Nuclear Lamins
Thomas Dechat1, Stephen A. Adam1, Pekka Taimen2, Takeshi Shimi1 and Robert D. Goldman1
-Author Affiliations
1Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
2Department of Pathology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10 20520 Turku, Finland
Correspondence: r-goldman@northwestern.edu
Abstract
The nuclear lamins are type V intermediate filament proteins that are critically important for the structural properties of the nucleus. In addition, they are involved in the regulation of numerous nuclear processes, including DNA replication, transcription and chromatin organization. The developmentally regulated expression of lamins suggests that they are involved in cellular differentiation. Their assembly dynamic properties throughout the cell cycle, particularly in mitosis, are influenced by posttranslational modifications. Lamins may regulate nuclear functions by direct interactions with chromatin and determining the spatial organization of chromosomes within the nuclear space. They may also regulate chromatin functions by interacting with factors that epigenetically modify the chromatin or directly regulate replication or transcription.
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