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

DOI10.1016/J.PHYSA.2014.02.059MaRDI QIDQ1782756zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors R. Chakrabarti, Ananya Debnath, K. L. Sebastian

Publication date 20 September 2018

Published in Physica A (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0706.3758

zbMATH Keywords

brush vs gel picture of nuclear pore complexdiffusion of macromoleculesenhancement in diffusionnuclear pore complex

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Transformations involving diffusion in solids (74N25) Transport processes in time-dependent statistical mechanics (82C70)

Abstract: Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are very selective filters that monitor the transport between the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm. Two models have been suggested for the plug of the NPC. They are (i) it is a reversible hydrogel or (ii) it is a polymer brush. We propose a mesoscopic model for the transport of a protein through the plug, that is general enough to cover both. The protein stretches the plug and creates a local deformation. The bubble so created (prtoein+deformation) executes random walk in the plug. We find that for faster relaxation of the gel, the diffusion of the bubble is greater. Further, on using parameters appropriate for the brush, we find that the diffusion coefficient is much lower. Hence the gel model seems to be more likely explanation for the workings of the plug.

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Cited in

(1)

• Temporal fluctuation of nuclear pore complex localization by single diffusing mRNP complexes

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