nuclear envelope
nuclear envelope The double membrane that separates the nucleoplasm (see nucleus) of a cell from the cytoplasm. The membranes consist of lipid bilayers that are separated by a perinuclear space (or compartment). The outer membrane is continuous with the rough endoplasmic reticulum and is structurally and functionally distinct from the inner membrane. The envelope is perforated at intervals by nuclear pores, which provide a channel for the selective transfer of water-soluble molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Each nuclear pore is surrounded by a disc-shaped structure (nuclear pore complex) consisting of an octagonal arrangement of eight protein granules.
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nuclear envelope
