A Structural Model for the Nuclear Pore Complex

1986 ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Milligan
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Nuclear Pore

Mapping of nucleoporins to the center of the nuclear pore complex by post-embedding immunogold electron microscopy

1995 ◽  
Vol 108 (9) ◽  
pp. 2963-2972 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Grote ◽  
U. Kubitscheck ◽  
R. Reichelt ◽  
R. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Human Keratinocytes ◽  
Immunogold Electron Microscopy ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Nuclear Pore Protein ◽  
Ultrathin Sections ◽  
Lowicryl K4m ◽  
Secondary Antibodies

Ultrathin sections of Lowicryl K4M embedded cultured 3T3 cells, human keratinocytes and mouse/rat liver tissue were incubated with polyspecific primary antibodies against p62 and other nucleoporins followed by 10 nm gold labeled secondary antibodies. By quantitatively evaluating both cross sections and tangential sections of the NPC, we found that irrespective of the cell type antibodies predominantly bound within a radius of 25 nm around the central axis of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Superposition of a current structural model of the NPC with the nucleoporin distribution observed by us showed that nucleoporins mapped predominatly to the controversely discussed ‘central granule’. Our experimental approach was verified by mapping gp210, another nuclear pore protein, at or very close to the NPC in the perinuclear cisterna thus establishing a distribution pattern completely different from that of the nucleoporins.

The Formation, Structure, Distribution and Frequency of Nuclear Pores

1971 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 518-519
Author(s):  
G. G. Maul
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Nuclear Membrane ◽  
Dynamic Structure ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Nuclear Pores ◽  
Filter Function ◽  
Etching Technique ◽  
Selective Filter ◽  
Membranous Part

The chromatin of eukaryotic cells is separated from the cytoplasm by a double membrane. One obvious structural specialization of the nuclear membrane is the presence of pores which have been implicated to facilitate the selective nucleocytoplasmic exchange of a variety of large molecules. Thus, the function of nuclear pores has mainly been regarded to be a passive one. Non-membranous diaphragms, radiating fibers, central rings, and other pore-associated structures were thought to play a role in the selective filter function of the nuclear pore complex. Evidence will be presented that suggests that the nuclear pore is a dynamic structure which is non-randomly distributed and can be formed during interphase, and that a close relationship exists between chromatin and the membranous part of the nuclear pore complex.Octagonality of the nuclear pore complex has been confirmed by a variety of techniques. Using the freeze-etching technique, it was possible to show that the membranous part of the pore complex has an eight-sided outline in human melanoma cells in vitro. Fibers which traverse the pore proper at its corners are continuous and indistinguishable from chromatin at the nucleoplasmic side, as seen in conventionally fixed and sectioned material. Chromatin can be seen in octagonal outline if serial sections are analyzed which are parallel but do not include nuclear membranes (Fig. 1). It is concluded that the shape of the pore rim is due to fibrous material traversing the pore, and may not have any functional significance. In many pores one can recognize a central ring with eight fibers radiating to the corners of the pore rim. Such a structural arrangement is also found to connect eight ribosomes at the nuclear membrane.

Structure, assembly and interactions of the nuclear lamina and the nuclear pore complex

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 490-491
Author(s):  
N. Panté ◽  
M. Jarnik ◽  
E. Heitlinger ◽  
U. Aebi
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Divalent Cations ◽  
Nuclear Lamina ◽  
Dynamic Structure ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Transport ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Cytoplasmic Filaments ◽  
Radial Spokes ◽  
Nuclear Ring ◽  
Central Plug

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a ∼120 MD supramolecular machine implicated in nucleocytoplasmic transport, that is embedded in the double-membraned nuclear envelope (NE). The basic framework of the ∼120 nm diameter NPC consists of a 32 MD cytoplasmic ring, a 66 MD ‘plug-spoke’ assembly, and a 21 MD nuclear ring. The ‘central plug’ seen in en face views of the NPC reveals a rather variable appearance indicating that it is a dynamic structure. Projecting from the cytoplasmic ring are 8 short, twisted filaments (Fig. 1a), whereas the nuclear ring is topped with a ‘fishtrap’ made of 8 thin filaments that join distally to form a fragile, 30-50 nm distal diameter ring centered above the NPC proper (Fig. 1b). While the cytoplasmic filaments are sensitive to proteases, they as well as the nuclear fishtraps are resistant to RNase treatment. Removal of divalent cations destabilizes the distal rings and thereby opens the fishtraps, addition causes them to reform. Protruding from the tips of the radial spokes into perinuclear space are ‘knobs’ that might represent the large lumenal domain of gp210, a membrane-spanning glycoprotein (Fig. 1c) which, in turn, may play a topogenic role in membrane folding and/or act as a membrane-anchoring site for the NPC. The lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) which is known to recognize the ‘nucleoporins’, a family of glycoproteins having O-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine, is found in two locations on the NPC (Fig. 1. d-f): (i) whereas the cytoplasmic filaments appear unlabelled (Fig. 1d&e), WGA-gold labels sites between the central plug and the cytoplasmic ring (Fig. le; i.e., at a radius of 25-35 nm), and (ii) it decorates the distal ring of the nuclear fishtraps (Fig. 1, d&f; arrowheads).

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