Nucleophilin

Nucleophilin is a protein that plays a role in the transport of molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm of a cell. It is a member of a family of proteins known as nucleoporins, which are the building blocks of the nuclear pore complex. The nuclear pore complex is a large protein structure that spans the nuclear envelope and regulates the passage of molecules into and out of the cell nucleus. Nucleophilins are thought to be involved in the recognition and binding of molecules destined for transport, as well as in the structural integrity of the nuclear pore complex. There are different types of nucleophilins, each with potentially distinct functions within the nuclear pore. Their precise mechanisms of action and the full spectrum of their cellular roles are still areas of active research.