scholarly journals Structure of the Cytoplasmic Ring of the Xenopus laevis Nuclear Pore Complex

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaoxingyu Huang ◽  
Yanqing Zhang ◽  
Xuechen Zhu ◽  
Chao Zeng ◽  
Qifan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Secondary Structural Elements

Nuclear pore complex (NPC) exhibits structural plasticity and has only been characterized at local resolutions of up to 15 Å for the cytoplasmic ring (CR). Here we present a single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the CR from Xenopus laevis NPC at average resolutions of 5.5-7.9 Å, with local resolutions reaching 4.5 Å. Improved resolutions allow identification and placement of secondary structural elements in the majority of the CR components. The two Y complexes in each CR subunit interact with each other and associate with those from flanking subunits, forming a circular scaffold. Within each CR subunit, the Nup358-containing region wraps around the stems of both Y complexes, likely stabilizing the scaffold. Nup205 connects the short arms of the two Y complexes and associates with the stem of a neighbouring Y complex. The Nup214-containing region uses an extended coiled-coil to link Nup85 of the two Y complexes and protrudes into the axial pore of the NPC. These previously uncharacterized structural features reveal insights into NPC assembly.

scholarly journals Cryo-EM structure of the Inner Ring from Xenopus laevis Nuclear Pore Complex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaoxingyu Huang ◽  
Xiechao Zhan ◽  
Chao Zeng ◽  
Ke Liang ◽  
Xuechen Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy

Nuclear pore complex (NPC) mediates nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Here we present single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the inner ring (IR) subunit from Xenopus laevis NPC at an average resolution of 4.4 Å. The symmetric IR subunit comprises a cytoplasmic half and a nuclear half. A homo-dimer of Nup205 resides at the center of the IR subunit, flanked by two molecules of Nup188. Four molecules of Nup93 each places an extended helix into the axial groove of Nup205 or Nup188, together constituting the central scaffold. The channel nucleoporin heterotrimer (CNT) of Nup54/58/62 is anchored on the central scaffold. Six Nup155 molecules interact with the central scaffold and together with the NDC1-ALADIN hetero-dimers anchor the IR subunit to the nuclear envelope and to outer rings. The scarce inter-subunit contacts may allow sufficient latitude in conformation and diameter of the IR. Our structure of vertebrate IR reveals key insights that are functionally important.

scholarly journals Molecular architecture of the luminal ring of the Xenopus laevis nuclear pore complex

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanqing Zhang ◽  
Sai Li ◽  
Chao Zeng ◽  
Gaoxingyu Huang ◽  
Xuechen Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Rigid Base ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Molecular Architecture ◽  
Nuclear Membranes ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Cryo Electron Tomography

Nuclear pore complex (NPC) mediates the flow of substances between the nucleus and cytoplasm in eukaryotic cells. Here we report the cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) structure of the luminal ring (LR) of the NPC from Xenopus laevis oocyte. The observed key structural features of the LR are independently confirmed by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) analysis. The LR comprises eight butterfly-shaped subunits, each containing two symmetric wings. Each wing consists of four elongated, tubular protomers. Within the LR subunit, the eight protomers form a Finger domain, which directly contacts the fusion between the inner and outer nuclear membranes, and a Grid domain, which serves as a rigid base for the Finger domain. Two neighbouring LR subunits interact with each other through the lateral edges of their wings to constitute a Bumper domain, which displays two major conformations and appears to cushion neighbouring NPCs. Our study reveals previously unknown features of the LR and potentially explains the elastic property of the NPC.

scholarly journals 8 Å structure of the nuclear ring of the Xenopus laevis nuclear pore complex solved by cryo-EM and AI

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
He Ren ◽  
Linhua Tai ◽  
Yun Zhu ◽  
Xiaojun Huang ◽  
Fei Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Transport ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Nuclear Ring ◽  
Great Advance

The nuclear pore complex (NPC), one of the largest protein complexes in eukaryotes, serves as a physical gate to regulate nucleocytoplasmic transport. Here, we determined the 8 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) structure of the nuclear ring (NR) from the Xenopus laevis NPC, with local resolutions reaching 4.9 Å. With the aid of AlphaFold2, we managed to build a pseudoatomic model of the NR, including the Y complexes and flanking components. In this most comprehensive and accurate model to date, the almost complete Y complex structure exhibits much tighter interaction in the hub region. Each NR asymmetric subunit contains two copies of Y complexes, one copy of Nup205 that connects the Y complexes to the neighbouring complex, one copy of ELYS that stabilizes the long arm region of the inner Y complex, and one copy of newly identified Nup93 that forms a bridge across the stems of Y complexes. These in-depth structural features represent a great advance in understanding the assembly of NPCs.

scholarly journals 8 Å structure of the cytoplasmic ring of the Xenopus laevis nuclear pore complex solved by cryo-EM and AI

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linhua Tai ◽  
Yun Zhu ◽  
He Ren ◽  
Xiaojun Huang ◽  
Chuanmao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Transport ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Parallel Pattern

