Structure and Biological Functions of Arabidopsis thaliana Nuclear Pore Complex

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is an essential component of the nuclear envelope in all eukaryotic organisms, serving as the unique channel for transport between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Consistent with NPCs’ macromolecular transport functions, NPCs are highly conserved across diverse lineages, including animals, yeast, and plants. Recent studies have revealed that NPCs have variant functions not only in traditional transport roles but also in direct and indirect gene regulation. Despite many researchers’ efforts, our understanding of NPC function remains fragmentary because NPCs have high structural levels of complexity consisting of many constituent proteins called nucleoporins (NUPs) and their interconnected interaction networks. Furthermore, plant NPCs contain plant-specific NUPs that are absent in other organisms. Given that plants are sessile organisms, these plant-specific NUPs likely evolved to precisely regulate a variety of developmental processes and environmental changes. In this review, we integrate the current knowledge regarding plant NPCs, suggesting that they act intricate and active regulatory hubs integrating a variety of endogenous and exogenous signals.