From lamins to lamina: A structural perspective

Monika Zwerger, Ohad Medalia

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lamin proteins are the major constituents of the nuclear lamina, a proteinaceous network that lines the inner nuclear membrane. Primarily, the nuclear lamina provides structural support for the nucleus and the nuclear envelope; however, lamins and their associated proteins are also involved in most of the nuclear processes, including DNA replication and repair, regulation of gene expression, and signaling. Mutations in human lamin A and associated proteins were found to cause a large number of diseases, termed 'laminopathies.' These diseases include muscular dystrophies, lipodystrophies, neuropathies, and premature aging syndromes. Despite the growing number of studies on lamins and their associated proteins, the molecular organization of lamins in health and disease is still elusive. Likewise, there is no comprehensive view how mutations in lamins result in a plethora of diseases, selectively affecting different tissues. Here, we discuss some of the structural aspects of lamins and the nuclear lamina organization, in light of recent results.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3-12
Number of pages10
JournalHistochemistry and Cell Biology
Volume140
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2013

Keywords

  • Cryo-electron tomograpy
  • Electron microscopy
  • In vitro assembly
  • Nuclear envelope
  • Nucleus
  • X-ray crystallography
  • Xenopus laevis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Histology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Cell Biology

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