title: The Part and the Whole: functions of nucleoporins in nucleocytoplasmic transport.
abstract: The nuclear pore complex (NPC) functions as a selective gate that allows passage of certain molecules into and out of the nucleus and restricts that of others. Nucleoporins, the protein components of the NPC, can have a predominantly structural function but also take active roles in nuclear transport. First, multiple nucleoporins with phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats appear to act as an entity, forming a barrier that is permeable for only a subset of macromolecules. Second, individual nucleoporins can specifically affect individual transport pathways. To contrast and compare these different functions of nucleoporins, we review the models that try to explain selective transport on the basis of FG-nucleoporins and discuss the role of individual nucleoporins in nuclear import and export.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Biochemie und Molekulare Zellbiologie, Universität Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wälde
authors.forename: Ralph H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kehlenbach
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000378:metabolism; D028861:Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D028861:Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins