS cells expressing PER2-V were fixed and immunostained with antibody to endogenous KPNB1. The representative images were captured by fluorescence imaging microscopy using specific filter sets for FITC (green; PER-V), TRITC (Red; αKPNB1), and DAPI (Blue; Nuclei). See Figure 2—figure supplement 1. Scale bar: 10 µm. (C) Coimmunoprecipitation of PER2 with endogenous KPNB1. Liver extracts were immunoprecipitated (IP) with anti-KPNB1 or control IgG antibodies, and the immunoprecipitated proteins were probed with antibodies to PER2, KPNB1 as well as GAPDH as negative control and IgG light chain as a positive control for the IP. Representative images from three independent experiments are shown. (D) Immunoblotting analysis using cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts prepared from mouse liver tissues collected at 4 hr interval as indicated for 24 hr in constant darkness (CT: Circadian time). Anti-PER2, anti-CRY1, and anti-KPNB1 antibodies were used for detecting endogenous PER2, CRY1, and KPNB1 proteins. Anti-Tubulin antibody (αTubulin) for cytoplasmic fraction (Cyto) marker and anti-Lamin (αLamin) for nuclear fraction (Nuc) marker were used for loading controls respectively. Representative images from two independent experiments are shown. (E) Circadian expressions of endogenous clock gene mRNAs (Per1, Dbp, Nr1d1, Nr1d2) were determined by quantitative RT-PCR analysis of mouse liver tissue samples collected at 4 hr interval as indicated for 24 hr in constant darkness (CT; Circadian time). The data presented are the means ± S.E. of triplicate samples.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.006

Figure 2.

Figure 2—figure supplement 1. KPNB1 interacts and colocalizes with PER2.

Figure 2—figure supplement 1.

(A) IP analysis of interactions of KPNB1 with PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2. U2 OS Cells were transfected with Venus-tagged PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 (PER1-V, PER2-V, CRY1-V, CRY2-V) and then immunoprecipitated with anti-GFP antibody (IP: αGFP). The immunoprecipitates were analyzed by immunoblotting with anti-KPNB1(IB: αKPNB1) or anti-GFP antibody (IB: αGFP). Representative images from three independent experiments are shown. (B) The intensity of the immunoprecipited protein bands in the data shown in (A) was quantified by densitometry (ImageJ), and the data are shown as means ± S.E. of three independent experiments. (C) IF analyses of subcellular colocalization of PER2 with KPNB1. U2 OS cells expressing PER2-V were fixed and immunostained with antibody to endogenous KPNB1. The representative images were captured by fluorescence imaging microscopy using specific filter sets for FITC (green; PER2-V), TRITC (Red; αKPNB1), and DAPI (Blue; Nuclei). Scale bar: 10 μm.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.007
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KPNB1 regulates transcriptional repressor activity of PERs/CRYs and circadian gene expression independently of importin α (KPNA2)

To investigate the role of KPNB1 in clock function, we used RNAi to knockdown KPNB1 in U2 OS cells and found substantially elevated Per1 promoter activity, consistent with the hypothesis that this knockdown inhibited the localization and function of the PER/CRY complex (Figure 3A, Figure 3—figure supplement 1). In contrast, the parallel depletion of the other NRON complex nucleocytoplasmic transport proteins, TNPO1, CSE1L, did not significantly affect their repressor activities (Figure 3A, Figure 3—figure supplement 1, [Willingham et al., 2005]). In support of this, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis targeting the first E-box region of human PER1 (hPer1) promoter revealed significantly less recruitment of both PER1 and PER2 to the CLOCK/BMAL1 responsive element in the KPNB1-depleted U2 OS cells (Figure 3B–D). Moreover, the overall expression levels of several E-box dependent genes (PER1, CRY1, DBP, REV-ERBβ) were upregulated as a result of KPNB1 knockdown (Figure 3E), consistent with loss of repressor function. Conversely, overexpression of KPNB1 markedly down-regulated CLOCK/BMAL1-activated PER1 transcription, probably by facilitating PER/CRY localization to the nucleus (Figure 3—figure supplement 2). Correspondingly, KPNB1 overexpression significantly down-regulated endogenous mRNA expression of these E-box-regulated genes with no significant effect on BMAL1 expression (Figure 3E).

Figure 3. KPNB1 mediates PERs/CRYs-regulated transcription of E-box dependent clock genes.

(A) HEK293T cells were transiently transfected with Per1-Luc reporter construct alone or cotransfected with plasmids expressing CLOCK, BMAL1, PER1, PER2, CRY1, CRY2, in the presence of control (siCTL: black), CSE1L (siCSE1L: light green), KPNB1 (siKPNB1; gray red), and TNPO1 siRNA (siTNPO1: violet) as indicated. After 24 hr, the cells were lysed and Per1 promoter-driven luciferase activities were measured and normalized with pRL-TK activity. Results of one representative experiment of three independent experiments are shown. (B) Schematic diagram of the human PER1 promoter and primers used for ChIP assay. (C, D) ChIP assay of PER1 or PER2 binding to the E box in hPER1. Control (siCTL: black) and KPNB1 siRNA (siKPNB1; gray red)-treated cells (U2 OS) were subjected to ChIP assays using anti-PER1 (αPER1) or anti-PER2 (αPER2) antibody. ChIP DNA samples were quantified by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The data presented are the means ± S.E. of triplicate samples (**p < 0.005, *p < 0.05, by Student's t-test). (E) Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis of expression of endogenous PER1, CRY1, DBP, REVERBβ, and BMAL1 mRNAs in control (siCTL: black), KPNB1-depleted (siKPNB1; gray red) or overexpressed (KPNB1OV; blue green) cells (U2 OS). The data presented are the means ± S.E. of triplicate samples (**p < 0.005, *p < 0.05, by Student's t-test).

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.008

Figure 3.

Figure 3—figure supplement 1. Depletion of KPNB1 reduces repressional activity of PER and CRY proteins.

Figure 3—figure supplement 1.

(A) Effects of knockdown of TNPO1, KPNB1, CSE1L on Per1 promoter activity. HEK293T cells were transiently transfected with Per1-Luc reporter construct in the presence of control siRNA (siCTL: dark blue) or four siRNAs targeting each of CSE1L (siCSE1L 1–4: light green), KPNB1(siKPNB1 1–4; gray red), and TNPO1 siRNA (siTNPO1 1–4: violet) as indicated. After 24 hr, cells were lysed and Per1 promoter-driven luciferase activities were measured and normalized with pRL-TK activity. Results of one representative experiment of three independent experiments are shown. (B) Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of knockdown efficiencies of four siRNAs targeting each of CSE1L (siCSE1L 1–4: light green), KPNB1 (siKPNB1 1–4; gray red), and TNPO1 siRNA (siTNPO1 1–4: violet) introduced in HEK293T cells as indicated.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.009
Figure 3—figure supplement 2. Deletion of KPNA2, importin α binding domain is not required for regulatory function of KPNB1 in clock gene transcription.

Figure 3—figure supplement 2.

