Functions as a component of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). NPC components, collectively referred to as nucleoporins (NUPs), can play the role of both NPC structural components and of docking or interaction partners for transiently associated nuclear transport factors. Active directional transport is assured by both, a Phe-Gly (FG) repeat affinity gradient for these transport factors across the NPC and a transport cofactor concentration gradient across the nuclear envelope (PubMed:15116432). Nup189 is autocatalytically cleaved in vivo in 2 polypeptides which assume different functions in the NPC (PubMed:26137436). Nup98 as one of the FG repeat nucleoporins participates in karyopherin interactions and contains part of the autocatalytic cleavage activity. Nup96 as part of the NUP84 complex is involved in nuclear poly(A)+ RNA and tRNA export (By similarity). Interacts (via G-L-F-G repeats) with rpn15/dss1 (PubMed:15990877). Interacts with raf1 (PubMed:16157682). Interacts with ned1 (PubMed:12376568). Contains G-L-F-G repeats. Nup189 is autocatalytically cleaved in nup98 and nup96. Belongs to the nucleoporin GLFG family.