Nuclear Pore Complexes

Department of Molecular Sociology (MS)

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Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are fundamental components of all eukaryotic cells. They are giant channels that perforate the nuclear envelope and mediate transport of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. In mammals, around 1000 protein building blocks assemble into an intricate cylindrical architecture that fuses the inner and outer nuclear membranes, making the NPC possibly the largest protein complex in the cell. We aim to understand how this architecture enables nucleocytoplasmic exchange in conjunction with the regulation of gene expression. In particular, we study three different aspects:

• The compositional and conformational dynamics of NPC architecture. NPCs compositionally and conformationally adapt to context-specific needs. It has become clear that there are prominent differences in nuclear pore function across cell types and organisms. Such alterations play a critical role during cell differentiation, malignant transformation and genetic diseases. The question to which extent NPCs within the same cell fulfill dedicated tasks remains an active area of research.

• The evolutionary diversity and origin of NPCs. The nuclear compartment is a hallmark of eukaryotes and therefore, the NPCs themselves are deeply rooted in the origin of eukaryotes. We have shown that NPCs are surprisingly diverse across the eukaryotic tree of life. Changes in the NPC may have left an imprint of the evolutionary history of eukaryotes that might ultimately allow to precisely root their origin.

• How cells build and degrade NPCs. Due to the complexity of their architecture, the assembly, maintenance and quality control of NPCs imposes a formidable challenge for cells. Two mechanistically distinct assembly pathways conceptualise how NPCs are made during interphase and at the end of mitosis, respectively, in higher eukaryotes. We have previously shown that an alternative modus operandi is relevant to oogenesis and that NPC turnover proceeds through selective autophagy by nuclear envelope budding. We are interested in the molecular mechanisms of NPC maintenance and structural analysis of the respective assembly and disassembly intermediates. These processes are not only relevant to development, but also to cellular homeostasis and aging. 

Selected Publications