The transport of molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm in eukaryotic cells is mediated by the nuclear pore complex (NPC), which consists of 60-100 proteins. Small molecules (up to 70 kD) can pass through the nuclear pore by nonselective diffusion while larger molecules are transported by an active process. The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the importin alpha family, and is involved in nuclear protein import, but exhibits different nuclear localization signal binding specificity compared to other members of the family. A pseudogene of this gene has been defined on chromosome 5. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2016].