title: Three-dimensional architecture of the isolated yeast nuclear pore complex: functional and evolutionary implications.
abstract: We have calculated a three-dimensional map of the yeast nuclear pore complex (yNPC) from frozen-hydrated specimens, thereby providing a direct comparison with the vertebrate NPC. Overall, the smaller yNPC is comprised of an octagonal inner spoke ring that is anchored within the nuclear envelope by a novel membrane-interacting ring. In addition, a cylindrical transporter is located centrally within the spokes and exhibits a variable radial expansion in projection that may reflect gating. The inner spoke ring, a transmembrane spoke domain, and the transporter are conserved between yeast and vertebrates; hence, they are required to form a functional NPC. However, significant alterations in NPC architecture have arisen during evolution that may be correlated with differences in nuclear transport regulation or mitotic behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118-2526, USA.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rout
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Akey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005615:Freezing; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012440:Saccharomyces / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014714:Vertebrates
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins