Diffusion in an elastic medium: A model for macromolecule transport across the nuclear pore complex

Chakrabarti, Rajarshi and Debnath, Ananya and Sebastian, KL (2014) Diffusion in an elastic medium: A model for macromolecule transport across the nuclear pore complex. In: PHYSICA A-STATISTICAL MECHANICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS, 404 . pp. 65-78.

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Abstract

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are very selective filters that sit on the membrane of the nucleus and monitor the transport between the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm. For the central plug of NPC two models have been suggested in the literature. The first suggests that the plug is a reversible hydrogel while the other suggests that it is a polymer brush. Here we propose a model for the transport of a protein through the plug, which is general enough to cover both the models. The protein stretches the plug and creates a local deformation, which together with the protein, we refer to as the bubble. We start with the free energy for creation of the bubble and consider its motion within the plug. The relevant coordinate is the center of the bubble which executes random walk. We find that for faster relaxation of the gel, the diffusion of the bubble is greater. (C) 2014 Elsevier-B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	PHYSICA A-STATISTICAL MECHANICS AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Publisher:	ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Additional Information:	copyright for this article belongs to ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Keywords:	Nuclear pore complex; Diffusion of macromolecules; Brush vs gel picture of nuclear pore complex; Enhancement in diffusion
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Inorganic & Physical Chemistry
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2014 09:42
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2014 09:42
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/49208

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