title: Cell fusion and nuclear fusion in plants.
abstract: Eukaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane and have a large nucleus containing the genomic DNA, which is enclosed by a nuclear envelope consisting of the outer and inner nuclear membranes. Although these membranes maintain the identity of cells, they sometimes fuse to each other, such as to produce a zygote during sexual reproduction or to give rise to other characteristically polyploid tissues. Recent studies have demonstrated that the mechanisms of plasma membrane or nuclear membrane fusion in plants are shared to some extent with those of yeasts and animals, despite the unique features of plant cells including thick cell walls and intercellular connections. Here, we summarize the key factors in the fusion of these membranes during plant reproduction, and also focus on "non-gametic cell fusion," which was thought to be rare in plant tissue, in which each cell is separated by a cell wall.
authors.affiliation: Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, 641-12 Maioka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 244-0813, Japan. Electronic address: dmaru@yokohama-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohtsu
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan; Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan; JST ERATO Higashiyama Live-Holonics Project, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higashiyama
mesh_terms: D002459:Cell Fusion; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D055993:Germ Cells, Plant / Q000166:cytology; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Cell fusion; Gametic cell fusion; Non-gametic cell fusion; Nuclear fusion; Plasmodesmata