title: Uniquely designed nuclear structures of lower eukaryotes.
abstract: The nuclear structures of lower eukaryotes, specifically protists, often vary from those of yeasts and metazoans. Several studies have demonstrated the unique and fascinating features of these nuclear structures, such as a histone-independent condensed chromatin in dinoflagellates and two structurally distinct nuclear pore complexes in ciliates. Despite their unique molecular/structural features, functions required for formation of their cognate molecules/structures are highly conserved. This provides important information about the structure-function relationship of the nuclear structures. In this review, we highlight characteristic nuclear structures found in lower eukaryotes, and discuss their attractiveness as potential biological systems for studying nuclear structures.
authors.affiliation: Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
authors.affiliation: Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Kobe, Japan; Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan; Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
authors.affiliation: Advanced ICT Research Institute, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Kobe, Japan; Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan; Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan. Electronic address: tokuko@nict.go.jp.
authors.forename: Tokuko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D022022:Nuclear Pore; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D015800:Protozoan Proteins