# Mechanisms of nucleoporin-mediated gene regulation

> **NIH NIH R01** · SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES · 2020 · $408,913

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The genome is housed within the nucleus, where transcription is regulated by architectural features that direct
DNA packaging and epigenetic modifications. How genome organization and modification are controlled to
allow proper gene expression and normal organismal development is an ongoing area of inquiry. Recent
discoveries highlight the important role of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), which regulates transport of
biomolecules between the cytosol and nucleus, in transcription control. The NPC protein Nup98 has the ability
to move on and off the NPC structure to associate with specific sites in the genome inside the nucleus.
Research has shown that this interaction promotes gene activation in developing tissues and that its disruption
causes leukemia, hinting at the functional importance of Nup98-directed gene activation for normal
development. A recently identified variant of another nucleoporin protein termed sPom121 (“short Pom121),
which has completely lost the ability to associate with the NPC but interacts with Nup98 and other nucleoporins
within the nucleus to regulate genes. sPom121 recruits additional nucleoporin proteins, and likely other
unknown proteins, to structures within the nucleoplasm that we refer to as chromatin-associated nucleoporin
complexes, or CNCs. Building on recent findings on the overlapping functions of Nup98 and sPom121 to
dissect the roles of CNCs in gene regulation in mammals. Specifically, it will be determined what chromatin
modifying enzymes Nup98 associates with to mediate gene activation, and determine how those interactions
and gene targets are de-regulated in leukemia. sPom121 specifically marks intranuclear sites of genome
regulation (CNCs) but does not associate with the NPC to identify nucleoporin-associated proteins that function
in gene regulation. Studies will provide new information about Nup98 as a transcription regulator in
hematopoietic cells and have the potential to establish CNCs as a novel feature of gene regulation and
genome organization.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9834953
- **Project number:** 5R01GM126829-03
- **Recipient organization:** SALK INSTITUTE FOR BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
- **Principal Investigator:** Martin W Hetzer
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $408,913
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9834953

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9834953, Mechanisms of nucleoporin-mediated gene regulation (5R01GM126829-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9834953. Licensed CC0.

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