Regulation of mitotic spindle assembly factor NuMA by Importin-beta
Chang, C.-C., Huang, T.-L., Shimamoto, Y., Tsai, S.-Y., Hsia, K.-C.(2017) J Cell Biol 216: 3453-3462
- PubMed: 28939615 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201705168
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
5GXW - PubMed Abstract: 
Ran-guanosine triphosphatase orchestrates mitotic spindle assembly by modulation of the interaction between Importin-α/-β and spindle assembly factors (SAFs). The inhibition of SAFs performed by importins needs to be done without much sequestration from abundant nuclear localization signal (NLS) -containing proteins. However, the molecular mechanisms that determine NLS-binding selectivity and that inhibit activity of Importin-β-regulated SAFs (e.g., nuclear mitotic apparatus protein [NuMA]) remain undefined. Here, we present a crystal structure of the Importin-α-NuMA C terminus complex showing a novel binding pattern that accounts for selective NLS recognition. We demonstrate that, in the presence of Importin-α, Importin-β inhibits the microtubule-binding function of NuMA. Further, we have identified a high-affinity microtubule-binding region that lies carboxyl-terminal to the NLS, which is sterically masked by Importin-β on being bound by Importin-α. Our study provides mechanistic evidence of how Importin-α/-β regulates the NuMA functioning required for assembly of higher-order microtubule structures, further illuminating how Ran-governed transport factors regulate diverse SAFs and accommodate various cell demands.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.