Deciphering the Structure and Function of Nuclear Pores Using Single-Molecule Fluorescence Approaches
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UMass Chan Affiliations
RNA Therapeutics InstituteDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2016-05-22Keywords
mRNA exportnuclear pore complex
nucleocytoplasmic transport
protein import
single-molecule fluorescence
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
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Due to its central role in macromolecular trafficking and nucleocytoplasmic information transfer, the nuclear pore complex (NPC) has been studied in great detail using a wide spectrum of methods. Consequently, many aspects of its architecture, general function, and role in the life cycle of a cell are well understood. Over the last decade, fluorescence microscopy methods have enabled the real-time visualization of single molecules interacting with and transiting through the NPC, allowing novel questions to be examined with nanometer precision. While initial single-molecule studies focused primarily on import pathways using permeabilized cells, it has recently proven feasible to investigate the export of mRNAs in living cells. Single-molecule assays can address questions that are difficult or impossible to answer by other means, yet the complexity of nucleocytoplasmic transport requires that interpretation be based on a firm genetic, biochemical, and structural foundation. Moreover, conceptually simple single-molecule experiments remain technically challenging, particularly with regard to signal intensity, signal-to-noise ratio, and the analysis of noise, stochasticity, and precision. We discuss nuclear transport issues recently addressed by single-molecule microscopy, evaluate the limits of existing assays and data, and identify open questions for future studies. We expect that single-molecule fluorescence approaches will continue to be applied to outstanding nucleocytoplasmic transport questions, and that the approaches developed for NPC studies are extendable to additional complex systems and pathways within cells.Source
J Mol Biol. 2016 May 22;428(10 Pt A):2091-119. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.02.023. Epub 2016 Mar 2. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1016/j.jmb.2016.02.023Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/28870PubMed ID
26944195Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.jmb.2016.02.023