The nuclear envelope and the nuclear pore are important structures that both separate and selectively connect the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm. The requirements for specific targeting of proteins to the plant nuclear envelope and nuclear pore are poorly understood. How are transmembrane-domain proteins sorted to the nuclear envelope and nuclear pore membranes? What protein–protein interactions are involved in associating other proteins to the nuclear pore? Are there plant-specific aspects to these processes? We are using the case of the nuclear pore-associated Ran-cycle component RanGAP (Ran GTPase-activating protein) to address these fundamental questions. Plant RanGAP is targeted to the nuclear pore by a plant-specific mechanism involving two families of nuclear pore-associated proteins [WIP (WPP-domain-interacting protein) and WIT (WPP-domain-interacting tail-anchored protein)] not found outside the land plant lineage. One protein family (WIP or WIT) is sufficient for RanGAP targeting in differentiated root cells, whereas both families are necessary in meristematic cells. A C-terminal predicted transmembrane domain is sufficient for targeting WIP proteins to the nuclear envelope. Nuclear-envelope targeting of WIT proteins requires a coiled-coil domain and is facilitated by HSC70 (heat-shock cognate 70 stress protein) chaperones and a class of plant-specific proteins resembling the RanGAP-targeting domain (WPP proteins). Taken together, this sheds the first light on the requirements and interdependences of nuclear envelope and nuclear pore targeting in land plants.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
June 2010
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
May 24 2010
Targeting proteins to the plant nuclear envelope
Iris Meier;
Iris Meier
1
*Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology and Plant Biotechnology Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (meier.56@osu.edu).
Search for other works by this author on:
Xiao Zhou;
Xiao Zhou
*Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology and Plant Biotechnology Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Jelena Brkljacić;
Jelena Brkljacić
*Department of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology and Plant Biotechnology Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Annkatrin Rose;
Annkatrin Rose
†Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Qiao Zhao;
Qiao Zhao
‡Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Xianfeng Morgan Xu
Xianfeng Morgan Xu
§Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, U.S.A.
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
December 14 2009
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Biochemical Society
2010
Biochem Soc Trans (2010) 38 (3): 733–740.
Article history
Received:
December 14 2009
Citation
Iris Meier, Xiao Zhou, Jelena Brkljacić, Annkatrin Rose, Qiao Zhao, Xianfeng Morgan Xu; Targeting proteins to the plant nuclear envelope. Biochem Soc Trans 1 June 2010; 38 (3): 733–740. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0380733
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.