Abstract
The exchange of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and the nucleus of eukaryotic cells takes place through the nuclear pore complex (NPC), which contains a selective permeability barrier. Experiments on the physical properties of this barrier appear to be in conflict with current physical understanding of the rheology of reversible gels. This paper proposes that the NPC gel is anomalous and characterized by connectivity fluctuations. It develops a simplified model to demonstrate the possibility of enhanced diffusion constants of macromolecules trapped in such a gel.
MeSH terms
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Biological Transport, Active / physiology*
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Carrier Proteins / chemistry
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Carrier Proteins / physiology
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Cell Nucleus / chemistry
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Cell Nucleus / physiology
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Cytoplasm / chemistry
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Cytoplasm / physiology
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Diffusion
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Energy Transfer
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Friction
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Gels / chemistry*
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Inclusion Bodies / chemistry
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Inclusion Bodies / physiology
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Macromolecular Substances
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Models, Biological*
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Models, Chemical
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Motion
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Nuclear Pore / chemistry*
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Nuclear Pore / physiology*
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Permeability
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Porosity
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Protein Conformation
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Rheology / methods
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Stochastic Processes
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Stress, Mechanical
Substances
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Carrier Proteins
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Gels
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Macromolecular Substances