Cell recently proposed a model of the yeast nuclear pore complex

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a multi-protein complex that serves as a pathway for molecules to enter and exit the nucleus

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) used rapid descent freezing and electron microscopy, combined with computational methods, to create a comprehensive model of yeast NPC, revealing the interconnected structure of its core scaffold

"This research greatly expands our understanding of the structure of NPC from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The researchers said that this model will better understand how these large channels are gathered, and how they can expand and contract and adapt to changes in transportation by expanding the central channel

"In addition, we have observed multiple types of NPCs in the same cell for the first time, reflecting the ability of this component to resemble Lego bricks, and its structure can be modified on the nuclear side with interchangeable parts

Researchers believe that these findings lay the foundation for studying how viruses usurp this important way to infect cells and change their physiological functions to cause diseases

Collaborators on this project include Dr.

These findings were published in the online edition of Cell

Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health, the Pew Scholars Program, and the Storrs Medical Institute

Journal Reference :

1. Christopher W.