Key Points
- Nuclear pores, the gateways to the cell’s nucleus, are highly dynamic and constantly moving, not rigid.
- A “mobile central plug” at the pore’s center actively controls what enters and exits the pore.
- Scientists used a high-speed microscope to film these movements for the first time directly.
- The findings overturn the long-held belief that pores act like simple sieves or gels.
An international team of scientists has completely changed our understanding of how molecules enter and exit a cell’s nucleus. They discovered that the tiny gateways controlling this traffic, called nuclear pore complexes, are not rigid filters as once believed. Instead, their insides are a whirlwind of constant motion, constantly rearranging themselves.
Think of the cell’s nucleus as a high-security bank vault. The nuclear pore is the guard at the door, only letting in specific molecules with the right “key.” For decades, scientists thought this guard was like a stiff sieve or a gel. But new research published in Nature Cell Biology, led by the University of Basel, shows it’s far more dynamic.
Using an incredibly powerful microscope, the researchers were able to film the pore’s inner workings for the first time. They saw that flexible protein “threads” inside the pore are always moving.
At the center is what they call a “mobile central plug”—a dynamic mix of molecules that moves and adapts, letting the right cargo pass through quickly while keeping unwanted visitors out.
This new view overturns the old idea that pores are like hydrogels, which are like kitchen sponges. “When we examined them more closely, we found that the hydrogels were riddled with holes… much like a kitchen sponge,” explained Professor Roderick Lim, who led the study. The old models just didn’t fit what they were seeing inside the actual cell.
Understanding this constant, shape-shifting behavior is crucial. It opens new doors for research into diseases that occur when this process breaks down. It could also inspire new technologies, such as smart filters or advanced drug-delivery systems that mimic the cell’s sophisticated design.
