Functional insights of nucleocytoplasmic transport in plants

Abstract

Plant nucleocytoplasmic transport beyond the nuclear envelope is important not only for basic cellular functions but also for growth, development, hormonal signaling, and responses to environmental stimuli. Key components of this transport system include nuclear transport receptors and nucleoporins. The functional and physical interactions between receptors and the nuclear pore in the nuclear membrane are indispensable for nucleocytoplasmic transport. Recently, several groups have reported various plant mutants that are deficient in factors involved in nucleocytoplasmic transport. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge about nucleocytoplasmic transport in plants, and we review the plant-specific regulation and roles of this process in plants.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; nuclear pore complex; nuclear transport receptors; nucleocytoplasmic transport; nucleoporins.

FIGURE 1

Comparison of importin β family proteins in Arabidopsis, human, and yeast. (A) Phylogenetic tree of importin β family in Arabidopsis (green), human (blue), and yeast (black) constructed using the neighbor joining method. (B) Arabidopsis importin β family proteins.

FIGURE 2

Comparison of importin α family proteins in Arabidopsis, human, and yeast. (A) Phylogenetic tree of importin α family in Arabidopsis (green), human (blue), and yeast (black) constructed using the neighbor joining method. (B) Arabidopsis importin α family proteins.