Events

Dr Martin Goldberg, Communication across the Nuclear Envelope

Date: Wednesday 15 April 2015 15:00 - 16:00

Location: Fogg Lecture Theatre, Fogg Building, Mile End

SPEAKER: Dr Martin Goldberg, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University

TITLE: Communication across the Nuclear Envelope

DATE & LOCATION: Wednesday April 15th, 2015, 3-4pm, in Fogg Lecture Theatre, Fogg Building, Mile End

ABSTRACT
The nuclear envelope (NE) is a double membrane system separating nucleus and cytoplasm. There are two connectivities across it: (1) Nuclear Pore Complexes (NPCs) provide aqueous channels to selectively facilitate transfer of soluble molecules; (2) the LINC complex links nucleoskeleton to cytoskeleton. NPCs are formed when inner and outer nuclear membranes fuse. There is a massive protein structure in the resulting pore, consisting of a scaffold with peripheral cytoplasmic filaments and nucleoplasmic baskets. In the central channel, intrinsically disordered protein domains form a structure of debated nature which facilitates transport. We are interested in the organisation and physical state of these components and how this relates to transport mechanisms. We are also interested in the organisation of the nuclear lamina and how it links to the cytoskeleton via the LINC complex (inner membrane SUN domain proteins linked to outer membrane Nesprins linking to the cytoskeleton). Our works centres on advanced scanning and transmission electron microscopy.