Importin-9 (IPO9)

Functions in nuclear protein import as nuclear transport receptor (PubMed:11823430). Serves as receptor for nuclear localization signals (NLS) in cargo substrates (PubMed:11823430).

Is considered to mediate docking of the importin/substrate complex to the nuclear pore complex (NPC) through binding to nucleoporin and the complex is subsequently translocated through the pore by an energy requiring, Ran-dependent mechanism (PubMed:11823430). At the nucleoplasmic side of the NPC, Ran binds to the importin, the importin/substrate complex dissociates and importin is re-exported from the nucleus into the cytoplasm where GTP hydrolysis releases Ran (PubMed:11823430).