Nucleolar Protein 6 (NOL6)

NOL6 encodes a nucleolar RNA-associated protein that is highly conserved between species. Further studies suggest that the protein is associated with ribosome biogenesis through an interaction with pre-rRNA primary transcripts. Alternative splicing has been observed at this locus and two splice variants encoding distinct isoforms have been identified.NOL6 contains potential nuclear localization signals and has several potential phosphorylation sites. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies localized Nol6 expression within the nucleolus in a variety of rodent cell lines, although expression was not specifically localized to rRNA transcription sites. Nol6 localized to the condensed chromosomes during mitosis in a pattern similar to that of B23/nucleophosmin (NPM1).