(A) Schematic illustration of full-length (1–876) and mutant (1–771) KPNB1 engineered with a deletion of the importin-α binding domain on the C-terminus. (B) Deletion of the importin-α binding domain does not affect the down-regulation of Per1 promoter activity by KPNB1. HEK293T cells were transiently transfected with Per1-Luc reporter construct alone (left) or cotransfected with plasmids expressing full-length and mutant KPNB1 (KPNB1-WT, KPNB1-[1–771]) as indicated combination. After 24 hr, cells were subjected to lysis and Per1 promoter-driven luciferase activities were measured and normalized with pRL-TK activity. The data presented are the means ± S.E. of triplicate samples. (C) Deletion of the importin-α binding domain does not affect the down-regulation of CLOCK-BMAL1-mediated Per1 transcription by KPNB1. HEK293T cells were transiently transfected with Per1-Luc reporter construct alone (left) or cotransfected with plasmids expressing CLOCK, BMAL1, full-length or importin-α binding domain deficient mutant of KPNB1 (KPNB1-WT, KPNB1-[1–771]) as indicated combination. Similar transcriptional analysis was performed, as in (B).
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.010
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Notably, the KPNB1 activity was not dependent on importin α, a well-known nuclear transport partner, as deletion of the importin α binding domain of KPNB1 did not significantly affect the transcriptional regulation (Figure 3—figure supplement 2A–C) (Kutay et al., 1997). Importantly, knockdown of KPNB1 in U2 OS cells severely disturbed circadian bioluminescence reporter activity driven by the Per2 promoter, whereas depletion of importin α1 (KPNA2) or importin α5 (KPNA1) did not affect the circadian rhythmicity (Figure 4A,B, Figure 4—figure supplement 1A,B, Figure 4—figure supplement 3A,B). These knockdown phenotypes correspond to previous reports showing that most of the other importin α isoforms were not critical for circadian rhythmicity (Wu et al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2009). In conjunction with these results, fluorescence microscopy analysis revealed that KPNA2 or KPNA1 depletion did not alter PER2 nuclear localization, which was completely blocked by KPNB1 depletion in U2 OS cells stably expressing PER2-Venus (Figure 4—figure supplement 1C,D, Figure 4—figure supplement 3C,D). On the other hand, KPNB1 depletion severely disrupted circadian transcription of several clock genes (PER1, PER2) in dexamethasone (Dex)-synchronized cells with altered nuclear accumulation of PER and CRY proteins (Figure 4C,D). Taken together, these data show that KPNB1 gates PER and CRY localization to the nucleus independently of importin α and plays an indispensable role in negative feedback regulation of the circadian clock in human cells.

Figure 4. KPNB1 is required for circadian gene expression.

(A) Immunoblot analysis of KPNB1 knockdown efficiency with anti-KPNB1 (αKPNB1) in control (siCTL) and KPNB1 siRNA (siKPNB1)-treated U2 OS cells. Anti-GAPDH antibody (αGAPDH) was used as a loading control. (B) Bioluminescence recordings of dexamethasone (Dex)-synchronized control (siCTL) and increasing dose of KPNB1 siRNA (siKPNB1 0.5×/1×)-treated U2 OS cells expressing Per2 promoter-driven destabilized luciferase (left; pPer2-dLuc). The Bioluminescence recordings were detrended by a 24-hr moving average subtraction (right). (C) Altered rhythmic expression of KPNB1, PER1, PER2, and CRY1 transcripts by KPNB1 depletion. mRNA expressions of the target genes were determined by quantitative RT-PCR in control or KPNB1-depleted U2 OS cells over the course of 44 hr after 24 hr upon Dex treatment. The data are shown with the mean value of triplicate samples in each time point. (D) KPNB1 knockdown alters rhythmic nuclear accumulation of PER and CRY proteins. Immunoblotting analysis using cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts prepared from control or KPNB1-depleted U2 OS cells collected at 4 hr interval over the course of 44 hr after 24 hr of Dex treatment. Anti-PER2, anti-CRY1, anti CRY2, and anti-KPNB1 antibodies were used for detecting endogenous PER2, CRY1, CRY2 and KPNB1 proteins. Anti-Tubulin antibody (αTubulin) for cytoplasmic fraction (Cyto) marker and anti-TATA binding protein (αTBP) for nuclear fraction (Nuc) marker were used for loading controls respectively. Representative images from two independent experiments are shown.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.011

Figure 4.

Figure 4—figure supplement 1. Inhibition of KPNA2 does not affect PER2 nuclear localization and cellular clock rhythmicity.

Figure 4—figure supplement 1.

(A) Immunoblot analysis of KPNA2 (importin-α) knockdown efficiency with anti-KPNA2 (αKPNA2) in U2 OS cells treated with control siRNA (siCTL) or each of three KPNA2 siRNAs (siKPNA2-1, siKPNA2-2, siKPNA2-3). Anti-GAPDH antibody (αGAPDH) was used as a loading control. (B) KPNA2 depletion does not affect circadian promotor activity rhythm. 48 hr after treatment with control siRNA (siCTL) or each of three KPNA2 siRNAs (siKPNA2-1, siKPNA2-2, siKPNA2-3) in pPer2-dLuc reporter cells (U2 OS), the cells were synchronized with Dex and monitored in real-time bioluminescence recorder. (C) Representative images were captured after immunostaining endogenous KPNA2 with anti-KPNA2 (αPER1) in control (siCTL) and KPNB1 siRNA (siKPNB1)-treated U2 OS cells. (D) KPNA2 depletion does not affect subcellular localization of PER2. Fluorescence microscopic analysis of the effect of KPNA2 or KPNB1 depletion on subcellular localization of PER2. Representative fluorescence images of U2OS cells stably expressing PER2-Venus (PER2-V) in the presence of control (siCTL: upper panels), KPNA2 (siKPNA2: middle panels), or KPNB1 siRNA (siKPBN1: lower panels) were captured by fluorescence imaging microscopy using specific filter sets for FITC (green; PER2-V) and and DAPI (Blue; Nuclei). (E) Effect of KPNA2 overexpression on PER2 localization. Representative fluorescence images of U2 OS cells stably expressing PER2-Venus (PER2-V) with the transfection of control (CTL-Sport6-OV: upper panels [20×]) or KPNA2 encoding plasmids (KPNA2-Sport6-OV: middle [20×] and bottom panels). The bottom panels show highly magnified images representative of middle panel images. The images were captured by fluorescence imaging microscopy using specific filter sets for FITC (green; PER2-V), TRITC (Red; αKPNA2), and DAPI (Blue; Nuclei).
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.012
Figure 4—figure supplement 2. Inhibition of KPNA2 does not affect CRY2 nuclear localization.

Figure 4—figure supplement 2.

(A) Immunoblot analysis of nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts of U2 OS cells in the presence of control and KPNA1 siRNA using the indicated antibodies for endogenous CRY2 (αCRY2) and KPNB1 (αKPNB1), Tubulin for cytoplasmic fraction (C) marker (αTubulin), and TATA binding protein (TBP) for nuclear fraction (N) marker (αTBP). (B) Fluorescence microscopic analysis of the effect of KPNA2 depletion on subcellular localization of CRY2. Representative fluorescence images of subcellular localization of endogenous CRY2 (upper panels), or ectopically expressed Flag-CRY2 (middle panels), CRY2-Venus (CRY2-V; lower panels) in U2 OS cells treated with control siRNA (siCTL; left panels) or KPNA2 siRNA (siKPNA2; right panels). The images were taken using specific filter sets for TRITC (Red; αCRY2, Flag-CRY2), FITC (green; PER2-V), and DAPI (Blue; Nuclei). DAPI (Blue) merged images was presented in each of the image panels.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.013
Figure 4—figure supplement 3. Inhibition of KPNA1 (importin α5) does not significantly affect PER2 and CRY2 nuclear localization and cellular clock rhythmicity.

Figure 4—figure supplement 3.

(A) Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of knockdown efficiencies of three siRNAs targeting KPNA1 (siKPNA1-1; gray red, siKPNA1-2; light green, siKPNA1-3; violet), introduced in U2 OS cells as indicated. (B) KPNA1 depletion does not affect circadian promotor activity rhythm. 48 hr after treatment with control siRNA (siCTL) or each of three KPNA1 siRNAs (siKPNA1-1, siKPNA1-2, siKPNA1-3) in pPer2-dLuc reporter cells, the cells were synchronized with Dex and monitored in real-time bioluminescence recorder. (C) KPNA1 depletion does not affect subcellular localization of PER2. Fluorescence microscopic analysis of the effect of KPNA1 or KPNB1 depletion on subcellular localization of PER2. Representative fluorescence images of U2 OS cells stably expressing PER2-Venus (PER2-V) in the presence of control (siCTL: upper panels), KPNA1 (siKPNA2: middle panels), or KPNB1 siRNA (siKPBN1: lower panels) were captured by fluorescence imaging microscopy using specific filter sets for FITC (green; PER2-V) and and DAPI (Blue; Nuclei). (D) Fluorescence microscopic analysis of the effect of KPNA1 depletion on subcellular localization of CRY2. Representative fluorescence images of subcellular localization of endogenous CRY2 (upper panels), or ectopically expressed Flag-CRY2 (middle panels), CRY2-Venus (CRY2-V; lower panels) in U2 OS cells treated with control siRNA (siCTL; left panels) or KPNA1 siRNA (siKPNA1; right panels). The images were taken using specific filter sets for TRITC (Red; αCRY2, Flag-CRY2), FITC (green; PER2-V), and DAPI (Blue; Nuclei). DAPI (Blue) merged images was presented in each of the image panels.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.014
Figure 4—figure supplement 4. KPNA isoforms are not critical for cellular rhythmicity.

