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J. Cell Biol.,
Volume 141, Number 6, June 15, 1998 1301-1310
Istituto di Patologia generale ed Oncologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Seconda Università degli studi di Napoli, I-80138
Naples, Italy
A 104-kD protein was coimmunoprecipitated
with the estrogen receptor from the flowtrough of a
phosphocellulose chromatography of MCF-7 cell nuclear
extract. mAbs to this protein identified several cDNA
clones coding for the human 104-kD major vault protein. Vaults are large ribonucleoprotein particles of unknown
function present in all eukaryotic cells. They have a complex morphology, including several small molecules of
RNA, but a single protein species, the major vault protein, accounts for >70% of their mass. Their shape is
reminiscent of the nucleopore central plug, but no proteins of known function have been described to interact with them. Western blot analysis of vaults purified on sucrose gradient showed the presence of estrogen receptor
co-migrating with the vault peak. The AER317 antibody
to estrogen receptor coimmunoprecipitated the major
vault protein and the vault RNA also in the 20,000 g supernatant fraction. Reconstitution experiments of estrogen receptor fragments with the major vault protein
mapped the site of the interaction between amino acids
241 and 280 of human estrogen receptor, where the nuclear localization signal sequences are located. Estradiol
treatment of cells increased the amount of major vault
protein present in the nuclear extract and coimmunoprecipitated with estrogen receptor, whereas the anti-estrogen ICI182,780 had no effect. The hormone-dependent
interaction of vaults with estrogen receptor was reproducible in vitro and was prevented by sodium molybdate. Antibodies to progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors were able to coimmunoprecipitate the major
vault protein. The association of nuclear receptors with vaults could be related to their intracellular traffic.
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