Ibetazol, a novel inhibitor of importin β1-mediated nuclear import.

Our research group has identified a series of compounds that trigger cytoplasmatic accumulation of importin α1. The lead compound, ibetazol, is further characterized in a broad sequence of cellular nuclear transport assays. Ibetazol is shown to inhibit all importin β1-mediated nuclear import quickly and specifically, without affecting transport mediated by other karyopherins. In summary, ibetazol is a novel small molecule inhibitor of importin β1 enabling pharmacological inhibition of the importin β1-mediated nuclear import process with wide applicability in different fields.