Figure 4—figure supplement 4.

Knockdown of various KPNA isoforms does not significantly affect circadian promotor activity rhythm (Blue = Negative control [Control siRNA], Green = Positive control [CRY2 siRNA], Red = Data [Target KPNA siRNA]) (A) KPNA1 (importin α5), (B) KPNA3 (importin α4), (C) KPNA4 (importin α3), (D) KPNA5 (importin α6), (E) KPNA6 (importin α7), (F) KPNA7 (importin α8). Each of data set (A–F) was retrieved from BioGPS website; http://biogps.org (Wu et al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2009).
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.015
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Inhibition of a conserved complex member, importin β, abolishes rhythms in flies

The majority of core clock components are conserved between flies (cycle, clk, per, cry) and humans (BMAL1/BMAL2, CLOCK/NPAS2, PER1/PER2/PER3, CRY1/CRY2), across 600 million years of evolution. Indeed, the kinases that regulate PER/CRY translocation to the nucleus are also conserved (dbt, sg; CKIε/CKIδ, GSK3β). Because KPNB1 was required for rhythmicity in human cells, we investigated the role of the Drosophila ortholog, Fs(2)Ket, ketel, in the fly clock by RNAi followed by locomotor activity monitoring (Mason and Goldfarb, 2009). We used the UAS/Gal4 system to target UAS-ketel RNAi to clock cells in Drosophila (Brand and Perrimon, 1993). dicer was also co-expressed to increase the RNA interference effect (Dietzl et al., 2007). Behavioral analysis of flies expressing UAS ketel RNAi in central clock cells, targeted by the relatively weak Pigment dispersing factor (Pdf)-Gal4 driver, revealed that 62% of flies exhibited no rhythms in constant darkness (DD). Although 38% of flies were rhythmic, their rhythm strength determined by fast Fourier transform (FFT) value was low (Figure 5A–C, Supplementary file 1). With a strong tim-UAS-Gal4 driver that is expressed in all clock cells, 100% of flies were arrhythmic (Figure 5A,B, Supplementary file 1). To exclude possible developmental effects on behavioral phenotypes in ketel knockdown flies, we restricted the ketel dsRNA expression to adult PDF+ neurons using the pdf Gene Switch (pdf-GS). We crossed ketel RNAi transgenic flies with pdf-GS and then drove ketel dsRNAs expression with a drug (RU486) during adulthood (McGuire et al., 2004). After 6–7 days in constant darkness, this conditional knockdown of ketel also resulted in weak to arrhythmic locomotor activity (Figure 5D, Supplementary file 1). 81% of flies were arrhythmic and the rest showed weak rhythmicity with low FFT values (Figure 5E, Supplementary file 1). These results show that importin β in PDF+ neurons is required for normal locomotor rhythms in adult flies.

Figure 5. Inhibition of conserved importin β (ketel) abolishes circadian behavior in flies.

Figure 5.

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(A) Flies in which ketel was downregulated in PDF+ cells and in all clock neurons were assayed for rest/activity rhythms in constant dark (DD). (B) Summary of the circadian rhythms of various flies under DD. Quantification shows percentage of rhythmic (R, orange) and arrhythmic (AR, gray) flies (n = 16–26). (C) Some rhythmic Pdf-Gal4/+; dicer/+ flies showed weak rhythmicity with lower fast Fourier transform value compared to both ketel RNAi/+; dicer/+ and Pdf-GAL4/+; dicer/+ control flies (**p < 0.001, ***p < 0.0001, by Student's t-test) (See also Supplementary file 1). (D) ketel knockdown in PDF+ cells during adulthoods leads to a long period, which eventually degenerates into arrhythmia in DD. They were fed either 500 mM RU486 or ethanol (EtOH, vehicle control) from the time of entrainment. (E) Rhythm strength of rhythmic RU486-treated flies was lower than that of EtOH-treated control flies after 7 days in DD (*p < 0.05, by Student's t-test) (See also Supplementary file 1). (F, G) PDF expression in ketel knockdown flies was only detected in large lateral ventral neurons (l-LNvs), not in the small lateral ventral neurons (s-LNvs). Downregulation of KETEL in PDF+ cells impairs nuclear translocation of PER in l-LNvs. In RU486-treated flies, PER expression in l-LNvs was detected in cytoplasm at ZT1, a time when PER is nuclear in control flies (***p < 0.0001, by Student's t-test).

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.016

To investigate whether this behavioral phenotype is related to nuclear translocation of clock proteins, we determined the cellular localization of PER in RU486 treated pdf-GS > ketel RNAi flies at ZT1, when PER is nuclear in wild type flies. PDF is expressed in the large and small ventral lateral neurons (LNvs), so we focused on PER expression in these cells. In ketel knockdown flies, PER levels were low and primarily cytoplasmic in large LNvs, while PER staining was intensely nuclear in control flies (Figure 5F,G). The small LNvs were undetectable in ketel RNAi transgenic flies, as is also the case in other arrhythmic fly mutants such as Clk and cyc (Figure 5F, right panel images) (Park et al., 2000). Taken together, these data suggest that like mammalian importin β, Ketel mediates the nuclear localization of PER, and consequently, is required for functioning of the core circadian clock.

Discussion

Timely nuclear translocation of the PER/CRY (or Per/Tim) repressor complex is a critical and conserved step in maintaining rhythmicity in metazoans. However, the functional carrier molecules responsible for nuclear localization of the feedback regulators have yet to be determined. Our study provides the first evidence that KPNB1 plays a key role as a nuclear transporter of the PER/CRY complex in negative feedback repression in both mammalian and fly clocks (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Proposed model for KPNB1 function in nuclear translocation of PERs/CRYs controlling negative feedback regulation of the molecular clock.

Figure 6.

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KPNB1 directly associates with PERs/CRYs and guides their nuclear entry thus facilitating negative feedback repression of CLOCK/BMAL1-mediated transcription of the repressor genes.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.017

Many mammalian and Drosophila clock studies have shown that phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of PERs and CRYs are closely coupled (Gallego and Virshup, 2007). We noted that CKIε, GSK3β, and DYRK2, clock kinases in both mammals and flies, are also constituents of the NRON complex, which regulates cytoplasmic to nuclear translocation of NFAT and consequently its function in the immune systems (Willingham et al., 2005). The NRON complex also contains several molecules involved in protein stability and, critical for this study, nuclear translocation (KPNB1, TNPO1, CSEL1). Subsequent study showed that KPNB1 is the major transport receptor for NFAT nuclear entry and activity upon its dephosphorylation (Sharma et al., 2011).

Thus, we investigated the role of KPNB1 on nuclear localization of PER/CRY complex (Figure 1, Figure 1—figure supplement 1). We found that KPNB1 knockdown trapped PER and CRY proteins at the nuclear membrane, preventing their nuclear accumulation. Consistent with this, in our transcriptional study, we found KPNB1 knockdown significantly relieved PER1 transcriptional repression by the PER/CRY complex. Depletion of the other NRON complex translocation factors, TNPO1 and CSE1L, did not (Figure 3, Figure 3—figure supplement 1), nor did they interact with PER or CRY proteins (data not shown). These data suggest a specific role of KPNB1 as a nuclear transport receptor directly involved in negative feedback regulation of the core clock, in addition to its previously described role in NFAT signaling.

Despite not playing a role in PER/CRY function, both TNPO1 and CSE1L displayed circadian gene expression in various mouse tissues, and also affected circadian period length (TNPO1) or were required for cellular rhythms (CSE1L) when silenced ([Pizarro et al., 2013], data not shown). Interestingly, the recent in situ hybridization analysis showed that TNPO1 exhibits circadian expression profiles in its mRNA in SCN (Sato et al., 2011). Thus, these proteins may also play a role in mammalian clock function independent from PER/CRY, perhaps regulating import and export of other clock related components.

