Nuclear pore complex protein Nup50 (NUP50)

Nuclear pore complex protein Nup50 (NUP50) is a member of the FG-repeat nucleoporin family which is an essential component of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Nup50 localizes primarily to the nucleoplasmic fibrils of the NPC and also exists in internal nuclear regions in various cell types[1][3][5]. It plays a key role in both nuclear import and export processes, functioning as a cofactor in importin-alpha:beta-mediated protein import, stimulating the disassembly of import complexes and recycling importins[2][4][5]. Nup50 interacts with proteins such as importin alpha, importin beta, CRM1 (the export receptor for leucine-rich NES sequences), and Nup153[1][2][3]. It also activates the Ran guanine nucleotide exchange factor RCC1, which is crucial for NPC assembly at the end of mitosis[3]. Dysfunction of NUP50 is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, notably sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), suggesting its misregulation can precede pathological changes such as TDP-43 mislocalization[5]. Despite its central biological functions, there are currently no known approved drugs directly targeting Nup50, and it is not generally considered a therapeutic target in drug development. Its roles span nuclear transport, nuclear pore assembly, chromatin remodeling, and gene expression regulation.

Other names

Nucleoporin 50NPAP60LPRO114650 kDa nucleoporinNuclear pore-associated protein 60 kDa-likeNucleoporin Nup50NPAP60nuclear pore complex protein Nup50nuclear pore-associated protein 60Lnucleoporin 50kDnucleoporin 50kDa