title: Ultrathin nucleoporin phenylalanine-glycine repeat films and their interaction with nuclear transport receptors.
abstract: Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are highly selective gates that mediate the exchange of all proteins and nucleic acids between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Their selectivity relies on a supramolecular assembly of natively unfolded nucleoporin domains containing phenylalanine-glycine (FG)-rich repeats (FG repeat domains), in a way that is at present poorly understood. We have developed ultrathin FG domain films that reproduce the mode of attachment and the density of FG repeats in NPCs, and that exhibit a thickness that corresponds to the nanoscopic dimensions of the native permeability barrier. By using a combination of biophysical characterization techniques, we quantified the binding of nuclear transport receptors (NTRs) to such FG domain films and analysed how this binding affects the swelling behaviour and mechanical properties of the films. The results extend our understanding of the interaction of FG domain assemblies with NTRs and contribute important information to refine the model of transport across the permeability barrier.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
authors.forename: Nico B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piehler
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Görlich
authors.forename: Ralf P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism*; D028861:Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010539:Permeability; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D020449:Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D028861:Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D010649:Phenylalanine; D005998:Glycine