Notably, in our biochemical analyses, KPNB1 strongly interacted with PER proteins and exhibited rhythmic nucleocytoplasmic localization and concurrent nuclear accumulation with PER/CRY in transcriptional repression phase (Figure 2). These data suggest KPNB1 drives circadian nuclear entry of PER/CRY. This raises the question: what causes phase-dependent KPNB1 nuclear entry? Most recently, it was reported that intracellular calcium levels regulate importin β-dependent nuclear import (Kaur et al., 2014). Further, a previous model suggests that KPNB1 nuclear-translocates NFAT immediately after stimulation dependent intracellular calcium influx (Sharma et al., 2011). In this regard, several studies have demonstrated the important function of Ca2+ dynamics in circadian clock regulation. For example, periodic Ca2+ influx in the cytosol, resulting from circadian variation in membrane potential or by the release of Ca(2+) from ryanodine-sensitive stores in SCN neurons, is a critical process for circadian pacemaker function (Ikeda et al., 2003; Lundkvist et al., 2005). Based on this evidence, we postulate that cytosolic Ca2+ rhythms contribute to driving timely nuclear localization of KPNB1 and its PER/CRY cargo as a critical step in negative feedback regulation of the clock.

In early models, KPNB1 mediates docking of the importin α/substrate complex in the nuclear pore. More recent evidence shows that KPNB1 can function as nuclear transport receptor independently of importin α by directly recognizing substrates such as CREB, AP-1 transcription factors, and parathyroid hormone-related protein (Lam et al., 1999; Forwood et al., 2001; Ghildyal et al., 2005). Interestingly, a previous report showed that importin α isoforms (RCH, QIP-1, NPI-2) mediate nuclear localization of CRY2 through direct interactions but did not investigate the functional consequence of this interaction (Sakakida et al., 2005). In this regard, our data suggest that in mammals KPNB1 mediates nuclear localization of the PER/CRY complex independently of importin α, as overexpression of a KPNB1 mutant lacking an importin α interaction domain had a similar phenotype (Figure 1, Figure 3—figure supplement 2). Consistent with this, both KPNA2 and KPNA1, the well-known KPNB1 interacting importin alpha proteins (importin α1, importin α5), when depleted in cells, did not affect circadian rhythmicity or subcellular localization of PER2 or CRY2 protein (Figure 4—figure supplement 1, Figure 4—figure supplement 2, Figure 4—figure supplement 3). In a recent report, cytoplasmic retention of PER proteins was accelerated by KPNA2 overexpression in mouse stem cells (Umemura et al., 2014). However, intriguingly we found that KPNA2 overexpression substantially reduced cells expressing PER2-Venus protein in our imaging studies (Figure 4—figure supplement 1E). Moreover, both the endogenous and overexpressed KPNA2 protein localized predominantly in the nucleus, which was confirmed by nuclear cytoplasmic fraction Western analysis (Figure 4—figure supplement 1C,E, Figure 4—figure supplement 2A). This suggests that KPNA2 might regulate PER2 protein level through an unknown mechanism in U2 OS cells. Thus, we speculate that these different results are likely due to the different cell types and species used.

On the other hand, knockdown of KPNB1 had strong (PER1, PER2), modest (CRY1), or no effect (CRY2) on single tagged PER and CRY proteins, while it had strong effects on all combinations of PER/CRY complexes (Figure 1A–C). Similarly, knockdown of KPNB1 increased cytoplasmic retention of endogenous PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 to varying degrees, probably through complex interactions (Figure 1D, Figure1—figure supplement 2). The immunoprecipitation analysis showed that KPNB1 interacted strongly with PERs compared with CRYs (Figure 2—figure supplement 1A). These data suggest that the PERs mediate interaction with KPNB1 and gate nuclear translocation of PER/CRY complex. This is reminiscent of a previous report indicating that the nuclear entry of CRY is mainly dependent on PER, in vivo (Lee et al., 2001). Finally, knockdown of KPNB1 or its fly ortholog ketel resulted in arrhythmic U2 OS cells or fly locomotor activity rhythms, while knockdown of most of KPNA isoforms had no significant effect on the rhythm (Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 4—figure supplement 4). These data suggest a model in which KPNB1 plays a necessary role in mediating nuclear entry of the PER/CRY complex in core clock regulation (Figure 6).

Recently, importin β emerged as a potential molecular target for cancer prevention (van der Watt et al., 2013). So far, several novel small molecule regulators of KPNB1 have been identified, though further investigation is needed to improve their specificity and efficacy (Hintersteiner et al., 2010; Soderholm et al., 2011). In this respect, our study provides a rationale for KPNB1 as molecular target for regulating clock physiology.

Materials and methods

Cell culture and reagents

U2 OS or HEK293T cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% FBS, 1% L-Glutamine, and 1% penicillin-streptomycin (Invitrogen, Grand Island, NY, United States) at 37°C under 5% CO2. The cells were transfected with siRNAs using Lipofectamine RNAiMAX (Invitrogen) and DNA plasmids using Fugene HD reagents (Promega, Madison, WI, United States). The combined transfection of DNA plasmids with siRNA into the cells were performed using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen).

Plasmids

For overexpression of NRON in cells and generation of its transgenic cell lines, full-length genomic DNA fragments of NRON from U2 OS cells was obtained by PCR with primers containing the flanking restriction sites (NotI, XhoI) and inserted into pcDNA 3.1 mammalian expression vector (Invitrogen). Plasmids encoding several flag-tagged clock proteins (Flag-PER1, Flag-PER2, Flag-CRY1, Flag-CRY2, Flag-CLOCK, Flag-REVERBα, Flag-CHRONO) were generated as described previously (Anafi et al., 2014). For plasmids expressing Venus-tagged PER1, PER2, CRY1, CRY2 (PER1-Venus, PER2-Venus, CRY1-Venus, CRY2-Venus) or BiFC plasmids expressing Venus N terminal (VN) or C-terminal (VC)-tagged PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 (PER1-VN, PER2-VN, CRY1-VC, CRY2-VC), full-length DNA fragment of the each of genes was subcloned into pCMV-Venus, pCMV-VN, or pCMV-VC using a restriction-free cloning method as described previously (Shyu et al., 2006; Bond and Naus, 2012). For luciferase assays, pCMV Sport6 plasmids encoding full length cDNAs of CLOCK, BMAL1, PER1, PER2, CRY1, CRY2, KPNB1 was obtained from the Mammalian Gene Collection (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Grand Island, NY, United States). For generation of plasmids encoding mutant KPNB1, DNA fragments of the KPNB1 gene with an importin-α binding domain deletion encoding a truncated protein (1–771) were sub-cloned into pCMV Sport6 expression vector (Invitrogen) using NotI and SalI restriction enzymes.

Luciferase assay

HEK293T cells transfected with plasmids encoding proteins as indicated in the figures were assayed for luciferase reporter activity using DualGlo luciferin reagent (Promega) 24 hr post-transfection according to the manufacturer's protocol.

Antibodies

Anti-PER2 used for immunoblot analysis of immunoprecipitated samples from mouse liver extracts were kindly provided by Dr Cheng Chi Lee's lab (University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston). Anti-KPNB1 (A300-482A) for immunoblotting analysis was obtained from Bethyl Labratories (Montgomery, TX, United States), and Anti-KPNB1 (ab2811) for immunoprecipiation with mouse liver extracts or immunostaining of U2 OS cells was purchased from Abcam (Cambridge, MA, United States). For ChIP or immunostaining experiments, Anti-PER1 (AB2201, Millipore, Darmstadt, German) and Anti-PER2 (NB100-125, Norvus Biologicals, Littleton, CO, United States) were used. Anti-Flag (F7425, Sigma, St. Louis, MO), Anti-GFP (G1544, Sigma), Anti-PER1 (AB2201, Millipore), Anti-PER2 (20359-1-AP, Proteintech, Chicago, IL, United States), Anti-CRY1 (sc-33177, Santa Cruz Biotech, Dallas, Texas, United States), Anti-CRY2 (13997-1-AP, Proteintech), were used for immunopreciptation, immunoblotting, and immunostaining experiments as indicated in figures. Normal mouse IgG (NI03) was purchased from Calbiochem. Anti-Tubulin (Ab7291, Abcam), anti-TBP (22006-1-AP, Proteintech), anti-Lamin (#2032, Cell Signaling, Danvers, MA, United States). and anti-GAPDH (sc25778, Santa Cruz Biotech) were used as loading control antibodies for cytoplasmic, nuclear, and total protein extracts respectively.

