Structural and functional insight into the nuclear pore complex and nuclear transport receptors in plant stress signaling

Nuclear pore complexes (NPC) are highly conserved mega protein complexes that penetrate the double-layered nuclear membrane and form channels to allow bi-directional transport of macromolecules between the nucleus and the cytosol. Non-passive nucleocytoplasmic transport also requires nuclear transport receptors (NTR), which bind cargo molecules and shuttle them across the NPC. The NPC and NTRs constitute two fundamental layers of regulatory mechanisms that together determine the selective nuclear translocation of signal molecules and play essential roles in activating the precise response of a cell to environmental stimuli. Here we discuss recent findings in the NPC made by advanced structural biology approaches, and dissect distinct functions of different NPC components and NTRs in plants' responses to various biotic and abiotic stresses.