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Plant nuclei can contain extensive grooves and invaginations
D A Collings1, C N Carter, J C Rink
1Department of Botany, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7612, USA.
The Plant Cell
|January 10, 2001
Summary
Plant cell nuclei feature deep grooves and invaginations, forming extensive infoldings of the nuclear envelope. These stable structures contain actin bundles, potentially aiding nuclear transport processes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Plant Cell Structure
- Nuclear Organization
Background:
- Plant cell nuclei display intricate organization.
- Nuclear envelope morphology can significantly influence cellular functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To visualize and characterize deep grooves and invaginations within plant cell nuclei.
- To investigate the composition and potential functions of these nuclear structures.
Main Methods:
- Dye-labeling experiments in onion epidermal and tobacco culture cells.
- Expression of green fluorescent protein targeted to the nucleus or endoplasmic reticulum/nuclear envelope.
Main Results:
- Deep grooves and invaginations were visualized in plant cell nuclei, forming tubular or planelike infoldings.
- These structures possess stable cytoplasmic cores with actin bundles, supporting cytoplasmic streaming.
- Invaginations appear to form during cell division in tobacco cells, possibly from endoplasmic reticulum.
Conclusions:
- The observed nuclear invaginations significantly increase nuclear surface area.
- These structures, associated with nucleoli and actin bundles, may facilitate mRNA export and protein import.