Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of immune signals in plants.

Abstract

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) was initially viewed as a passive gateway for molecular transport, but it is now recognized as an active and highly selective signaling hub that orchestrates nucleocytoplasmic communication. In plants, dissection of the NPC's intricate architecture has revealed its critical role in innate immunity: specific nucleoporins selectively gate the nuclear entry of key immune regulators, while plant‑specific components dynamically control pore permeability or form phase‑separated condensates that assemble specialized transcription factories. Strikingly, the NPC recruits cell cycle, RNA processing, and chromatin‑modifying complexes into higher‑order "complexes" that coordinate defense activation with development, RNA metabolism, and epigenetic memory. This emerging paradigm positions the NPC as a central integration platform, opening new opportunities for engineering disease‑resistant crops.