Preferred Label : Protein Import into Nucleus Pathway;
NCIt related terms : Mechanism of Protein Import into the Nucleus;
Alternative definition : BIOCARTA: Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are large proteinaceous assemblies that provide
the only known portals for exchanging macromolecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm.
This includes the movement of small molecules and the selective, facilitated transport
of large proteins and RNAs. Faithful, continuous NPC assembly is key for maintaining
normal physiological function and is closely tied to proper cell division. One of
the unexpected developments during the past decade was the realization that the NPC
itself probably does not function primarily as a gating mechanism or by directly transporting
cargo macromolecules between the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. Instead, nuclear
trafficking relies on a range of soluble components. Transport factors bind their
cargo in one compartment and then move through the NPCs to the other compartment,
where the cargo is released. The transport factor then recycles back through the NPC
to participate in another round of transport. In many instances, this process is orchestrated
by the Ras-superfamily GTPase Ran. Bischoff et al. describe in detail how the nucleotide
state of Ran is controlled by its nuclear guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor (RCC1)
and cytoplasmic GTPase-activating protein (RanGAP). The nucleotide state of Ran is
crucial to defining the interactions between transport factors, their cargoes and
nucleoporins, and is fundamental to the sorting mechanism that defines the directionality
of transport. (This definition may be outdated - see the DesignNote.);
NCIt note : The BIOCARTA Definition (ALT_DEFINITION) for this pathway concept was provided by
BioCarta. This property was not created by, nor is it maintained by the NCI Thesaurus
staff. Additionally, BioCarta is no longer updating its pathway data; thus, the BIOCARTA
Definition might be outdated or inaccurate. Please see the Terms and Conditions for
Use at http://www.biocarta.com/.;
Biocarta ID : h_npcPathway;
Origin ID : C39171;
UMLS CUI : C1514547;
Semantic type(s)
- has_gene_product_element
- pathway_has_gene_element
