Often you read in papers that a certain thing could never happen or be considered because the two items are located differently so any binding or interaction in whole cell lysates etc is not biologically relevant, but what about when there is no nucleus, during cell division?
Hey, Jess.
Well, NuMa is a nuclear protein that interacts with cortex and centrosome proteins during mitosis, nuclear envelope and ER merge between them (protein content), AuroraB and tubulin interact with kinetochores, etc. So, I think the answer is yes, they can interact during cell division and those interactions are relevant.
Agreed. The classical notion of cell division wouldn't make sense otherwise. The nuclear membrane breaking down seems to require nuclear elements be exposed to extranuclear elements. Though, your question does beg the other question...is the classical dogma correct. Does every single nuclear constituent get exposed to cytoplasmic proteins and everything else in the cytoplasm. The possibility seems somewhat difficult to accept as it would require complete re-localization and organization of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins, etc. Cells are specialists at saving energy. If there were a way to keep some nuclear constituents essentially nuclear and separated from the cytoplasm, cells are likely to have developed such mechanisms through evolution (if they are energetically beneficent or required). Just speculation and thoughts to chew on.
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