Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
13:14
Measuring Fluxes of Mineral Nutrients and Toxicants in Plants with Radioactive Tracers
Published on: August 22, 2014
How plants LINC the SUN to KASH
1Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Nucleus (Austin, Tex.)
|May 18, 2013
Summary
Linker of the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes connect the nucleus to the cell
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Linkers of the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes are crucial for nuclear positioning and shape.
- These complexes, formed by SUN and KASH proteins, bridge the nuclear envelope (NE) in opisthokonts.
- While nuclear positioning is known in plants, plant-specific NE bridging complexes were recently identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the significance of LINC complex-regulated cellular processes.
- To describe the recently identified plant nuclear envelope bridging complexes.
- To compare plant NE bridging complexes with their opisthokont counterparts.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of LINC complex research in opisthokonts and plants.
- Comparative analysis of protein structures and functions.
- Identification and characterization of plant-specific NE bridging proteins.
Main Results:
- LINC complexes play vital roles in gamete generation and development.
- Plant NE bridging complexes involve WPP domain-interacting proteins and SUN proteins.
- Plant complexes exhibit unique properties and functions distinct from opisthokont LINC complexes.
Conclusions:
- LINC complexes are essential for fundamental cellular processes across eukaryotes.
- Plant NE bridging complexes represent a distinct evolutionary path.
- Further research on plant NE bridging complexes will illuminate conserved and divergent mechanisms in nuclear envelope organization.
Related Concept Videos
02:34Water and Mineral Acquisition
Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
01:27C4 Pathway and CAM
Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
02:03Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources
The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.
01:07Anatomy of Chloroplasts
Green algae and plants, including green stems and unripe fruit, harbor chloroplasts—the vital organelles where photosynthesis takes place. In plants, the highest density of chloroplasts is found in the mesophyll cells of leaves.
02:02Responses to Salt Stress
Salt stress—which can be triggered by high salt concentrations in a plant’s environment—can significantly affect plant growth and crop production by influencing photosynthesis and the absorption of water and nutrients.