Nuclear Pore Complex Structure in Birds

The nuclear envelope consists of two parallel membranes enclosing an aqueous lumen. In places there are pores in both membranes at which the two membranes are joined. Within these pores reside the nuclear pore complexes. The current structural models of the nuclear pore complex have been derived from a number of studies using different electron microscopical techniques. Recently, using surface imaging techniques such as field emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy, novel structures have been identified, particularly at the periphery of the structure, most notably the nucleoplasmic basket. One limitation of the current models is that they are based almost entirely on nuclear envelopes isolated from amphibian oocytes and a pressing question is whether this structure is the same in other organisms and tissues. Here we have studied the structure of nuclear envelopes isolated from bird oocytes. We show that the overall structure is remarkably conserved. In particular, recently discovered peripheral structures appear very similar. We see variations in basket conformation but believe that this is related to the functional states of individual pore complexes.