The localizations of three members of the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) family were studied in HeLa cells. Using hippocalcin-EYFP and NCS-1-ECFP, it was found that their localization differed dramatically in resting cells. NCS-1 had a distinct predominantly perinuclear localization (similar to trans-Golgi markers), whereas hippocalcin was present diffusely throughout the cell. Upon the elevation of intracellular Ca 2؉ , hippocalcin rapidly translocated to the same perinuclear compartment as NCS-1. Another member of the family, neurocalcin ␦, also translocated to this region after a rise in Ca

The neuronal calcium sensors are a family of EF-hand-containing Ca(2+)-binding proteins expressed predominantly in retinal photoreceptors and neurons. One of the family members is neurocalcin delta, the function of which is unknown. As an approach to elucidating the protein interactions made by neurocalcin delta, we have identified brain cytosolic proteins that bind to neurocalcin delta in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. We used immobilized recombinant myristoylated neurocalcin delta combined with protein identification using MS. We demonstrate a specific interaction with clathrin heavy chain, alpha- and beta-tubulin, and actin. These interactions were dependent upon myristoylation of neurocalcin delta indicating that the N-terminal myristoyl group may be important for protein-protein interactions in addition to membrane association. Direct binding of neurocalcin delta to clathrin, tubulin and actin was confirmed using an overlay assay. These interactions were also demonstrated for endogenous neurocalcin delta by co-immunoprecipitation from rat brain cytosol. When expressed in HeLa cells, neurocalcin delta was cytosolic at resting Ca(2+) levels but translocated to membranes, including a perinuclear compartment (trans-Golgi network) where it co-localized with clathrin, following Ca(2+) elevation. These data suggest the possibility that neurocalcin delta functions in the control of clathrin-coated vesicle traffic.

The neuronal calcium sensors are a family of EF-hand-containing Ca2+-binding proteins expressed predominantly in retinal photoreceptors and neurons. One of the family members is neurocalcin δ, the function of which is unknown. As an approach to elucidating the protein interactions made by neurocalcin δ, we have identified brain cytosolic proteins that bind to neurocalcin δ in a Ca2+-dependent manner. We used immobilized recombinant myristoylated neurocalcin δ combined with protein identification using MS. We demonstrate a specific interaction with clathrin heavy chain, α- and β-tubulin, and actin. These interactions were dependent upon myristoylation of neurocalcin δ indicating that the N-terminal myristoyl group may be important for protein—protein interactions in addition to membrane association. Direct binding of neurocalcin δ to clathrin, tubulin and actin was confirmed using an overlay assay. These interactions were also demonstrated for endogenous neurocalcin δ by co-immunoprecipitation from rat brain cytosol. When expressed in HeLa cells, neurocalcin δ was cytosolic at resting Ca2+ levels but translocated to membranes, including a perinuclear compartment (trans-Golgi network) where it co-localized with clathrin, following Ca2+ elevation. These data suggest the possibility that neurocalcin δ functions in the control of clathrin-coated vesicle traffic.