On the Octagonal Structure of the Nuclear Pore Complex: Insights from Coarse-Grained Models
Christopher B. Wolf 1 and Mohammad R. K. Mofrad 2*
1 University of California - Berkeley
2 University of California Berkeley
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mofrad{at}berkeley.edu.
Submitted on January 29, 2008
Revised on March 20, 2008
Accepted on 24 April 2008
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Abstract |
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The basic structure of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), conserved across almost all organisms from yeast to humans, persists in featuring an octagonal symmetry involving the nucleoporins that constitute the NPC ring. In this paper, we seek to understand and evaluate the potential biomechanical reasons for this 8-fold symmetry. Our analytical investigation shows that the 8-fold symmetry maximizes the bending stiffness of each of the eight NPC spokes while our computational analyses identify the most likely deformation modes, frequencies and associated kinetic energies of the NPC. These modes have energies close to other published findings using membrane analysis of the nuclear membrane pore opening, and deformation states in agreement with experimental observations. A better understanding of NPC mechanics is essential for characterizing the nucleocytoplasmic transport which has a central importance in cell biology.
Key Words:
8-fold symmetry, Nuclear pore complex, membrane analysis, nucleocytoplasmic transport, octagonal shape, structure/function
