Mechanisms and Signals for the Nuclear Import of Proteins

Overview

Journal Curr Genomics

Publisher Bentham Science Publishers

Date 2010 Jun 2

PMID 20514217

Citations 64

Authors

Natalia Freitas

Celso Cunha

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In eukaryotes, the nuclear membrane provides a physical barrier to the passive diffusion of macromolecules from and into the cytoplasm. Nucleocytoplasmic traffic occurs through highly specialized structures known as nuclear pores, and involves the participation of a special class of transport proteins. Active transport across the nuclear pores is an energy-dependent process that relies on the activity of Ran-GTPases both in the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. Nuclear import of proteins is an essential step in regulating gene expression and the replication cycle of several viruses. In this review, the key mechanisms, pathways, and models underlying the transport of proteins across nuclear pores are analysed.

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