Importin α: Functions As a Nuclear Transport Factor and Beyond

Overview

Journal Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2018 Aug 7

PMID 30078827

Citations 59

Authors

Masahiro Oka

Yoshihiro Yoneda

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Nucleocytoplasmic transport is an essential process in eukaryotes. The molecular mechanisms underlying nuclear transport that involve the nuclear transport receptor, small GTPase Ran, and the nuclear pore complex are highly conserved from yeast to humans. On the other hand, it has become clear that the nuclear transport system diverged during evolution to achieve various physiological functions in multicellular eukaryotes. In this review, we first summarize the molecular mechanisms of nuclear transport and how these were elucidated. Then, we focus on the diverse functions of importin α, which acts not merely an import factor but also as a multi-functional protein contributing to a variety of cellular functions in higher eukaryotes.

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