RanBP3 was originally identified as RanGTP binding protein located in the nucleus and involved in the nuclear exporting process (1). It functions as a cofactor for CRM1 nuclear export by binding to CRM1, stabilizing the RanGTP-CRM1-cargo interaction and promoting complex association with nuclear pore proteins (2,3). In the absence of Ran-bound GTP, RanBP3 prevents binding of CRM1 complex to the nuclear pore complex. In addition to CRM1, RanBP3 also has been shown to bind to RanGEF-RCC1 and increase the guanine nucleotide exchange activity of RCC1 for RanGTP-CRM1-Cargo (1,4). In some cases, as with β-catenin and Smad2/3, RanBP3 binding may mediate the target protein nuclear export in a Ran-dependent, but CRM1-independent manner (5,6). RanBP3 is phosphorylated at Ser58 through the PI3K/Akt or ERK/RSK pathway. This phosphorylation is important for RanBP3 function in nuclear export, likely due to stimulation of RCC1 activity (7,8). |