Adenoviral E1A protein nuclear import is preferentially mediated by importin α3 in vitro

Nuclear import of some viral proteins depends on importin α proteins. However, no preferences of distinct α-importins for any viral protein import have been demonstrated. We used in vitro import assays and observed that all ubiquitously expressed human importin α isoforms mediate nuclear translocation of adenoviral E1A. Competition with nucleoplasmin suggests that importin α3 is the most efficient import mediator of E1A.