High impact information on Kap-alpha3

• Consistant with previous studies demonstrating that early Drosophila embryos are refractory to heat shock as a result of dHSF nuclear exclusion, we demonstrate that the early embryo is deficient in dKap-alpha3 protein through cycle 12 [1].
• Using that domain as bait in a yeast two-hybrid system we now report the identification and cloning of a Drosophila nuclear transport protein karyopherin-alpha3 (dKap-alpha3) [1].
• Developmental regulation of the heat shock response by nuclear transport factor karyopherin-alpha3 [1].
• Furthermore, the dKap-alpha3 protein does not associate with NLSs that contain point mutations, which are not transported in vivo [1].
• Dcas is required for importin-alpha3 nuclear export and mechano-sensory organ cell fate specification in Drosophila [2].

Biological context of Kap-alpha3

• Thus, Importin-alpha3-mediated nuclear transport is essential for completion of oogenesis and becomes limiting during pupal development [3].
• Importin-alpha3 is required at multiple stages of Drosophila development and has a role in the completion of oogenesis [3].
• During early embryogenesis, Importin-alpha3 accumulates at the nuclear membrane of cleavage nuclei, whereas after blastoderm formation it is characteristically found within the interphase nuclei [3].
• The Drosophila melanogaster importin alpha3 locus encodes an essential gene required for the development of both larval and adult tissues [4].

Anatomical context of Kap-alpha3

• Imp-alpha1 expression extends up to the onset of the elongation phase, whereas that of Imp-alpha3 persists up to the completion of nuclear condensation when the spermatids become individualised [5].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Kap-alpha3

• The expression of kap-alpha3 is widespread both temporally and spatially throughout the embryo during development, as judged by Northern blotting and whole-mount in situ hybridization to Drosophila embryos, suggesting that it functions at multiple stages of development [6].

References