Importins in the maintenance and lineage commitment of ES cells.
The nucleus of a eukaryotic cell is separated from the cytoplasm by a nuclear envelope, and nuclear pores within the envelope facilitate nucleocytoplasmic transport and the exchange of information. Gene regulation is a key component of biological activity regulation in the cell. Transcription factors control the expression levels of various genes that are necessary for the maintenance or conversion of cellular states during animal development. Because transcription factor activities determine the extent of transcription of target genes, the number of active transcription factors must be tightly regulated. In this regard, the nuclear translocation of a transcription factor is an important determinant of its activity. Therefore, it is becoming clear that the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery is involved in cell differentiation and organism development. This review examines the regulation of transcription factors by the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery in ES cells.
Department of Life Science, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, 3-25-40 Sakurajousui, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8550 Japan. Electronic address: yasuhara@chs.nihon-u.ac.jp.
Noriko
N
Yasuhara
National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 7-6-8 Sito-Asagi, Ibaraki-Shi, Osaka 567-0085, Japan.
Yoshihiro
Y
Yoneda
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D028884:Karyopherins / Q000378:metabolism*
D028884:Karyopherins
Nuclear transport; Transcription factors