NPCs in mitosis and chromosome segregation

Abstract

In eukaryotic cells, the nuclear envelope (NE) separates thousands of genes and RNAs inside the nucleus from the rest of the cell. The NE consists of two separate membranes, the inner nucleoplasm-facing nuclear membrane and the outer cytoplasmfacing nuclear membrane, which is continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These membranes are separated by the perinuclear luminal space. Transport between the cytoplasm and the nucleus occurs through dedicated, cylindrical holes that are present at sites where the inner and outer nuclear membranes connect together. These holes are filled with macromolecular gates termed nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), which are the only gateway between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In recent years, several nucleoporins have been shown to play important roles in mitosis. In this chapter, we summarize the recent progress in our understanding of the roles of different nuclear pore components at different stages of mitosis, with a focus on their functions within the mitotic machinery and in the inhibition of tumorigenesis.