@article{10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000496, doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000496}, author = {Lezon, Timothy R. AND Sali, Andrej AND Bahar, Ivet}, journal = {PLOS Computational Biology}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, title = {Global Motions of the Nuclear Pore Complex: Insights from Elastic Network Models}, year = {2009}, month = {09}, volume = {5}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000496}, pages = {1-10}, abstract = {The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the gate to the nucleus. Recent determination of the configuration of proteins in the yeast NPC at ∼5 nm resolution permits us to study the NPC global dynamics using coarse-grained structural models. We investigate these large-scale motions by using an extended elastic network model (ENM) formalism applied to several coarse-grained representations of the NPC. Two types of collective motions (global modes) are predicted by the ENMs to be intrinsically favored by the NPC architecture: global bending and extension/contraction from circular to elliptical shapes. These motions are shown to be robust against tested variations in the representation of the NPC, and are largely captured by a simple model of a toroid with axially varying mass density. We demonstrate that spoke multiplicity significantly affects the accessible number of symmetric low-energy modes of motion; the NPC-like toroidal structures composed of 8 spokes have access to highly cooperative symmetric motions that are inaccessible to toroids composed of 7 or 9 spokes. The analysis reveals modes of motion that may facilitate macromolecular transport through the NPC, consistent with previous experimental observations.}, number = {9}, }