Elucidating the nanoscopic organization and dynamics of the nuclear pore complex

Journal Article (2025)
Author(s)

Kevin N. Baumann (University of Basel)

Eva Bertosin (Universiteit Utrecht, TU Delft - BN/Cees Dekker Lab, Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft)

Anders Barth (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - BN/Cees Dekker Lab)

Cees Dekker (Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft, TU Delft - BN/Cees Dekker Lab)

Roderick Y.H. Lim (University of Basel)

DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1080/19491034.2025.2510106 Final published version
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Journal title
Nucleus
Issue number
1
Volume number
16
Article number
2510106
Downloads counter
264
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

Due to its pivotal role as a regulator of nucleocytoplasmic transport, the structure and dynamic gating mechanism of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a subject of immense interest. Here, we report key recent advancements discussed at the Selective Transport Control in Biological and Biomimetic Nanopores meeting (Monte Verità, Switzerland, 2024) that gathered NPC experts from a range of disciplines. Novel insights were reported from cutting-edge super-resolution techniques that enable the direct interrogation of the NPC’s dynamic central transporter; computational models that unravel the mechanisms of the selective barrier; and synthetic NPC mimics as valuable in vitro models for delineating NPC permeability and transport dynamics. Altogether, three major insights were highlighted: (i) the presence of dynamically organised nuclear transport pathways within the NPC, (ii) the role of nuclear transport receptors that enrich and reinforce the NPC’s selective permeability barrier, and (iii) the ability of DNA origami nanostructures to mimic aspects of the NPC with unprecedented precision. Overall, the advancements marked a convergence in our understanding of NPC function by unraveling its dynamic gating mechanism at the nanoscale.