Toward the atomic structure of the nuclear pore complex: when top down meets bottom up.
Elucidating the structure of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a prerequisite for understanding the molecular mechanism of nucleocytoplasmic transport. However, owing to its sheer size and flexibility, the NPC is unapproachable by classical structure determination techniques and requires a joint effort of complementary methods. Whereas bottom-up approaches rely on biochemical interaction studies and crystal-structure determination of NPC components, top-down approaches attempt to determine the structure of the intact NPC in situ. Recently, both approaches have converged, thereby bridging the resolution gap from the higher-order scaffold structure to near-atomic resolution and opening the door for structure-guided experimental interrogations of NPC function.
Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.
André
A
Hoelz
Department of Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.
Joseph S
JS
Glavy
European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany.
Martin
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7397-1321
M
Beck
D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022022:Nuclear Pore / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D028861:Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D028861:Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins