Staff profile

My name is James Stevenson, I am working in Prof. Martin Goldberg’s lab researching a nuclear pore complex (NPC) protein called NUP358 in MDA MB 231 breast cancer cells. NUP358 is a large, multipurpose nucleoporin that is necessary for the nuclear pore complex's formation and operation. Nup358, which has a molecular weight of 358 kDa, is found in the cytoplasmic filaments of the NPC and is essential for nucleocytoplasmic transport. It interacts with RanGTPase, regulating the import and export of proteins and RNA between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In my undergraduate final year research project, I found that NUP358 wasn’t solely located at the NPC but also at the periphery of the cell where cell movement mechanics and cell membrane protrusions were found. This discovery has led me to try and answer four big questions – 1. Can I prove NUP358 is found at cell protrusions, 2. How does it get there, 3. What is its function there and 4. The NUP358 bigger picture in terms of the cell cycle. I will be utilising laser, light, and electron microscope techniques to help me answer these questions.

• Proteins of the Nuclear pore complex especially NUP358.
• Localisation and movement mechanics of NUP358 in the cell cycle
• Light microscopy - OMX 3D SIM and Lattice light sheet
• Electron microscopy - SEM and TEM