Cytosol-nuclear fractionation

U2 OS cells were co-transfected with each of the following DNA plasmids encoding Venus (V)-tagged PER1, PER2, CRY1, or CRY2 (PER1-V, PER2-V, CRY1-V, CRY2-V) and siRNA against KPNB1. Cells were collected 48 hr post-transfection by briefly trypsinizing and washing twice in ice cold PBS. Nuclear–cytoplasmic fractionation of the cells was performed using the NE-PER Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Extraction Reagents kit (78835, Thermo Fisher Scientific) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The same kit protocol was used for preparation of cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts from mouse liver tissues collected at 4 hr interval for 24 hr in constant darkness.

Co-immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting

At 48 hr post-transfection of plasmids encoding PER2-Venus into U2 OS cells, the cell lysates were harvested in radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) buffer (50 mM HEPES [pH 7.4], 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 1 mM NaF, 1 mM Na3VO4, and protease inhibitor cocktail [Roche, Indianapolis, IN, United States]). Protein-G coated magnetic beads (10004D, Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY, United States) were pre-incubated with 3 µg of anti-GFP (G1544, Sigma) antibody at 4°C for 6 hr. The antibody conjugated beads were incubated with equal amounts of total protein at 4°C overnight. The final immune complexes were analyzed by immunoblot assay using antibodies as described. For tissue immunoprecipitation, liver tissue was homogenized in 1 vol of RIPA buffer 1 (50 mM Tris-HCl [pH 8.0], 450 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, 0.5% sodium deoxycholate, 1 mM NaF, 1 mM Na3VO4, and 1 protease inhibitor cocktail [Roche]). Homogenates were cleared by dilution with 2 vol of RIPA buffer 2 (RIPA buffer 1 without NaCl). Further procedures were as described above. Immunoblot analyses were performed on 7.5% sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gels and transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes (Immobilon P; Millipore). Target proteins were detected with antibodies as indicated. The immune complexes were visualized with an ECL detection kit (Pierce, Grand Island, NY, United States).

ChIP

For ChIP analysis, cell lysates were collected from U2 OS cells and the following ‘Materials and methods’ were performed as described previously (Schmidt et al., 2009). Briefly, the pre-cleared chromatin was immunoprecipitated overnight at 4°C by agitating with 5 μg of PER1 or PER2 antibody as described. The cell extracts incubated in the absence of antibody were used for input controls. Immune complexes were collected by incubation with protein-G coated magnetic beads (10004D, Life Technologies) and the final eluted DNA was extracted by phenol–chloroform–isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1) and ethanol precipitation. The primer sets used for ChIP Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis of human Per1 promoter region spanning canonical (CACGTG) were as follows: Forward primer: 5′-TCTCCCTCTCTCCTCCCTTCC-3′, Reverse primer: 5′-GCCTGATTGGCTAGTGGTCTT-3′, Probe: GTGTGTGACACAGCCCTGACC.

BiFC and IF assays

At 24 hr post-transfection of expression vectors encoding Venus-tagged clock proteins (PER1-Venus, PER2-Venus, CRY1-Venus, CRY2-Venus) or BiFC plasmids expressing (PER1-VN, PER2-VN, CRY1-VC, CRY2-VC) as indicated, the cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS and visualized using GFP filter set in fluorescence microscopy. For IF analysis, U2 OS cells was incubated with various antibodies as indicated by secondary antibodies conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488 and/or 568 (Invitrogen). Cells were visualized using FITC/TRITC/DAPI filter set in fluorescence microscopy.

Bioluminescence recording and data analysis

Real-time bioluminescence of pPer2 or pBmal1 dLuc reporter U2 OS cells after synchronization with 1 µM Dex (Sigma) were monitored using a LumiCycle luminometer (Actimetrics, Wilmette, IL, United States) as previously described (Zhang et al., 2009). The period of the luminescence data was determined through the WaveClock algorithm (Price et al., 2008).

Reverse transcription and quantitative PCR

cDNAs were generated with the High Capacity cDNA Archive Kit using the manufacturer's protocol (Applied Biosystems, Grand Island, NY, United States). qPCR reactions were conducted using iTaq PCR mastermix (BioRad, Hercules, CA, United States) in combination with gene expression assays (Applied Biosystems) on a 7800HT Taqman machine (Applied Biosystems). GAPDH was used as an endogenous control for all experiments.

Whole-mount brain immunocytochemistry

3–5 days old flies were collected at indicated ZT on the fourth day of LD entrainment. Fly heads of each genotype were opened and brains were immediately fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde (in 1× PBS) for 15–20 min, followed by dissection in 1× PBST (0.3% Triton X-100 in PBS) at room temperature. After 30min-wash with 1× PBST at room temperature, brains were blocked with 5% normal donkey serum (NSD) for 20 min, and then incubated overnight at 4°C with primary antibody: rat anti-PER (UPR34, 1:1000) and mouse anti-PDF (C7, Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank, University of Iowa, 1:500). After 30-min wash in 1× PBST at room temperature, brains were incubated with secondary antibodies (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, West Grove, PA, United States, 1:500) for 2 hr in NDS at room temperature, followed by extensive 30 min-wash. Samples were imaged using Leica TCS SP5 confocal microscope. 8–10 brains were examined at each time point.

Fly strains and behavioral assay

Targeted expressions of ketel RNAi in PDF+ cells and tim-expressing clock neurons were performed using the UAS/GAL4 system. We tested two independent UAS-ketel RNAi lines (v22348, v107622; Vienna Drosophila RNAi center) and isogenic w1118 (iso31) strain was used as a wild-type control. Male flies of the UAS-ketel RNAi lines or iso31 (control) were crossed to female flies from Gal4 drivers. Male progenies of the crosses were entrained to a 12 hr:12 hr LD cycle at 25°C at least for 3 days. Individual flies were loaded in the glass locomotor tubes containing 5% sucrose and 2% agar. Locomotor activity was measured for 7–15 days in DD using the Drosophila Activity Monitoring System as previously described (Williams et al., 2001). Power of rhythmicity was determined by FFT value. Flies with FFT value >0.01 were counted as a rhythmic. This activity records were analyzed using ClockLab software (Actimetrics).

Acknowledgements

We thank Ted Abel for helpful conversations. This work is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (1R01NS054794-06 to JBH), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA-D12AP00025, to John Harer, Duke University), and by the Penn Genome Frontiers Institute under a HRFF grant with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Funding Statement

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.

Funding Information

This paper was supported by the following grants:

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) JBH, 1R01NS054794-06 to John B Hogenesch.

  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) John Harer, Duke University, DARPA-D12AP00025 to John B Hogenesch.

  • Pennsylvania Department of Health Penn Genome Frontiers Institute under a HRFF to John B Hogenesch.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

Author contributions

YL, Conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data, Drafting or revising the article, Contributed unpublished essential data or reagents.

JBH, Conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data, Drafting or revising the article, Contributed unpublished essential data or reagents.

ARJ, Conception and design, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data, Contributed unpublished essential data or reagents.

LJF, Acquisition of data, Analysis and interpretation of data, Contributed unpublished essential data or reagents.

AS, Conception and design, Analysis and interpretation of data, Contributed unpublished essential data or reagents.

Additional files

Supplementary file 1.

Effects of downregulating ketel genes on free-running circadian locomotor rhythms.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.018

elife08647s001.pdf (240.1KB, pdf)
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.08647.018

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eLife. 2015 Aug 29;4:e08647. doi: 10.7554/eLife.08647.019

Decision letter

Editor: Achim Kramer

eLife posts the editorial decision letter and author response on a selection of the published articles (subject to the approval of the authors). An edited version of the letter sent to the authors after peer review is shown, indicating the substantive concerns or comments; minor concerns are not usually shown. Reviewers have the opportunity to discuss the decision before the letter is sent (see review process). Similarly, the author response typically shows only responses to the major concerns raised by the reviewers.

