Abstract
Nucleus is a highly heterogeneous structure, which is composed of double layered nuclear membrane, nuclear pore and nuclear matrix. Because 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. To reveal the molecular pathway of nuclear biogenesis, we are focusing on nuclear pore complex in Arabidopsis. Nuclear pore complex is a large multi protein complex and is composed of more than 30 types of nucleoporins, which have unique structural domains involving in nuclear transport. To clarify the role of each nucleoporin in Arabidopsis, we expressed chimeric genes encoding nucleoporin fused with fluorescent proteins. Confocal microscopy showed that each nucleoporin localised on nuclear envelope as dot-like structures. We also found that overexpression of nucleoporins leads abnormal plant organ development, suggesting that trafficking between nucleus and cytosol is an important event for plant development.
