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December 26, 2008
Erik W. Debler, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow '08-'10) and colleagues at The Rockefeller University, New York, reported the crystal structure of core proteins in the nuclear pore complex (NPC). The NPC is a large protein complex that is essential for regulating the movement of proteins into and out of the cell’s nucleus. Identifying the structure of NPC proteins allows the researchers to propose a model for how the NPC functions. Defects in the assembly, structure and function of the NPC can lead to diseases such as cancer and viral infections. A better understanding of how the complex works could lead to new treatments for these diseases. This work was featured on the cover of the journal Molecular Cell.