Abstract
The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is essential for the transit of molecules between the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm of a cell and until recently was thought to allow intermediate-sized molecules (relative molecular mass of ~10,000) to diffuse freely across the nuclear envelope. However, the depletion of calcium from the nuclear envelope of Xenopus laevis oocytes was shown to regulate the passage of intermediate-sized molecules. Two distinct conformational states of the NPC were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. A central plug occluded the NPC channel after nuclear calcium stores had been depleted and free diffusion of intermediate-sized molecules had been blocked. Thus, the NPC conformation appears to gate molecular movement across the nuclear envelope.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1875-1877 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 273 |
Issue number | 5283 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 27 1996 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General