Assessing the function of the plant nuclear pore complex and the search for specificity

J Exp Bot. 2013 Feb;64(4):833-45. doi: 10.1093/jxb/ers289. Epub 2012 Oct 17.

Abstract

Plant cells encounter a wide variety of molecules that influence their gene expression and development. A key component of most signal transduction pathways involves the regulated movement of molecules into and out of the nucleus. The plant nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a critical controlling element in this nucleocytoplasmic movement of protein and RNA. The NPC is comprised of approximately 30 nucleoporin proteins arranged in radial symmetry around the central pore. Over recent years our understanding of how the NPC impacts different signalling pathways has increased following the identification of a range of nucleoporin mutant plants. These mutants allow us to gain insight into how the response to hormonal, abiotic, and biotic stresses are effected by changes in nuclear transport. Importantly we have little information regarding the specific molecules whose nuclear transport is altered in these processes and the identification of these proteins is a significant challenge. Here is presented an overview as to how the members of the plant NPC affect signalling pathways, highlighting the progress and difficulties within this research area.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Genetic Pleiotropy
  • Nuclear Pore / genetics
  • Nuclear Pore / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Plant Cells / metabolism
  • RNA Transport
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Species Specificity
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • MOS3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • RNA, Plant