A model for coordinating nuclear mechanics and membrane remodeling to support nuclear integrity

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2016 Aug:41:9-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2016.03.009. Epub 2016 Mar 28.

Abstract

A polymer network of intranuclear lamin filaments underlies the nuclear envelope and provides mechanical stability to the nucleus in metazoans. Recent work demonstrates that the expression of A-type lamins scales positively with the stiffness of the cellular environment, thereby coupling nuclear and extracellular mechanics. Using the spectrin-actin network at the erythrocyte plasma membrane as a model, we contemplate how the relative stiffness of the nuclear scaffold impinges on the growing number of interphase-specific nuclear envelope remodeling events, including recently discovered, nuclear envelope-specialized quality control mechanisms. We suggest that a stiffer lamina impedes these remodeling events, necessitating local lamina remodeling and/or concomitant scaling of the efficacy of membrane-remodeling machineries that act at the nuclear envelope.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological*
  • Nuclear Envelope / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Nuclear Proteins