Fine structure and assembly in vitro of nuclear lamina in plant cells

The fine structure of the nuclear lamina (NL) in sperm cells ofGinkgo biloba was visualised using high resolution low-voltage scanning electron microscopy (LVSEM). It was shown that the nuclear lamina was composed of 10 nm filaments which formed a fine network. Lamins were purified from cultured carrot suspension cells and assembledin vitro. Long 8–12 nm diameter filaments were seen and sometimes subfilaments could be distinguished. Western blot of filament preparations showed that these contained the 66 and 84 ku lamins. These data demonstrate that plant lamins are capable of assembling into filamentsin vitro. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 3500073).