Single-molecule transport across an individual biomimetic nuclear pore complex

Nat Nanotechnol. 2011 Jun 19;6(7):433-8. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2011.88.

Abstract

Nuclear pore complexes regulate the selective exchange of RNA and proteins across the nuclear envelope in eukaryotic cells. Biomimetic strategies offer new opportunities to investigate this remarkable transport phenomenon. Here, we show selective transport of proteins across individual biomimetic nuclear pore complexes at the single-molecule level. Each biomimetic complex is constructed by covalently tethering either Nup98 or Nup153 (phenylalanine-glycine (FG) nucleoporins) to a solid-state nanopore. Individual translocation events are monitored using ionic current measurements with sub-millisecond temporal resolution. Transport receptors (Impβ) proceed with a dwell time of ∼2.5 ms for both Nup98- and Nup153-coated pores, whereas the passage of non-specific proteins is strongly inhibited with different degrees of selectivity. For pores up to ∼25 nm in diameter, Nups form a dense and low-conducting barrier, whereas they adopt a more open structure in larger pores. Our biomimetic nuclear pore complex provides a quantitative platform for studying nucleocytoplasmic transport phenomena at the single-molecule level in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Biomimetic Materials / metabolism
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Biological
  • Nuclear Pore / chemistry*
  • Nuclear Pore / metabolism
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Transport
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins