核仁一直被认为只是核糖体合成和加工的场所,但是近年研究发现它具有其他功能。核仁是一个高度动态的亚细胞结构,通常情况下核仁蛋白质在核仁内外不断穿梭完成对于核糖体的运输。但在细胞应激反应时核仁成为细胞应激的感受器(cell stress sensor),核仁蛋白质在核仁内外的定位分布发生改变,同时伴随功能改变,介导细胞的应激反应。
The nucleolus is traditionally known as a place for ribosome biogenesis. However, various unexpected roles for the nucleolus have been indicated by the research during the past decade. The nucleolus is a highly dynamic subnuclear compartment in which various nucleolar proteins are transported in and out accompany- ing with ribosome-related rRNA and proteins. While under stress conditions, nucleolus serve as the cell stress sensor. Many nucleolar proteins change their location and distribution in and out of nucleolus, and alter their functions, to mediate response to the stress.