Abstract
A defining feature of eukaryotes is the nucleus, where most of the genetic information resides and is safeguarded within the confines of the nuclear envelope (NE). While this barrier serves to protect the genome and separate transcription from translation, the need to facilitate transport across the NE itself represents a challenge [1]. Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) support bidirectional transport between the nucleus and cytoplasm and, together with other NE constituents, play critical roles in genome organization, gene expression and nucleocytoplasmic trafficking [2]. As a result, perturbations in the homeostasis of NPC or NE biology are implicated in a range of pathological states, such as neurodegenerative or movement disorders, ageing, cancer, acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) and viral infection [2]. Furthermore, variations in the composition and organization of the NPC are now known to occur between evolutionary lineages with likely significant connections with divergent requirements [3]. Here, in the first of two collections devoted to the