Nuclear Transport

Nuclear transport is the process by which molecules move between a cell's nucleus and its cytoplasm. Since the nucleus is enclosed by a nuclear envelope with tiny gateways called nuclear pores, proteins and other molecules need specialized mechanisms to enter or exit. Small molecules pass freely, but larger ones, like proteins, require active transport facilitated by transport proteins that recognize specific signals. This system maintains proper cell function by regulating the exchange of materials, ensuring that necessary proteins get into the nucleus for gene activity and that waste or other molecules exit appropriately.