DNA is the blueprint of life, stored in the cell nucleus, which is separated from the cell matrix by the nuclear membrane. The nuclear pore complex, a trans-nuclear membrane apparatus, consists of about 30 different proteins collectively called nucleoporin, and functions as a transportation passage for the DNA information network between the nucleus and the cell matrix. In recent years, the nuclear pore complex has been recognized as an essential factor regulating life phenomena, being revealed to participate in gene expression and mitotic processes for DNA preservation. However, it is still unclear how all the nucleoporin proteins coordinate to perform such functions. This Research Unit aims to elucidate the dynamics and functions of the nuclear pore complex in regulating cell physiology by means of structural and molecular biology. This Unit also investigates mechanisms of onset and progression of diseases caused by impairment of the above-mentioned regulation and hence aims to develop nano-medical techniques based on research into the nuclear pore complex.