Identification and characterization of two putative nuclear localization signals (NLS) in the DNA-binding protein NUCKS.

Immunofluorescence analyses show that the vertebrate specific and DNA-binding protein NUCKS is distributed throughout the cytoplasm in mitotic cells and targeted to the reforming nuclei in late telophase of the cell cycle. Computer analysis of the primary structure of NUCKS revealed the presence of two regions of highly charged, basic residues, which were identified as potential nuclear localization signals (NLSs). One of these signals (NLS1) is highly conserved between the species investigated, and fits to the description of being a classical bipartite NLS.

Characterisation of the NUCKS gene on human chromosome 1q32.1 and the presence of a homologous gene in different species.

The NUCKS gene is located on human chromosome 1q32.1 and consists of seven exons and six introns. The gene lacks a TATA box but contains two Inr elements, two GC boxes, and one consensus-binding site for E2F-1.