PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The eukaryotic cell has evolved to compartmentalize DNA within the nucleus, surrounded by the barrier of the
nuclear envelope (NE), providing protection to the DNA and a means to control information flow to and from the
genome. This flow, namely the passage of small molecules, RNAs, and proteins across the NE, is mediated by
large, 8-fold symmetrical structures known as nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). Arranged as a stack of rings, the
NPC scaffold braces open pores within the NE, yet preserves its barrier function with a dense network of
disordered protein domains, rich in repeating phenylalanine-glycine motifs (FG repeats), known as the NPC
central transporter. The largest NPC cargoes, including pre-ribosomal subunits, mRNPs, and proteasome
subcomplexes, approach the width of the ~55 nm NPC channel in size, yet are able to transit the NPC central
transporter. That such large cargoes can traverse the NPC suggests that organized mechanisms and alternate
structural states of the NPC are required to transport large cargoes through the FG repeat network of the central
transporter. To address these questions, our multi-investigator, multi-site collaborative team recently determined
structures of the affinity isolated S. cerevisiae budding yeast NPC at 8-11 Å resolution and the in situ yeast NPC
at 30-40 Å resolution (Akey et al., 2022). Comparison of “ground state” (isolated) and “active state” (in situ) NPCs
revealed that radial dilation of the NPC scaffold may accommodate changes in cargo flux or size. We now aim
to investigate the dynamics of NPC transport function of model large cargoes that can be targeted for import into
the nucleus and arrested during transport, allowing us to quantify cargo transport dynamics (function) and map
the location of the transiting cargo within the NPC (structure). We will dissect NPC transport’s energy-
dependence on nuclear Ran-GTP into separate studies of passive, Ran-insensitive cargo targeting to the NPC
(Aim 1) and active, Ran-dependent cargo transport through the NPC (Aim 2). Using well-characterized NPC
transport mutants, we will examine the behavior of actively transporting large cargoes by perturbing specific
stages along the transport path (Aim 3). This level of control will allow us to map transport functions not only to
specific Nups, but to specific regions of Nups. Quantitative fluorescence microscopy and cell fitness assays will
screen for functionally important phenotypes to selectively pursue NPC-cargo interactomics by mass
spectrometry and visualization of NPC structural changes by cryo-electron microscopy. Our functional and
structural data will inform each other in a synergistic but non-dependent fashion to reveal how the NPC adopts
distinct and discrete structural states to perform its transport functions for native (mRNPs, pre-ribosomes) and
non-native (viral capsids, nanocarriers) large cargoes. This comprehensive research strategy will advance our
understanding of (i) constitutive large cargo transport processes and malfunction of this process in disease states
(ii) interactions between viral capsids and NPCs during infection and (iii) nuclear-targeting for nanocarriers in
drug delivery and gene therapy.