Thank you for submitting your work entitled “KPNB1 mediates PER/CRY nuclear translocation and circadian clock function” for peer review at eLife. Your submission has been favorably evaluated by a Senior Editor and three reviewers, one of whom served as Guest Reviewing Editor.

The reviewers have discussed the reviews with one another and the Reviewing Editor has drafted this decision to help you prepare a revised submission.

The study by Lee et al. describes the importance for KPNB1, a member of the importin β family, for nuclear localization of clock proteins, in particular PERIOD proteins in both human cells as well as in Drosophila. Timed nuclear accumulation of members of the negative limb within the circadian clockwork has long been known to be critical for a functional circadian clock. Circadian rhythms of nuclear appearance of clock proteins as well as functional nuclear localization and nuclear export sequences (NLS and NES) in these proteins have been reported. The dynamics of this is important since it ensures the correct timing of negative feedback repression of clock genes. Here, the authors show that KPNB1 depletion results in primarily cytoplasmic localization of PER in human cells and Drosophila. Timely subcellular localization of PER2, CRY1, and KPNB1 coincides well and KPNB1 mainly interacts with PER1/2. Thus, the authors concluded that KPNB1 controls nuclear translocation of PER/CRY complex via direct interaction with PER. Intriguingly, KPNB1 mediated nuclear translocation of PER/CRY complex is not dependent on KPNA2 (importin α1) which is a well-known partner of importin β proteins and identified as major carrier protein for PER/TIM repressor complex in flies.

Essential revisions:

1) Clarify the role of KPNB1 knockdown on clock gene expression (see Reviewer#1, point 1).

2) Is KPNB1 really required for CIRCADIAN feedback repression (see Reviewer#1, point 4)?

3) Better define (and discuss) the roles of KPNA family members (see Reviewer #2, point 1 and Reviewer #3).

Reviewer #1:

The study by Lee et al. describes the importance for KPNB1 (importin β) for nuclear localization of clock proteins, in particular PERIOD proteins in both human cells as well as in Drosophila. Timed nuclear accumulation of members of the negative limb within the circadian clockwork has long been known to be critical for a functional circadian clock. Circadian rhythms of nuclear appearance of PERs, CRYs as well as TIM (in flys) as well as functional nuclear localization and nuclear export sequences (NLS and NES) in these proteins have been reported. The dynamics of this is important since it ensures the correct timing of negative feedback repression of clock genes.

Here, the authors show that KPNB1 (but not KPNA2 – importin α) depletion in human cells results in primarily cytoplasmic localization of PER proteins (and to a lesser extent also of CRYs) both for overexpressed as well as for endogenous proteins (a nice and complete set of experiments). In addition, PER proteins directly bind to KPNB1 (are the NLS required?). Also very convincing and carefully conducted are the results they found in Drosophila: again, PER is shifted towards more cytosolic localization upon depletion of ketel, the Drosophila ortholog of KPNB1. Probably as a consequence, flies with KPNB1 depletion in pdf cells or all clock cells are largely arrhythmic.

Less convincing are the experiments aiming to demonstrate effects on the circadian clockwork in mammalian cells (see below).

Overall, however, the manuscript is of high quality and should eventually be published, if the following points can be convincingly addressed:

1) The effects of KPNB1 knockdown on clock gene expression show conflicting results: either upregulation of PER1 pre-mRNA and downregulation of BMAL1 pre-mRNA (Figure 3E) or the opposite (Figure 4B and C). In addition, the effects in Figure 3E are very subtle (1.2-fold upregulation of CRY1 pre-mRNA - I don't believe that there is statistical significance given that the (partly high) error bars are SEM with n=3). What about endogenous clock gene levels upon overexpression of KPNB1? Maybe this helps to solve the issue.

2) In addition, the effects on circadian rhythmicity should be better characterized: are there period effects? Why does the Per2-reporter show a low and the Bmal1-reporter a high magnitude, if KPNB1 knockdown is supposed to lead to less inhibition of E-boxes?

3) Figure 4C: controls do oscillate with a 16-18 hour period (in conflict with Figure 4B and in conflict with knockdown time series). This is odd and could be normalization artefact - at least the authors should show BMAL1 as an antiphasic control.

4) Figure 2D, E: The authors claim that KPNB1 is responsible for circadian accumulation and feedback repression, hence they only observe correlations. To unambiguously show that KPNB1 is required for circadian feedback repression, they should analyze circadian protein accumulation (especially CRYs, since they are the major repressors and still go in the nucleus without KPNB1) in wild-type and KPNB1 depleted cells together with analysis of clock gene pre-mRNA over time.

Reviewer #2:

In this study, the authors explored the molecular mechanism for nuclear translocation of circadian repressor complex, PER/CRY. They identified KPNB1, a member of the importin β family, plays major role for nuclear translocation of PER1/2, PER/CRY complex and hence feedback repression. Timely subcellular localization of PER2, CRY1, and KPNB1 coincides well and KPNB1 mainly interacts with PER1/2. Thus, the authors concluded that KPNB1 controls nuclear translocation of PER/CRY complex via direct interaction with PER. Intriguingly, KPNB1 mediated nuclear translocation of PER/CRY complex is not dependent on KPNA2 (importin α1) which is a well-known partner of importin β proteins and identified as major carrier protein for PER/TIM repressor complex in flies. Overall, the experiments are well executed and this finding will enhance our understanding of detailed biochemical mechanisms underlying timely controlled nuclear translocation of circadian repressor complex.

Although the results demonstrating KPNB1 is the major carrier protein for PERs are very solid, the conclusion about KPNB1 being the major carrier protein for PER/CRY complex in mammals and PER/TIM complex in flies needs to be further qualified (see below).

1) As cited in the text, Sakakida et al. (2005) demonstrated that importin α family members (including importin α1, KPNA2) control nuclear translocation of CRY2 but not importin β. The data from Sakakida et al., is consistent with this study showing that depletion of KPNB1 produces minimal effects on CRY2 translocation and partial effects on CRY1 translocation (Figure 1). Based on these two studies, this reviewer thinks that Importin α1 might control translocation of mainly CRY2 and some of CRY1. This is somewhat similar to the case of flies, where translocation of TIM (fly counterpart of CRY at least in the functional aspect) is controlled by importin α1 (Jang AR et al., Plos Genetics 2014, Drosophila TIM binds importin α1, and acts as an adapter to transport PER to the nucleus). Figure 3 luciferase results indicated that CRY1/CRY2 represses even better than PER1/PER2. Then, confusion comes from the data showing KPNA1 deficiency did not produce any defects in cellular rhythms. Thus, this reviewer is wondering how CRY2 localized in KPNA1 knockdown cells. By performing this experiment we might be able to clarify the reason why KPNA1 depletion did not produce any effects on cellular rhythms. Is that due to either (Bass and Takahashi, 2010) KPNA1 does not playing any role in translocation of clock proteins (mainly CRY2) on the contrary to previous report and different from the fly case (or there might be cell-type specific issue?) or (Reppert and Weaver, 2002) nuclear translocation defects of CRY2 not producing any effects on feedback repression suggesting that main repressor of feedback circuitry is PER not CRY?

2) The authors showed that knockdown of ketel (fly homolog of KPNB1) in clock cells made flies arrhythmic via inhibiting nuclear translocation of PER, hence claiming KPNB1 mediates nuclear entry of PER. In another paper lead by some of the authors in this study, they demonstrated that importin α1 protein is critical for nuclear translocation of fly circadian repressor complex PER/TIM, through direct interaction between TIM and importin α1 (Jang AR et al., Plos Genetics, 2014). There, Jang AR et al. proposed the model in which TIM bound to importin α1 acts as a carrier for PER translocation together with importin β. Thus, this reviewer is wondering whether nuclear translocation of TIM is also inhibited in ketel mutant, which will be a slightly different case to the mammals. Or, very little amounts of PER translocate to the nucleus in a TIM-independent manner through ketel. The authors showed only the PER patterns in ketel knockdown flies. By showing TIM patterns in ketel knockdown flies, it will be clarified that PER translocate into the nucleus as a PER/TIM/importin α1/importin β complex or via two pathways one is TIM/importin α1 dependent and the other is ketel dependent as in mammals.