As one of the largest protein complexes in eukaryotes, the nuclear pore complex (NPC) forms a conduit regulating nucleocytoplasmic transport. Here, we determined 8 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) structure of the cytoplasmic ring (CR) from the Xenopus laevis NPC. With the aid of AlphaFold2, we managed to build a most comprehensive and accurate pseudoatomic model of the CR to date, including the Y complexes and flanking components of Nup358, Nup214 complexes, Nup205 and Nup93. Comparing with previously reported CR model, the Y complex structure in our model exhibits much tighter interactions in the hub region mediated by α-solenoid domain in Nup160 C-terminus. Five copies of Nup358 are identified in each CR subunit to provide rich interactions with other Nups in stem regions of Y complexes. Two copies of Nup214 complexes lay in a parallel pattern and attach to the short arm region of Y complexes towards the central channel of NPC. Besides, the structural details of two copies of Nup205 on the side of the short arm region and one copy of Nup93 on the stem region of Y complexes in each CR subunit are also revealed. These in-depth novel structural features represent a great advance in understanding the assembly of NPCs.

scholarly journals Amino Acid Substitutions of Coiled-Coil Protein Tpr Abrogate Anchorage to the Nuclear Pore Complex but Not Parallel, In-Register Homodimerization

2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2433-2452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela E. Hase ◽  
Nikolai V. Kuznetsov ◽  
Volker C. Cordes
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Nuclear Periphery ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Cell Fractionation ◽  
Terminal Domain

Tpr is a protein component of nuclear pore complex (NPC)-attached intranuclear filaments. Secondary structure predictions suggest a bipartite structure, with a large N-terminal domain dominated by heptad repeats (HRs) typical for coiled-coil–forming proteins. Proposed functions for Tpr have included roles as a homo- or heteropolymeric architectural element of the nuclear interior. To gain insight into Tpr's ultrastructural properties, we have studied recombinant Tpr segments by circular dichroism spectroscopy, chemical cross-linking, and rotary shadowing electron microscopy. We show that polypeptides of the N-terminal domain homodimerize in vitro and represent α-helical molecules of extended rod-like shape. With the use of a yeast two-hybrid approach, arrangement of the coiled-coil is found to be in parallel and in register. To clarify whether Tpr can self-assemble further into homopolymeric filaments, the full-length protein and deletion mutants were overexpressed in human cells and then analyzed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, cell fractionation, and immuno-electron microscopy. Surplus Tpr, which does not bind to the NPC, remains in a soluble state of ∼7.5 S and occasionally forms aggregates of entangled molecules but neither self-assembles into extended linear filaments nor stably binds to other intranuclear structures. Binding to the NPC is shown to depend on the integrity of individual HRs; amino acid substitutions within these HRs abrogate NPC binding and render the protein soluble but do not abolish Tpr's general ability to homodimerize. Possible contributions of Tpr to the structural organization of the nuclear periphery in somatic cells are discussed.

scholarly journals Architecture of the Xenopus nuclear pore complex revealed by three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy

1993 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
CW Akey ◽  
M Radermacher
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Nuclear Envelope ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Transport ◽  
Domain Model ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Transport Channel ◽  
Macromolecular Transport ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy

The nuclear pore complex spans the nuclear envelope and functions as a macromolecular transporter in the ATP-dependent process of nucleocytoplasmic transport. In this report, we present three dimensional (3D) structures for both membrane-associated and detergent-extracted Xenopus NPCs, imaged in frozen buffers by cryo-electron microscopy. A comparison of the differing configurations present in the 3D maps suggests that the spokes may possess an intrinsic conformational flexibility. When combined with recent data from a 3D map of negatively stained NPCs (Hinshaw, J. E., B. O. Carragher, and R. A. Milligan. 1992. Cell. 69:1133-1141), these observations suggest a minimal domain model for the spoke-ring complex which may account for the observed plasticity of this assembly. Moreover, lumenal domains in adjacent spokes are interconnected by radial arm dimers, forming a lumenal ring that may be responsible for anchoring the NPC within the nuclear envelope pore. Importantly, the NPC transporter is visualized as a centrally tapered cylinder that spans the entire width of the NPC, in a direction normal to the nuclear envelope. The central positioning, tripartite structure, and hollow nature of the transporter suggests that it may form a macromolecular transport channel, with a globular gating domain at each end. Finally, the packing of the transporter within the spokes creates a set of eight internal channels that may be responsible, in part, for the diffusion of ions and small molecules across the nuclear envelope.

scholarly journals 8 Å structure of the outer rings of the Xenopus laevis nuclear pore complex obtained by cryo-EM and AI

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linhua Tai ◽  
Yun Zhu ◽  
He Ren ◽  
Xiaojun Huang ◽  
Chuanmao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Nuclear Pore Complex ◽  
Protein Complexes ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Nucleocytoplasmic Transport ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Nuclear Pore ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Nuclear Ring ◽  
Great Advance

AbstractThe nuclear pore complex (NPC), one of the largest protein complexes in eukaryotes, serves as a physical gate to regulate nucleocytoplasmic transport. Here, we determined the 8 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) structure of the outer rings containing nuclear ring (NR) and cytoplasmic ring (CR) from the Xenopus laevis NPC, with local resolutions reaching 4.9 Å. With the aid of AlphaFold2, we managed to build a pseudoatomic model of the outer rings, including the Y complexes and flanking components. In this most comprehensive and accurate model of outer rings to date, the almost complete Y complex structure exhibits much tighter interaction in the hub region. In addition to two copies of Y complexes, each asymmetric subunit in CR contains five copies of Nup358, two copies of the Nup214 complex, two copies of Nup205 and one copy of newly identified Nup93, while that in NR contains one copy of Nup205, one copy of ELYS and one copy of Nup93. These in-depth structural features represent a great advance in understanding the assembly of NPCs.

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