Identification of nuclear localization signals within the human BCOR protein

Mutations in the BCL-6 corepressor (BCOR) gene, which encodes a transcriptional corepressor, were described to cause oculofaciocardiodental syndrome (MIM 300166). The purpose of this study was to localize the classical nuclear localization signals (NLSs) of the BCOR using reported human BCOR mutations with comparable phenotypes. The genotype-phenotype correlation among the mutations could not be clearly explained; however, the classical NLSs were identified at two possible sites; RVDRKRKVSGD at aa1131-1141 (NLS1) and LKAKRRRVSK at aa1158-1167 (NLS2). In addition, according to our results, NLS2 displayed a more efficient nuclear import function than NLS1.