The nuclear envelope is a membrane system which surrounds the nucleoplasm of eukaryotic cells. It is composed of the nuclear lamina, nuclear pore complexes and two nuclear membranes. The space between the two membranes is called the nuclear intermembrane space.
The membrane surrounding the nucleus. This term is used when it is not known if the protein is found in or associated with the inner or outer nuclear membrane.
The nuclear pore complex (NPC) constitutes the exclusive means of nucleocytoplasmic transport. NPCs allow the passive diffusion of ions and small molecules and the active bidirectional transport of macromolecules such as proteins, RNAs etc across the double-membrane nuclear envelope.The NPC is composed of at least 30 distinct subunits known as Nucleoporins (NUPs).
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Department of Biology
Biophysics & Bioinformatics Laboratory