Nuclear localization of
ataxin-3 plays a fundamental role in seeding aggregation and the pathology of
spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). However, very few compounds that are able to modulate the nuclear transport of
ataxin-3 have been identified. In our previous study, we found that
divalproex sodium (DVS) reduced heat shock-induced nuclear localization of
ataxin-3. However, the mechanism of DVS in the translocation of
ataxin-3 still remains unknown. There is accumulating evidence that
importins are regulated by acetylation, and
histone deacetylase inhibitors can interrupt this process. With this in mind, we used cells coexpressing
ataxin-3 and
importin α1 (encoded by KNPA2) to probe whether
ataxin-3 is the shuttling cargo of
importins and whether DVS plays a role in the nuclear transport of
ataxin-3 through the
transport protein pathway. Here, we reported that
importin α1 enhanced nuclear amount of
ataxin-3 and increased the aggregate formation and that DVS restored it to the normal level. Importantly,
ataxin-3 is shown to directly bind to
importin α1. Moreover, DVS modulated the function of
importin α1 likely by altering its localization. We believe that this study provides a proof of principle for addressing the mechanism of DVS and furthers our understanding of the role of
importins in the nuclear accumulation of
ataxin-3 in SCA3.