Importin α: a key molecule in nuclear transport and non-transport functions
- PMID: 27289017
- DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvw036
Importin α: a key molecule in nuclear transport and non-transport functions
Abstract
Importin α performs the indispensable role of ferrying proteins from the cytoplasm into the nucleus with a transport carrier, importin β1. Mammalian cells from mouse or human contain either six or seven importin α subtypes, respectively, each with a tightly regulated expression. Therefore, the combination of subtype expression in a cell defines distinct signaling pathways to achieve progressive changes in gene expression essential for cellular events, such as differentiation. Recent studies reveal that, in addition to nucleocytoplasmic transport, importin αs also serve non-transport functions. In this review, we first discuss the physiological significance of importin α as a nuclear transport regulator, and then focus on the functional diversities of importin αs based on their specific subcellular and cellular localizations, such as the nucleus and plasma membrane. These findings enrich our knowledge of how importin αs actively contribute to various cellular events.
Keywords: cellular distribution; importin; multifunction; nuclear localization signal; nuclear transport.
© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Japanese Biochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
-
Importin alpha: a multipurpose nuclear-transport receptor.Trends Cell Biol. 2004 Sep;14(9):505-14. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2004.07.016. Trends Cell Biol. 2004. PMID: 15350979 Review.
-
Triggering neural differentiation of ES cells by subtype switching of importin-alpha.Nat Cell Biol. 2007 Jan;9(1):72-9. doi: 10.1038/ncb1521. Epub 2006 Dec 10. Nat Cell Biol. 2007. PMID: 17159997
-
Importin α: functions as a nuclear transport factor and beyond.Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 2018;94(7):259-274. doi: 10.2183/pjab.94.018. Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 2018. PMID: 30078827 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Diversification of importin-α isoforms in cellular trafficking and disease states.Biochem J. 2015 Feb 15;466(1):13-28. doi: 10.1042/BJ20141186. Biochem J. 2015. PMID: 25656054 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Cellular stresses induce the nuclear accumulation of importin alpha and cause a conventional nuclear import block.J Cell Biol. 2004 Jun 7;165(5):617-23. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200312008. J Cell Biol. 2004. PMID: 15184398 Free PMC article.
Cited by
-
Using the Culex pipiens sperm proteome to identify elements essential for mosquito reproduction.PLoS One. 2023 Feb 16;18(2):e0280013. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280013. eCollection 2023. PLoS One. 2023. PMID: 36795667 Free PMC article.
-
Multiple subcellular localizations and functions of protein kinase Cδ in liver cancer.World J Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan 14;28(2):188-198. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i2.188. World J Gastroenterol. 2022. PMID: 35110944 Free PMC article. Review.
-
BICD1 mediates HIF1α nuclear translocation in mesenchymal stem cells during hypoxia adaptation.Cell Death Differ. 2019 Sep;26(9):1716-1734. doi: 10.1038/s41418-018-0241-1. Epub 2018 Nov 21. Cell Death Differ. 2019. PMID: 30464225 Free PMC article.
-
Invasion and Propagation of White Spot Syndrome Virus: Hijacking of the Cytoskeleton, Intracellular Transport Machinery, and Nuclear Import Transporters.J Virol. 2022 Jun 22;96(12):e0220521. doi: 10.1128/jvi.02205-21. Epub 2022 May 31. J Virol. 2022. PMID: 35638850 Free PMC article.
-
Insulin Receptor Associates with Promoters Genome-wide and Regulates Gene Expression.Cell. 2019 Apr 18;177(3):722-736.e22. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.02.030. Epub 2019 Apr 4. Cell. 2019. PMID: 30955890 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
