INTRODUCTION: The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the molecular conduit in the nuclear membrane of eukaryotic cells that regulates import and export of biomolecules between the nucleus and the cytosol, with vertebrate NPCs ~110 to 125 MDa in molecular mass and ~120 nm in diameter. NPCs are organized into four main rings: the cytoplasmic ring (CR) at the cytosolic side, the inner ring and the luminal ring on the plane of the nuclear membrane, and the nuclear ring facing the nucleus. Each ring possesses an approximate eightfold symmetry and is composed of multiple copies of different nucleoporins. NPCs have been implicated in numerous biological processes, and their dysfunctions are associated with a growing number of serious human diseases. However, despite pioneering studies from many groups over the past two decades, we still lack a full understanding of NPCs’ organization, dynamics, and complexity. RATIONALE: We used the Xenopus laevis oocyte as a model system for the structural characterization because each oocyte possesses a large number of NPC particles that can be visualized on native nuclear membranes without the aid of detergent extraction. We used single-particle cryo–electron microscopy (cryo-EM) analysis on data collected at different stage tilt angles for three-dimensional reconstruction and structure prediction with AlphaFold for model building. RESULTS: We reconstructed the CR map of X. laevis NPC at 6.9 and 6.7 Å resolutions for the full CR protomer and a core region, respectively, and predicted the structures of the individual nucleoporins using AlphaFold because no high-resolution models of X. laevis Nups were available. For any ambiguous subunit interactions, we also predicted complex structures, which further guided model fitting of the CR protomer. We placed the nucleoporin or complex structures into the CR density to obtain an almost full CR atomic model, composed of the inner and outer Y-complexes, two copies of Nup205, two copies of the Nup214-Nup88-Nup62 complex, one Nup155, and five copies of Nup358. In particular, we predicted the largest protein in the NPC, Nup358, as having an S-shaped globular domain, a coiled-coil domain, and a largely disordered C-terminal region containing phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats previously shown to form a gel-like condensate phase for selective cargo passage. Four of the Nup358 copies clamp around the inner and outer Y-complexes to stabilize the CR, and the fifth Nup358 situates in the center of the cluster of clamps. AlphaFold also predicted a homo-oligomeric, likely specifically pentameric, coiled-coil structure of Nup358 that may provide the avidity for Nup358 recruitment to the NPC and for lowering the threshold for Nup358 condensation in NPC biogenesis. CONCLUSION: Our studies offer an example of integrative cryo-EM and structure prediction as a general approach for attaining more precise models of megadalton protein complexes from medium-resolution density maps. The more accurate and almost complete model of the CR presented here expands our understanding of the molecular interactions in the NPC and represents a substantial step forward toward the molecular architecture of a full NPC, with implications for NPC function, biogenesis, and regulation. Cryo-EM structure of the cytoplasmatic ring of the nuclear pore complex from X. laevis .: The 6.9 Å map was generated with single-particle cryo-EM, and the model was built with AlphaFold structure prediction. The secondary structural elements guided EM map fitting, resulting in an almost complete model of the complex. The approach allowed the identification of five copies of Nup358 and a second copy of the trimeric Nup214-Nup88-Nup62 complex.

Architecture of the human TRPM2 channel: Adenosine diphosphate–ribose (ADPR) mediates calcium (Ca ²⁺ ) release by activating the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channel. Three structures now elucidate the conformational regulation mechanism of TRPM2 gating. Wang et al. describe cryo–electron microscopy structures of human TRPM2 in the apo, ADPR-bound, and ADPR- and Ca ²⁺ -bound states. In the apo state, both intra- and intersubunit interactions appeared to lock TRPM2 into a closed and autoinhibited state. ADPR binding disrupted some interactions and dramatically altered the TRPM2 conformation. Binding of Ca ²⁺ further primed the opening of the channel. Science , this issue p. eaav4809

Significance: The COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-evolving variants of SARS-CoV-2 are taking a toll on human health. Despite the successful rollout of vaccines, effective therapies are still urgently needed. Our studies here showing that Nsp1 selectively blocks translation of host but not viral proteins by proper coordination of its N- and C-terminal domains to advance our understanding on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Our finding that stem-loop 1, a highly conserved sequence in the SARS-CoV-2 5′ UTR, is necessary and sufficient for bypassing Nsp1-mediated shutdown led to the design of antisense oligonucleotides targeting this sequence that make viral translation susceptible to Nsp1 shutdown, interfere with viral replication, and protect SARS-CoV-2–infected mice. This strategy of turning SARS-CoV-2’s own virulence against itself could be harnessed therapeutically.

Human TMEM175, a noncanonical potassium (K ⁺ ) channel in endolysosomes, contributes to their pH stability and is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Structurally, the TMEM175 family exhibits an architecture distinct from canonical potassium channels, as it lacks the typical TVGYG selectivity filter. Here, we show that human TMEM175 not only exhibits pH-dependent structural changes that reduce K ⁺ permeation at acidic pH but also displays proton permeation. TMEM175 constitutively conducts K ⁺ at pH 7.4 but displays reduced K ⁺ permeation at lower pH. In contrast, proton current through TMEM175 increases with decreasing pH because of the increased proton gradient. Molecular dynamics simulation, structure-based mutagenesis, and electrophysiological analysis suggest that K ⁺ ions and protons share the same permeation pathway. The M393T variant of human TMEM175 associated with PD shows reduced function in both K ⁺ and proton permeation. Together, our structural and electrophysiological analysis reveals a mechanism of TMEM175 regulation by pH.