Fig. 3. Ataxin-1[85Q] induces mislocalisation of classical nuclear transport proteins.

Neuro-2a cells were cotransfected to express MBI-ataxin-1[85Q] together with (a) GFP-Importin-α2 (IMPα2), (b) GFP-Importin-β1 (IMPβ1), (c) GFP-CRM1, or (d) GFP alone. At 24 h post-transfection, cells were treated with arsenite as indicated, and then fixed, stained with anti-myc antibodies and DAPI, before CLSM imaging. Representative images of cells are shown, with zoom images (right panels) corresponding to the boxed regions. Mis-localisation to the ataxin-1 nuclear bodies is indicated by the white arrowheads. Scale bar = 10 μm. e Pearson’s correlation coefficients, calculated using the coloc2 plugin for localisation between fluorophores in a 25 μm² square centred over each arsenite-induced ataxin-1 nuclear body, quantitatively assessed co-localisation of GFP-tagged proteins with ataxin-1 nuclear bodies, where 0 indicates no correlation between two channels whereas 1 indicates complete correlation of two channels. Results represent the mean ± SEM (n = 9 cells imaged across three independent experiments). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.