Discrete 3D Model of Molecular Diffusion Through the Nuclear Pore Complex

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are passageways that exist within the nuclear envelope (NE) of a eukaryotic cell. Molecular cargo travel through the passageways to either import to the nucleus or export to the cytoplasm of the cell. Efficient export of certain cargo is necessary for maintained health of a cell, and hence, the organism. Traditional methods of observing NPCs lack resolution great enough for scientists to study the many interactions that take place inside of the complex. A discrete 3D model of the molecular diffusion was built to understand how cargo moves through the NPCs and how to improve import and export efficiency of particular molecules. The basis of the model is a Langevin equation that was customized to the environment of the central channel of a NPC. The model incorporated not only the Brownian motion of the molecules, but also the geometry of the channel, the diffusion coefficient for molecules in the fluid of the central channel, and a potential energy (PE) function to describe drifting affects by the dense layers of phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats located in the channel and a concentration of transport receptors located on either ends of the NPC. The model simulated the movement of spherical molecules through the NPC and kept track of their location during their transport. The model showed that the cargo’s movement has a distinct dependence on the PE function. The model can be further, and easily, manipulated and used for more comparisons to experimentally determined export efficiency for different cargo.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Quintana, Star-Lena Jaramillo

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Klapper, Isaac

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Yang, Weidong, Dr.
• Yang, Wei-shih, 1954-

• Applied mathematics
• Biology

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

958157455

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/3435