3) In the Discussion, the authors state: “Similarly, knockdown of KPNB1 resulted in cytoplasmic retention of endogenous PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 substantially (Figure 1D, Figure1–figure supplement 2).” However, I do not see any substantial effects on CRY2 protein. Rather, this data clearly indicated KPNB1 did not play any roles in nuclear translocation of CRY2 protein. Thus, this statement needs to be rewritten.

Reviewer #3:

In the manuscript entitled “KPNB1 mediates PER/CRY nuclear translocation and circadian clock function” by Lee et al., the authors investigate the role of KPNB1 (Importin β subunit) for nuclear translocation of PER proteins and its functional implication for circadian clock oscillation in mammalian cells and flies. The authors clearly show that KPNB1 critically regulates the nuclear translocation of PER proteins which are largely independent from CRY proteins in U2OS cells. Interestingly, a knock-down of KPNB1 blocked the nuclear translocation of the PER/CRY complex, suggesting that PER proteins played a dominant role in the nuclear translocation of the PER/CRY complex in mammalian cells. In addition, the authors exhibit that the loss of KPNA2 does not block the nuclear translocation of PER proteins and circadian molecular rhythms in mammalian cells. Moreover, the authors show that a decrease in Drosophila Importin β also blocks the nuclear translocation of PER proteins and results in the severe impairment of circadian locomotor activity rhythms in flies. By gathering these findings, the authors conclude that KPNB1 is the essential factor to elicit the cyclic nuclear translocation of PER/CRY in the negative-feedback regulation of the circadian clock.

In general, the study includes novel findings, especially for the regulation mechanism of subcellular PER/CRY dynamics, which is essential for the circadian clock. However, the reviewer requires the authors discuss the following points before publication.

Different from KPNA1, expression level of KPNA2 is usually very low in normal somatic cells. On the other hand, KPNA2 highly expressed in early embryo or pluripotent stem cells as well as in some cancer cells. For example, the expression level of the Kpna2 transcript is extremely low in adult mice liver (Koike et al., Science, 2012). In addition, it has recently been reported that KPNA2 accelerates cytoplasmic localization of proteins in some cases (e.g. Yasuhara et al., Mol. Cell, 2012; Alshareeda et al., Br. J. Cancer, 2015). Through the accumulated findings, KPNA2 has been thought to be a unique protein among the KPNAs, and does not represent the function of other KPNAs in somatic cells. Thus, the reviewer feels curious as to why the authors performed knock-down study against KPNA2 instead of KPNA1 or any other KPNAs. The authors might have taken into account a recently reported study which mentioned KPNA2 as a factor to obstruct circadian clock cycling in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells (Umemura et al., PNAS, 2014). Umemura et al. showed the high level expression of KPNA2 and cytoplasmic retention of PER protein in undifferentiated ES cells. In addition, overexpression of KPNA2 did not facilitate nuclear translocation, rather accelerated cytoplasmic retention of PER proteins. Strikingly, the authors here clearly showed that knock-down of KPNA2 in U2OS cells resulted in the exclusive nuclear localization of PER2 and increased amplitude of Per2:dluc circadian rhythms (Figure 4–figure supplement 1). These results are all well compatible with the results mentioned in the paper by Umemura et al. Therefore, the reviewer recommends that the authors discuss this point.

eLife. 2015 Aug 29;4:e08647. doi: 10.7554/eLife.08647.020

Author response

1) Clarify the role of KPNB1 knockdown on clock gene expression (see Reviewer#1, point 1).

2) Is KPNB1 really required for CIRCADIAN feedback repression (see Reviewer#1, point 4)?

3) Better define (and discuss) the roles of KPNA family members (see Reviewer #2, point 1 and Reviewer #3).

Reviewer #1:

1) The effects of KPNB1 knockdown on clock gene expression show conflicting results: either upregulation of PER1 pre-mRNA and downregulation of BMAL1 pre-mRNA (Figure 3E) or the opposite (Figure 4B and C). In addition, the effects in Figure 3E are very subtle (1.2-fold upregulation of CRY1 pre-mRNA - I don't believe that there is statistical significance given that the (partly high) error bars are SEM with n=3). What about endogenous clock gene levels upon overexpression of KPNB1? Maybe this helps to solve the issue.

We agree and did the experiment you suggested. In parallel, we tested both KPNB1 knockdown and overexpression on endogenous clock components regulated primarily by the E-box loop. This showed that KPNB1 knockdown led to significant up-regulation of most of the E-box-controlled genes, PER1, CRY1, DBP, REV-ERBβ. Conversely, these genes are repressed by KPBN1 over-expression (Figure 3E, subsection “KPNB1 regulates transcriptional repressor activity of PERs/CRYs and circadian gene expression independently of importin α (KPNA2)”, and Figure 3, legend). Thus, we believe these results provide further evidence that KPNB1 directly mediates PER/CRY repressor activity for regulating E-box dependent clock gene expression.

2) In addition, the effects on circadian rhythmicity should be better characterized: are there period effects? Why does the Per2-reporter show a low and the Bmal1-reporter a high magnitude, if KPNB1 knockdown is supposed to lead to less inhibition of E-boxes?

Yes, the period length of both the Per2 and Bmal1 reporters get longer and dampen more quickly, as representatively shown in the detrended graph (Figure 4B right panel). The Per2 reporter we use is longer and contains E-boxes, D-boxes, and ROR elements, making interpretation of its direction difficult to know a priori.

3) Figure 4C: controls do oscillate with a 16-18 hour period (in conflict with Figure 4B and in conflict with knockdown time series). This is odd and could be normalization artefact - at least the authors should show BMAL1 as an antiphasic control.

Per your suggestion, we re-did this experiment in the revised Figure 4C. PER1 and PER2 mRNA expressions showed anti-phasic pattern with BMAL1. Levels of Per1 go up, while levels of Bmal1 are unchanged, consistent with Figure 3E. Bmal1 is also antiphase to Per1 and Per2.

4) Figure 2D, E: The authors claim that KPNB1 is responsible for circadian accumulation and feedback repression, hence they only observe correlations. To unambiguously show that KPNB1 is required for circadian feedback repression, they should analyze circadian protein accumulation (especially CRYs, since they are the major repressors and still go in the nucleus without KPNB1) in wild-type and KPNB1 depleted cells together with analysis of clock gene pre-mRNA over time.

We agree and did a time course of control and KPNB1 knockdown cells for both cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of clock proteins and pre-mRNAs levels. As shown in Figure 4D, KPNB1 knockdown markedly reduced or altered the rhythmic accumulation of PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 (Figure 4, legend). Correspondingly, the mRNA levels of several clock genes were arrhythmic in KPNB1-depleted cells (Figure 4C). Thus, these data further strengthen the conclusion that KPNB1 is required for circadian feedback repression of clock gene expression.

Reviewer #2:

1) As cited in the text, Sakakida et al. (2005) demonstrated that importin α family members (including importin α1, KPNA2) control nuclear translocation of CRY2 but not importin β. The data from Sakakida et al., is consistent with this study showing that depletion of KPNB1 produces minimal effects on CRY2 translocation and partial effects on CRY1 translocation (Figure 1). Based on these two studies, this reviewer thinks that Importin α1 might control translocation of mainly CRY2 and some of CRY1. This is somewhat similar to the case of flies, where translocation of TIM (fly counterpart of CRY at least in the functional aspect) is controlled by importin α1 (Jang AR et al., Plos Genetics 2014, Drosophila TIM binds importin α1, and acts as an adapter to transport PER to the nucleus). Figure 3 luciferase results indicated that CRY1/CRY2 represses even better than PER1/PER2. Then, confusion comes from the data showing KPNA1 deficiency did not produce any defects in cellular rhythms. Thus, this reviewer is wondering how CRY2 localized in KPNA1 knockdown cells. By performing this experiment we might be able to clarify the reason why KPNA1 depletion did not produce any effects on cellular rhythms. Is that due to either (Bass and Takahashi, 2010) KPNA1 does not playing any role in translocation of clock proteins (mainly CRY2) on the contrary to previous report and different from the fly case (or there might be cell-type specific issue?) or (Reppert and Weaver, 2002) nuclear translocation defects of CRY2 not producing any effects on feedback repression suggesting that main repressor of feedback circuitry is PER not CRY?

