| The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is essential for macromolecular trafficking and facilitates the exchange of information between the nucleus and the cytoplasm in the eukaryotic cells. The fungal and mammalian NPCs have been well studied through a variety of methods, including isolation of NPCs and identification of the component proteins. In plants, both the protein components of and various molecular activities associated with the NPC are poorly understood. Recent studies have implicated the plant NPC in several cellular processes, including plant-microbe interactions, hormone signaling, mRNA export and stress tolerance. This highlights the necessity to thoroughly understand NPC-associated molecular activities in plants. In other systems, proteins found in the NPC also have functions during mitosis, specifically in spindle assembly. Spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) proteins are crucial for proper cell division across the eukaryotes. I have characterized Arabidopsis nucleoporin, NUA, and have identified and characterized an Arabidopsis SAC protein, AtMAD1. My work suggests that NUA has functions during mitosis and that it interacts with AtMAD1. |
