LEM‐Domain Proteins: New Insights into Lamin‐Interacting Proteins

Developmental changes in nuclear lamina components during germ cell differentiation

The nuclear lamina (NL) changes composition for regulation of nuclear events. We investigated changes that occur in Drosophila oogenesis, revealing switches in NL composition during germ cell differentiation. Germline stem cells (GSCs) express only LamB and predominantly emerin, whereas differentiating nurse cells predominantly express LamC and emerin2. A change in LamC-specific localization also occurs, wherein phosphorylated LamC redistributes to the nuclear interior only in the oocyte, prior to transcriptional reactivation of the meiotic genome. These changes support existing concepts that LamC promotes differentiation, a premise that was tested. Remarkably ectopic LamC production in GSCs did not promote premature differentiation. Increased LamC levels in differentiating germ cells altered internal nuclear structure, increased RNA production, and reduced female fertility due to defects in eggshell formation. These studies suggest differences between Drosophila lamins are regulatory, not functional, and reveal an unexpected robustness to level changes of a major scaffolding component of the NL.

Depletion of lamins B1 and B2 promotes chromatin mobility and induces differential gene expression by a mesoscale-motion-dependent mechanism

BACKGROUND

B-type lamins are critical nuclear envelope proteins that interact with the three-dimensional genomic architecture. However, identifying the direct roles of B-lamins on dynamic genome organization has been challenging as their joint depletion severely impacts cell viability. To overcome this, we engineered mammalian cells to rapidly and completely degrade endogenous B-type lamins using Auxin-inducible degron technology.

RESULTS

Using live-cell Dual Partial Wave Spectroscopic (Dual-PWS) microscopy, Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM), in situ Hi-C, CRISPR-Sirius, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we demonstrate that lamin B1 and lamin B2 are critical structural components of the nuclear periphery that create a repressive compartment for peripheral-associated genes. Lamin B1 and lamin B2 depletion minimally alters higher-order chromatin folding but disrupts cell morphology, significantly increases chromatin mobility, redistributes both constitutive and facultative heterochromatin, and induces differential gene expression both within and near lamin-associated domain (LAD) boundaries. Critically, we demonstrate that chromatin territories expand as upregulated genes within LADs radially shift inwards. Our results indicate that the mechanism of action of B-type lamins comes from their role in constraining chromatin motion and spatial positioning of gene-specific loci, heterochromatin, and chromatin domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that, while B-type lamin degradation does not significantly change genome topology, it has major implications for three-dimensional chromatin conformation at the single-cell level both at the lamina-associated periphery and the non-LAD-associated nuclear interior with concomitant genome-wide transcriptional changes. This raises intriguing questions about the individual and overlapping roles of lamin B1 and lamin B2 in cellular function and disease.

Elevation of LEM Domain Containing 1 Predicts Poor Prognosis of NSCLC Patients and Triggers Malignant Stemness and Invasion of NSCLC Cells by Stimulating PI3K/AKT Pathway

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death globally. LEM domain containing 1 (LEMD1) function has been identified in several cancers but not in NSCLC.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the LEMD1 function in NSCLC.

METHODS

NSCLC tissues were obtained from 66 patients, and LEMD1 expressions were measured using quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemical assay, and Western blot. Overall survival of NSCLC patients was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Meanwhile, LEMD1 function and mechanism were assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine analysis, Transwell, Sphere formation assay, and flow cytometry. Furthermore, LEMD1 function in vivo was evaluated by establishing a xenograft tumor model, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTS

LEMD1 was highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and was interrelated to tumor differentiation, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis of patients. Overall survival of NSCLC patients with high LEMD1 was found to be lower than that of patients with low LEMD1. Functionally, interference with LEMD1 restrained NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, and stemness characteristics. Mechanistically, LEMD1 facilitated the malignant phenotype of NSCLC, and 740 Y-P reversed this impact, prompting that LEMD1 aggravated NSCLC by activating PI3K/AKT pathway. Furthermore, LEMD1 knockdown hindered NSCLC proliferation in vivo. Conclusion: LEMD1 accelerated NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, and stemness characteristics via activating PI3K/AKT pathway.

