RECONSTITUTING THE NUCLEAR-ENVELOPE AND ENDOPLASMIC-RETICULUM IN-VITRO

We describe how in-vitro reconstitution assays are being used to under stand the assembly and structure of the nuclear envelope (NE) and endo plasmic reticulum (ER), focussing on membrane dynamics. Our review is partly historical, to honor the cell biologists who began reconstituti ng nuclear assembly in vitro about 14 years ago. These pioneering comp lex reconstitution experiments had an enormous impact on our ability t o study both organelle assembly and cell cycle regulation. We will ill ustrate how cell-free exacts from a variety of organisms are now being used to define assembly and disassembly pathways, examine their cell cycle regulation, and test the roles of specific proteins in nuclear a nd ER formation.