Beta-like importins mediate the nuclear translocation of mitogen-activated protein kinases

The rapid nuclear translocation of signaling proteins upon stimulation is important for the regulation of de novo gene expression. We have studied the stimulated nuclear shuttling of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and found that they translocate into the nucleus in a Ran-dependent, but NLS- or NTS-independent, manner, unrelated to their catalytic activity. We show that this translocation involves three β-like importins, importins 3, 7, and 9 (Imp3/7/9). Knockdown of these importins inhibits the nuclear translocation of the MAPKs and, thereby, activation of their transcription factor targets. We further demonstrate that the translocation requires the stimulated formation of heterotrimers composed of Imp3/Imp7/MAPK or Imp3/Imp9/MAPK. JNK1/2 and p38α/β bind to either Imp7 or Imp9 upon stimulated posttranslational modification of the two Imps, while Imp3 joins the complex after its stimulation-induced phosphorylation. Once formed, these heterotrimers move to the nuclear envelope, where importin 3 remains, while importins 7 and 9 escort the MAPKs into the nucleus. These results suggest that β-like importins are central mediators of stimulated nuclear translocation of signaling proteins and therefore add a central level of regulation to stimulated transcription.