Identification of PP2A-B55 targets uncovers regulation of emerin during nuclear envelope reassembly in Drosophila

Mitotic exit requires the dephosphorylation of many proteins whose phosphorylation was needed for mitosis. Protein phosphatase 2A with its B55 regulatory subunit (PP2A-B55) promotes this transition. However, the events and substrates that it regulates are incompletely understood. We used proteomic approaches in Drosophila to identify proteins that interact with and are dephosphorylated by PP2A-B55. Among several candidates, we identified emerin (otefin in Drosophila). Emerin resides in the inner nuclear membrane and interacts with the DNA-binding protein barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) via a LEM domain. We found that the phosphorylation of emerin at Ser50 and Ser54 near its LEM domain negatively regulates its association with BAF, lamin and additional emerin in mitosis. We show that dephosphorylation of emerin at these sites by PP2A-B55 determines the timing of nuclear envelope reformation. Genetic experiments indicate that this regulation is required during embryonic development. Phosphoregulation of the emerin-BAF complex formation by PP2A-B55 appears as a key event of mitotic exit that is likely conserved across species.

Cytoplasmic keratins couple with and maintain nuclear envelope integrity in colonic epithelial cells

Keratin intermediate filaments convey mechanical stability and protection against stress to epithelial cells. Keratins are essential for colon health, as seen in keratin 8 knockout (K8^-/-) mice exhibiting a colitis phenotype. We hypothesized that keratins support the nuclear envelope and lamina in colonocytes. K8^-/- colonocytes in vivo exhibit significantly decreased levels of lamins A/C, B1, and B2 in a colon-specific and cell-intrinsic manner. CRISPR/Cas9- or siRNA-mediated K8 knockdown in Caco-2 cells similarly decreased lamin levels, which recovered after reexpression of K8 following siRNA treatment. Nuclear area was not decreased, and roundness was only marginally increased in cells without K8. Down-regulation of K8 in adult K8^flox/flox;Villin-CreER^t2 mice following tamoxifen administration significantly decreased lamin levels at day 4 when K8 levels had reduced to 40%. K8 loss also led to reduced levels of plectin, LINC complex, and lamin-associated proteins. While keratins were not seen in the nucleoplasm without or with leptomycin B treatment, keratins were found intimately located at the nuclear envelope and complexed with SUN2 and lamin A. Furthermore, K8 loss in Caco-2 cells compromised nuclear membrane integrity basally and after shear stress. In conclusion, colonocyte K8 helps maintain nuclear envelope and lamina composition and contributes to nuclear integrity.

Checkpoint activation drives global gene expression changes in Drosophila nuclear lamina mutants

The nuclear lamina (NL) lines the inner nuclear membrane. This extensive protein network organizes chromatin and contributes to the regulation of transcription, DNA replication, and repair. Lap2-emerin-MAN1 domain (LEM-D) proteins are key members of the NL, representing proteins that connect the NL to the genome through shared interactions with the chromatin-binding protein Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor (BAF). Functions of the LEM-D protein emerin and BAF are essential during Drosophila melanogaster oogenesis. Indeed, loss of either emerin or BAF blocks germ cell development and causes loss of germline stem cells, defects linked to the deformation of NL structure, and non-canonical activation of Checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2). Here, we investigate the contributions of emerin and BAF to gene expression in the ovary. Profiling RNAs from emerin and baf mutant ovaries revealed that nearly all baf misregulated genes were shared with emerin mutants, defining a set of NL-regulated genes. Strikingly, loss of Chk2 restored the expression of most NL-regulated genes, identifying a large class of Chk2-dependent genes (CDGs). Nonetheless, some genes remained misexpressed upon Chk2 loss, identifying a smaller class of emerin-dependent genes (EDGs). Properties of EDGs suggest a shared role for emerin and BAF in the repression of developmental genes. Properties of CDGs demonstrate that Chk2 activation drives global misexpression of genes in the emerin and baf mutant backgrounds. Notably, CDGs were found upregulated in lamin-B mutant backgrounds. These observations predict that Chk2 activation might have a general role in gene expression changes found in NL-associated diseases, such as laminopathies.

Transfected plasmid DNA is incorporated into the nucleus via nuclear envelope reformation at telophase

DNA transfection is an important technology in life sciences, wherein nuclear entry of DNA is necessary to express exogenous DNA. Non-viral vectors and their transfection reagents are useful as safe transfection tools. However, they have no effect on the transfection of non-proliferating cells, the reason for which is not well understood. This study elucidates the mechanism through which transfected DNA enters the nucleus for gene expression. To monitor the behavior of transfected DNA, we introduce plasmid bearing lacO repeats and RFP-coding sequences into cells expressing GFP-LacI and observe plasmid behavior and RFP expression in living cells. RFP expression appears only after mitosis. Electron microscopy reveals that plasmids are wrapped with nuclear envelope (NE)‒like membranes or associated with chromosomes at telophase. The depletion of BAF, which is involved in NE reformation, delays plasmid RFP expression. These results suggest that transfected DNA is incorporated into the nucleus during NE reformation at telophase.

