The maximal size of protein to diffuse through the nuclear pore is larger than 60kDa

Abstract 

It has generally been believed that the diffusion limit set by the nuclear pore for protein is 60kDa. We here studied the cellular localization of several artificial proteins and found that the diffusion limit set by the nuclear pore is not as small as previously thought. The results indicate that the maximal size of protein to diffuse through the nuclear pore complex could be quite larger than 60kDa, thus greatly extending the diffusion limit that the nuclear pore can accommodate.

Abbreviations: NPC, nuclear pore complex, ERK2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2, PDK1, 3′-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase, aa, amino acid(s), NLS, nuclear localization signal, NES, nuclear export signal

Keywords: Nuclear pore, Protein nuclear translocation, Diffusion limit