Virtual gating and nuclear transport: the hole picture.
The eukaryotic nucleus is surrounded by a protective nuclear envelope, which is perforated by trafficking machines termed nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). The NPCs are the sole mediators of exchange between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Small molecules pass through the NPCs unchallenged; however, large macromolecules are excluded unless chaperoned across by transport factors. Here, we suggest a model, termed 'virtual gating', to explain the mechanism of this rapid and selective macromolecular trafficking.
Rout
Michael P
MP
The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10021, USA. rout@rockefeller.edu
Aitchison
John D
JD
Magnasco
Marcelo O
MO
Chait
Brian T
BT
D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000502:physiology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000502:physiology*; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020931:ran GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012313:RNA; D020931:ran GTP-Binding Protein