Location of NRAMP1 molecle on the plasma membrane and its association with microtubules

Natural resistance to infection with intracellular parasites, such as Leishmania, Salmonella, and Mycobacterium, is controlled in mice by the expression of a single dominant gene locus designated Lsh/Ity/Bcg. Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein gene 1 (NRAMP1) was isolated as a candidate gene. NRAMP1 encodes an M(r) 60000 polypeptide with 10-12 potential transmembrane domains and an evolutionary conserved consensus transport motif. The present study shows that the human NRAMP1 molecule is expressed in all cell lineages of macrophage/monocyte and B- and T-lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical analysis using antihuman NRAMP1 antibody provides the direct evidence that the NRAMP1 molecule is located and distributed on the plasma membrane. An NRAMP1-glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein was used to affinity-purify a protein, bound to the NH₂-terminal cytoplasmic domain of NRAMP1. It was found that the NRAMP1 molecule was associated with α- and β-tubulin of microtubules. These results suggest that NRAMP1 may function as a molecule, possessing the abilities of membrane-anchoring and microtubule-binding, for the microtubule-mediated transport of vesicles and be a new class of microtubule-associated proteins.