Protein import, nucleus preparation

Ever since the demonstration that synthetic peptides could target a protein to the nucleus when cross-linked to it (Goldfarb et ai, 1986), peptide-protein conjugates have been used widely in nuclear protein import assays in vivo and in vitro. The method described here is for the preparation of a fluorescent bovine serum albumin, SV40 NLS conjugate. However, this basic protocol can be adapted easily to allow the conjugation to other proteins, such as the naturally fluorescent protein allophycocyanin (Adam etai, 1991). 

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