RITA, a novel modulator of Notch signalling, acts via nuclear export of RBP-J

EMBO J. 2011 Jan 5;30(1):43-56. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2010.289. Epub 2010 Nov 23.

Abstract

The evolutionarily conserved Notch signal transduction pathway regulates fundamental cellular processes during embryonic development and in the adult. Ligand binding induces presenilin-dependent cleavage of the receptor and a subsequent nuclear translocation of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD). In the nucleus, NICD binds to the recombination signal sequence-binding protein J (RBP-J)/CBF-1 transcription factor to induce expression of Notch target genes. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of RBP-J interacting and tubulin associated (RITA) (C12ORF52) as a novel RBP-J/CBF-1-interacting protein. RITA is a highly conserved 36 kDa protein that, most interestingly, binds to tubulin in the cytoplasm and shuttles rapidly between cytoplasm and nucleus. This shuttling RITA exports RBP-J/CBF-1 from the nucleus. Functionally, we show that RITA can reverse a Notch-induced loss of primary neurogenesis in Xenopus laevis. Furthermore, RITA is able to downregulate Notch-mediated transcription. Thus, we propose that RITA acts as a negative modulator of the Notch signalling pathway, controlling the level of nuclear RBP-J/CBF-1, where its amounts are limiting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Animals
  • Centrosome / ultrastructure
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Cytoplasm / ultrastructure
  • Gene Expression
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / analysis
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurogenesis
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport
  • Receptor, Notch1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Xenopus Proteins / analysis
  • Xenopus Proteins / genetics
  • Xenopus Proteins / metabolism*
  • Xenopus laevis / genetics
  • Xenopus laevis / metabolism*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • RITA1 protein, Xenopus
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Tubulin
  • Xenopus Proteins