Floppy but not sloppy: Interaction mechanism of FG-nucleoporins and nuclear transport receptors

Abstract

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) forms a permeability barrier between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Molecules that are able to cross this permeability barrier encounter different disordered phenylalanine glycine rich nucleoporins (FG-Nups) that act as a molecular filter and regulate the selective NPC crossing of biomolecules. In this review, we provide a current overview regarding the interaction mechanism between FG-Nups and the carrier molecules that recognize and enable the transport of cargoes through the NPC aiming to understand the general molecular mechanisms that facilitate the nucleocytoplasmic transport.

Keywords: Intrinsically disordered protein; Multivalency; Nuclear transport receptors; Nucleocytoplasmic transport; Nucleoporins.