Gu Lab

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the largest macromolecular assembly in the cell and a cornerstone of eukaryotic life, orchestrating the transport of proteins and RNA between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Using plant cells as our model, we investigate fundamental aspects of NPC biology, including its biogenesis and cell cycle dynamics, its roles in chromatin organization and gene regulation, its interactions with other protein complexes and organelles, and its unique composition in plants that underlies their evolutionary adaptations to the environment.

The nucleus is a defining organelle of eukaryotic cells, safeguarding the genome and separating transcription from translation. Yet, the nuclear membrane is far more than a passive barrier — it has evolved into a dynamic, multifunctional platform. Our lab employs multi-omics approaches, including proximity labeling proteomics, single-cell RNA-seq, and lipidomics, to uncover the composition and functions of the nuclear membrane in plant cells and to reveal fundamental principles of cell biology, such as chromatin tethering, gene gating, and phase separation-based nuclear lamina organization, that are either conserved across species or uniquely adapted in plants. 

Karyopherin proteins are cargo receptors that help transport macromolecules across the nuclear pore complex. Beyond this canonical role, we study a noncanonical but conserved chaperone-like function of karyopherins: their ability to dissolve protein condensates and regulate phase separation. This activity is critical for preventing neurodegenerative diseases in humans and autoimmune responses in plants. We propose that this chaperoning capacity may represent the ‘original’ function of karyopherins, predating the evolution of the nucleocytoplasmic transport system.