Function

Importins (IPO) mediate the import of cellular proteins into the nucleus by binding to the nuclear localization signal (NLS). IPO has 2 subunits: α and β. IPO-α is an adaptor protein which binds the NLS. Proteins can contain one or two NLS motifs. IPO-α contains several armadillo repeats with two NLS-binding sites and an IPO-β binding site (IBB). IPO-β contains 19 HEAT repeats. Many nuclear proteins contain Phe-Gly sequences which can bind to HEAT repeats and thus be transported. See also Protein Transport Membrane Protein.

Disease

Relevance

Structural highlights

Structure of yeast importin α NLS-binding domain (grey) complex with nucleoplasmin peptide (green) (PDB code 1ee5).

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3D structures of importin3D structures of importin

Updated on 22-April-2015

ReferencesReferences

Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)

Michal Harel, Joel L. Sussman