Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship for Ventura Santos

In cellulo cryo electron tomography study on the structural regulation of nuclear pore complexes by the Nup210 luminal ring

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions of the European Union support the career of talented early career researchers who move abroad to gain experience in other countries and fosters excellence in science. Camilla Ventura Santos was among the 16.6 % of applicants who were gruanted in 2025.

Objective:

The nuclear envelope (NE) protects the genetic material in eukaryotes and contains nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) that regulate nucleocytoplasmic exchange. Under high tension, NPCs can dilate, but it is unclear which components prevent their disintegration and potential NE rupture. Nup210, a nucleoporin upregulated in several cancers, is a promising candidate for stabilizing NPCs under mechanical strain through its luminal ring (LR) structure. This project aims to investigate the role of the Nup210 LR in maintaining NPC integrity under stress using focused ion beam milling, cryo-electron tomography, and image analysis of control and Nup210-depleted cells. By comparing NPC structures under varying NE tension, I will assess whether the LR allows elastic dilation and re-constriction. These structural findings will be complemented by functional assays monitoring NE rupture and transport efficiency. The results will advance our understanding of NPC stability and mechanoprotection, relevant to structural biology, NE dynamics, and cancer research.

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