The human La (SS-B) autoantigen is an abundantly expressed
putative RNA chaperone, functioning in various intracellular
processes involving RNA. To further explore the molecular
mechanisms by which La functions in these processes, we performed
large-scale immunoprecipitations of La from HeLa S100 extracts
using the anti-La monoclonal antibody SW5. La-associated proteins
were subsequently identified by sequence analysis. This approach
allowed the identification of DDX15 as a protein interacting
with La. DDX15, the human ortholog of yeast Prp43, is a member
of the superfamily of DEAH-box RNA helicases that appeared to
interact with La both in vivo and in vitro. The region needed
for the interaction with La partly overlaps the DEAH-box domain
of DDX15. Immunofluorescence data indicated that endogenous
DDX15 accumulates in U snRNP containing nuclear speckles in
HEp-2 cells. Surprisingly DDX15 also accumulates in the nucleoli
of HEp-2 cells. Moreover, DDX15 and La seem to colocalize in
the nucleoli. Regions of DDX15 involved in nuclear, nuclear
speckle, and nucleolar localization are located within the N-
and C-terminal regions flanking the DEAH-box. RNA coprecipitation
experiments indicated that DDX15 is associated with spliceosomal
U small nuclear RNAs in HeLa cell extracts. The possible functional
implications of the interaction between La and DDX15 are discussed.