Researchers report that the selective barrier inside nuclear pores in living human cells shows liquid-like, highly dynamic behavior. Rather than acting as a rigid gate, the barrier is formed by flexible nuclear pore proteins whose movement and interactions help regulate what molecules can pass between the nucleus and the cell.
Across the reports, scientists combine observations in live cells with modelling and molecular dynamics to reconcile different views of how nuclear transport works. Nature articles emphasize coordinated molecular interactions and specific components—such as glycosylation and importin proteins—that help maintain the barrier’s fluidity and organization. The Phys.org report focuses on experimental fluorescent-probe evidence that reveals fluid-like barriers within nuclear pores, building on established knowledge of pore scaffold structures while targeting remaining questions about the internal transport mechanism.
