Gemin5 is Absent from SMN Complexes in Nuclear Cajal Bodies
Author Information
Author(s): Hao Le thi, Heidi R Fuller, Le Thanh Lam, Arthur HM Burghes, Glenn E Morris
Primary Institution: Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, UK and Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, UK
Hypothesis
Gemin5, though present in the nucleus, is no longer needed for SMN complex function during the time these complexes are stored in gems/Cajal bodies.
Conclusion
SMN complexes usually exist without gemin5 in nuclear gems/Cajal bodies.
Supporting Evidence
- Gemin5 was rarely detectable in nuclear gems/Cajal bodies.
- Most gemins were equally distributed between nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions, except gemin5 which was predominantly cytoplasmic.
- Immunoprecipitation showed that SMN and gemin5 exist as complexes in cytoplasmic extracts but not in nuclear extracts.
Takeaway
This study found that gemin5 is mostly not found in the parts of the cell where SMN complexes are stored, suggesting it has a different job in the cell.
Methodology
The study used novel antibodies to investigate the distribution of gemins in HeLa cells and performed immuno-histochemistry and sucrose density gradient analysis.
Limitations
The study's conclusions may be affected by potential dissociation of proteins during biochemical fractionation.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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