Identification and characterization of a Drosophila nuclear proteasome regulator -: A homolog of human 11 S REGγ (PA28γ)

We report the cloning and characterization of a Drosophila proteasome 11 S REG gamma (PA28) homolog. The 28-kDa protein shows 47% identity to the human REG gamma and strongly enhances the trypsin-like activities of both Drosophila and mammalian 20 S proteasomes. Surprisingly, the Drosophila REG was found to inhibit the proteasome's chymotrypsin-like activity against the fluorogenic peptide succinyl-LLVY-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin. Immunocytological analysis reveals that the Drosophila REG is localized to the nucleus but is distributed throughout the cell when nuclear envelope breakdown occurs during mitosis, Through site-directed mutagenesis studies, we have identified a functional nuclear localization signal present in the homolog-specific insert region. The Drosophila PA28 NLS is similar to the oncogene c-Myc nuclear localization motif. Comparison between uninduced and innate immune induced Drosophila cells suggests that the REG gamma proteasome activator has a role independent of the invertebrate immune system. Our results support the idea that gamma class proteasome activators have an ancient conserved function within metazoans and were present prior to the emergence of the (alpha and beta REG classes.