Nuclear import and export of proteins: the molecular basis for intracellular signaling

A family of latent cytoplasmic transcription factors termed Stats are activated by a variety of cytokines, and are then translocated into the nucleus where they activate transcription. Recent advances in nuclear protein import have shown that the extracellular signal-dependent nuclear import of Stat1 is mediated via complex formation with NPI-1 (a member of the alpha subunit family) and the beta subunit of the nuclear pore-targeting complex, and a small GTPase, Ran. The unique transport pathway of Stat1, which is different from that of the SV40T-antigen, indicates that a complex divergence exists in the function of transport factors and transport pathways.