Abstract
Nucleus is a highly heterogeneous structure, which is composed of double layered nuclear membrane, nuclear pore and nuclear matrix. Since nuclear architecture provides a physical framework for the genetic activities, it is important to know the mechanisms in which structure of the nucleus is built. We are taking two approaches to investigate the function of plant nucleus. First, we are trying to do proteomics analysis of plant nucleus to isolate structural proteins, which contribute building nucleus up. Isolated nucleus from Arabidopsis cultured cells were sequentially washed with high-salt, alkaline, and detergent-containing buffer for obtaining insoluble fraction in which structural proteins are expected to localize. Isolated proteins are being subjected to mass spectrometrical analysis to identify their sequences. Second, to visualize the dynamics of plant nuclear pore complex, we expressed chimeric genes encoding nucleoporin fused with fluorescent proteins in plant cells.