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. The nomenclature of the KPNA1/2 genes is confusing. In both human and mouse KPNA genes, KPNA1 is importin α5 (IPOA5), while KPNA2 is Importin α1 (IPOA1).

As you suggested, we tested KPNA2 (Importin α1) knockdown effect on subcellular localization of endogenous or ectopically expressed CRY2 localization and found no significant effects in our nuclear cytoplasmic fractionation and immunofluorescence analysis (Figure 4–figure supplement 2A and B; Figure 4–figure supplement 2, legend). We also knocked down KPNA1 and tested its effects on rhythms in U2 OS cells driven by Per2::luc as well as PER2/CRY2 localization and found no significant changes (Figure 4–figure supplement 3; Figure 4–figure supplement 3 legend). In addition, in our earlier work, we knocked down KPNA1, KPNA3, KPNA4, KPNA5, KPNA6, and KPNA7 (Zhang et al., Cell, 2009), with no measurable effects on circadian rhythms in Bmal1::luc activity in U2 OS cells.

2) The authors showed that knockdown of ketel (fly homolog of KPNB1) in clock cells made flies arrhythmic via inhibiting nuclear translocation of PER, hence claiming KPNB1 mediates nuclear entry of PER. In another paper lead by some of the authors in this study, they demonstrated that importin α1 protein is critical for nuclear translocation of fly circadian repressor complex PER/TIM, through direct interaction between TIM and importin α1 (Jang AR et al., Plos Genetics, 2014). There, Jang AR et al. proposed the model in which TIM bound to importin α1 acts as a carrier for PER translocation together with importin β. Thus, this reviewer is wondering whether nuclear translocation of TIM is also inhibited in ketel mutant, which will be a slightly different case to the mammals. Or, very little amounts of PER translocate to the nucleus in a TIM-independent manner through ketel. The authors showed only the PER patterns in ketel knockdown flies. By showing TIM patterns in ketel knockdown flies, it will be clarified that PER translocate into the nucleus as a PER/TIM/importin α1/importin β complex or via two pathways one is TIM/importinαα1 dependent and the other is ketel dependent as in mammals.

We think it is very unlikely that TIM would be nuclear in ketel mutants. For one thing, a second ketel-dependent (and TIM-independent mechanism) would result in PER being partly nuclear in ketel mutants. Also, PER would be partly nuclear in tim mutants. Neither one is the case. While PER is unstable in the cytoplasm without TIM, it is stable in the nucleus, so nuclear PER would have been visible in tim mutants. Thus we believe that Importin alpha typically requires an importin beta, and PER likely translocates into the nucleus as a PER/TIM/importin α1/importin β complex in flies.

3) In the Discussion, the authors state: “Similarly, knockdown of KPNB1 resulted in cytoplasmic retention of endogenous PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 substantially (Figure 1D, Figure1–figure supplement 2).” However, I do not see any substantial effects on CRY2 protein. Rather, this data clearly indicated KPNB1 did not play any roles in nuclear translocation of CRY2 protein. Thus, this statement needs to be rewritten.

We agree that KPNB1 does not affect nuclear translocation of CRY2 protein when ectopically expressed. In fact, if we looked at endogenous CRY2 localization carefully upon KPNB1 knockdown as shown in Figure 1D and Figure1–figure supplement 2, we observed slightly more cytoplasmic accumulation of CRY2 proteins in the KPNB1-depleted cells than control cells, probably due to its interaction with endogenous PER proteins. This also corresponds with BiFC data showing KPNB1 knockdown effects on various combinations of PER/CRY complexes (Figure 1C). Thus, we revised the sentence to: “Similarly, knockdown of KPNB1 increased cytoplasmic retention of endogenous PER1, PER2, CRY1, and CRY2 to varying degrees, probably through complex interactions” (Discussion).

Reviewer #3:

[…] Different from KPNA1, expression level of KPNA2 is usually very low in normal somatic cells. On the other hand, KPNA2 highly expressed in early embryo or pluripotent stem cells as well as in some cancer cells. For example, the expression level of the Kpna2 transcript is extremely low in adult mice liver (Koike et al., Science, 2012). In addition, it has recently been reported that KPNA2 accelerates cytoplasmic localization of proteins in some cases (e.g. Yasuhara et al., Mol. Cell, 2012; Alshareeda et al., Br. J. Cancer, 2015). Through the accumulated findings, KPNA2 has been thought to be a unique protein among the KPNAs, and does not represent the function of other KPNAs in somatic cells. Thus, the reviewer feels curious as to why the authors performed knock-down study against KPNA2 instead of KPNA1 or any other KPNAs. The authors might have taken into account a recently reported study which mentioned KPNA2 as a factor to obstruct circadian clock cycling in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells (Umemura et al., PNAS, 2014). Umemura et al. showed the high level expression of KPNA2 and cytoplasmic retention of PER protein in undifferentiated ES cells. In addition, overexpression of KPNA2 did not facilitate nuclear translocation, rather accelerated cytoplasmic retention of PER proteins. Strikingly, the authors here clearly showed that knock-down of KPNA2 in U2OS cells resulted in the exclusive nuclear localization of PER2 and increased amplitude of Per2:dluc circadian rhythms (Figure 4–figure supplement 1). These results are all well compatible with the results mentioned in the paper by Umemura et al. Therefore, the reviewer recommends that the authors discuss this point.

In several previous reports (1996∼2001), KPNA2 (importin α1) was the predominant form interacting with KPNB1 in both human and mouse species (Görlich et al, EMBO J. 1996, 15(8):1810-7; Kutay et al., Cell. 1997, 90(6):1061-71; Cingolani et al., Nature. 1999, 399(6733):221-9p; Köhler et al., Mol Cell Biol. 1999, 19(11):7782-91; Catimel et al., J Biol Chem. 2001. 276(36):34189-98). Thus we chose KPNA2 (importin α1) for our representative knockdown study.

Further, as you suggested, we tested KPNA1 (Importin α5) knockdown effect on subcellular localization of endogenous or ectopically expressed PER2 or CRY2 localization and found no significant effects in fluorescence analysis (Figure 4–figure supplement 3C and D; Figure 4–figure supplement 3, legend). We also knocked down KPNA1 and tested its effects on rhythms in U2 OS cells driven by Per2::luc (Figure 4–figure supplement 3A, B; Figure 4–figure supplement 3, legend) and found no significant changes. In addition, in our earlier work, we knocked down KPNA1, KPNA3, KPNA4, KPNA5, KPNA6, and KPNA7 (Zhang et al., Cell, 2009), with no measurable effects on circadian rhythms in Bmal1::luc activity in U2 OS cells.

Regarding the effect of KPNA2 overexpression on PER2 localization (Umemura et al.), intriguingly, we found that KPNA2 overexpression substantially reduced cells expressing PER2-Venus protein in our analysis (Figure 4–figure supplement 1E; Figure 4–figure supplement 1, legend). Moreover, both the endogenous and overexpressed KPNA2 protein was localized predominantly in the nucleus (Figure 4–figure supplement 1C, E; Figure 4–figure supplement 1, legend). This was also observed in the nuclear cytoplasmic fraction analysis (Figure 4–figure supplement 2A; Figure 4–figure supplement 2 figure, legend). This suggests that KPNA2 might regulate PER2 protein level through another mechanism in the U2 OS model.

Our results in U2 OS cells are different from Umemura et al.’s results in stem cells, probably due to the different cell types and conditions analyzed. We added some discussion in the text to reflect this point (Discussion section).

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    Supplementary Materials

    Supplementary file 1.

    Effects of downregulating ketel genes on free-running circadian locomotor rhythms.

    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08647.018

    elife08647s001.pdf (240.1KB, pdf)
    DOI: 10.7554/eLife.08647.018

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