Abstract
Purpose: :
The purpose of the current study is to reveal cellular function of Eaf2 in influencing structural integrity of the nucleolus in response to UV damage.
Methods: :
GFP tagged Eaf2 was introduced into various cell types by liposome-mediated transfection. Cells were irradiated under UV light. GFP and immunofluorescence to nucleolar proteins were imaged using confocal microscopy.
Results: :
Our analysis showed an intriguing distribution pattern of Eaf2-GFP. Under normal culturing conditions, Eaf2-GFP rapidly moves into the cell nucleus and degrades. When transfected cells are exposed to UV irradiation, Eaf2-GFP relocalizes into the nucleolus. This nucleolar relocalization phenomena can be induced in the presence of Ing1b without UV irradiation. Co-expression of Ing1b and Eaf2 resulted in the disappearance of the nucleolar structure in a step-wise manner.
Conclusions: :
Eaf2 may be a critical molecular player in mediating or facilitating nucleolar breakdown in response to genotoxic stress or during mitosis.
Keywords: radiation damage: light/UV • cornea: basic science • development