CAP-50, a newly identified annexin, localizes in nuclei of cultured fibroblast 3Y1 cells.

A 50-kDa protein, which binds to the growth-regulated gene (2A9) product, calcyclin in a calcium-dependent manner, was purified from bovine lung. Partial amino acid sequencing of the protein revealed it to be the bovine equivalent of rabbit lung CAP-50 (calcyclin-associated protein, 50 kDa), which is a member of the annexin family and binds to calcyclin in a calcium-dependent manner. Specific polyclonal antibodies to bovine lung CAP-50 were prepared. Comparative studies between CAP-50 and synexin (annexin VII) on the immunoreactivity against anti-CAP-50 antibodies and the ability of binding to calcyclin revealed that CAP-50 was a distinct molecule from synexin. Using specific polyclonal antibodies to bovine lung CAP-50, tissue distribution and subcellular distribution of CAP-50 were investigated. In most rat tissues, except those in the central nervous systems and kidney, CAP-50 is expressed at a high or moderate level. Both studies by subcellular fractionation and by indirect immunofluorescence staining of the rat embryonic fibroblast cell line, 3Y1, revealed that CAP-50 mainly localized in nuclei. Moreover, between the cells at interphase and at mitotic phase, different distributions of CAP-50 were observed. That is, in the cells at interphase, CAP-50 seemed to localize throughout the nucleoplasm. On the other hand, in the cells during mitosis, CAP-50 was concentrated at the loop-like structure around the mitotic apparatus. CAP-50 was found in isolated 3Y1 nuclei lacking outer nuclear membranes, and approximately 50% of CAP-50 was extracted from the nuclei by chelating calcium. Thus, CAP-50, a unique annexin, localizes in nuclei.