Nuclear pore formation but not nuclear growth is governed by cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) during interphase

Nuclear volume and the number of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) on the nucleus almost double during interphase in dividing cells. How these events are coordinated with the cell cycle is poorly understood, particularly in mammalian cells. We report here, based on newly developed techniques for visualizing NPC formation, that cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), especially Cdk1 and Cdk2, promote interphase NPC formation in human dividing cells. Cdks seem to drive an early step of NPC formation because Cdk inhibition suppressed generation of 'nascent pores', which we argue are immature NPCs under the formation process. Consistent with this, Cdk inhibition disturbed proper expression and localization of some nucleoporins, including Elys/Mel-28, which triggers postmitotic NPC assembly. Strikingly, Cdk suppression did not notably affect nuclear growth, suggesting that interphase NPC formation and nuclear growth have distinct regulation mechanisms.