Six Classes of Nuclear Localization Signals Specific to Different Binding Grooves of Importin α

The importin alpha/beta pathway mediates nuclear import of proteins containing the classical nuclear localization signals (NLSs). Although the consensus sequences of the classical NLSs have been defined, there are still many NLSs that do not match the consensus rule and many nonfunctional sequences that match the consensus. We report here six different NLS classes that specifically bind to distinct binding pockets of importin alpha. By screening of random peptide libraries using an mRNA display, we selected peptides bound by importin alpha and identified six classes of NLSs, including three novel classes. Two noncanonical classes (class 3 and class 4) specifically bound the minor binding pocket of importin…