Parp1 promotes sleep, which enhances DNA repair in neurons

The characteristics of the sleep drivers and the mechanisms through which sleep relieves the cellular homeostatic pressure are unclear. In flies, zebrafish, mice, and humans, DNA damage levels increase during wakefulness and decrease during sleep. Here, we show that 6 h of consolidated sleep is sufficient to reduce DNA damage in the zebrafish dorsal pallium. Induction of DNA damage by neuronal activity and mutagens triggered sleep and DNA repair. The activity of the DNA damage response (DDR) proteins Rad52 and Ku80 increased during sleep, and chromosome dynamics enhanced Rad52 activity. The activity of the DDR initiator poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (Parp1) increased following sleep deprivation. In both larva zebrafish and adult mice, Parp1 promoted sleep. Inhibition of Parp1 activity reduced sleep-dependent chromosome dynamics and repair. These results demonstrate that DNA damage is a homeostatic driver for sleep, and Parp1 pathways can sense this cellular pressure and facilitate sleep and repair activity.

Using nuclear envelope mutations to explore age-related skeletal muscle weakness

Skeletal muscle weakness is an important determinant of age-related declines in independence and quality of life but its causes remain unclear. Accelerated ageing syndromes such as Hutchinson-Gilford Progerin Syndrome, caused by mutations in genes encoding nuclear envelope proteins, have been extensively studied to aid our understanding of the normal biological ageing process. Like several other pathologies associated with genetic defects to nuclear envelope proteins including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, Limb-Girdle muscular dystrophy and congenital muscular dystrophy, these disorders can lead to severe muscle dysfunction. Here, we first describe the structure and function of nuclear envelope proteins, and then review the mechanisms by which mutations in genes encoding nuclear envelope proteins induce premature ageing diseases and muscle pathologies. In doing so, we highlight the potential importance of such genes in processes leading to skeletal muscle weakness in old age.

Identification of Evolutionarily Conserved Nuclear Matrix Proteins and Their Prokaryotic Origins

Compared to prokaryotic cells, a typical eukaryotic cell is much more complex along with its endomembrane system and membrane-bound organelles. Although the endosymbiosis theories convincingly explain the evolution of membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, very little is understood about the evolutionary origins of the nucleus, the defining feature of eukaryotes. Most studies on nuclear evolution have not been able to take into consideration the underlying structural framework of the nucleus, attributed to the nuclear matrix (NuMat), a ribonucleoproteinaceous structure. This can largely be attributed to the lack of annotation of its core components. Since NuMat has been shown to provide a structural platform for facilitating a variety of nuclear functions such as replication, transcription, and splicing, it is important to identify its protein components to better understand these processes. In this study, we address this issue using the developing embryos of Drosophila melanogaster and Danio rerio and identify 362 core NuMat proteins that are conserved between the two organisms. We further compare our results with publicly available Mus musculus NuMat dataset and Homo sapiens cellular localization dataset to define the core homologous NuMat proteins consisting of 252 proteins. We find that of them, 86 protein groups have originated from pre-existing proteins in prokaryotes. While 36 were conserved across all eukaryotic supergroups, 14 new proteins evolved before the evolution of the last eukaryotic common ancestor and together, these 50 proteins out of the 252 core conserved NuMat proteins are conserved across all eukaryotes, indicating their indispensable nature for nuclear function for over 1.5 billion years of eukaryotic history. Our analysis paves the way to understand the evolution of the complex internal nuclear architecture and its functions.

G-Quadruplex Helicase DHX36/G4R1 Engages Nuclear Lamina Proteins in Quiescent Breast Cancer Cells

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are nucleic acid structures found enriched within gene regulatory sequences. G4s control fundamental cellular processes, including replication, transcription, and translation. Proto-oncogenes are enriched with G4 sequences, while tumor-suppressor genes are depleted, suggesting roles for G4s in cell survival and proliferation. Specialized helicases participate in G4-mediated gene regulation via enzymatic unwinding activity. One such enzyme, DHX36/G4R1, is the major G4-helicase and is a master regulator of G4-DNAs and mRNAs. G4-resolution promotes the expression of proproliferative genes; as such, DHX36/G4R1 promotes cell proliferation. Little is known about how DHX36/G4R1 itself is regulated in nondividing cells. We hypothesized that DHX36/G4R1 protein binding partners are altered when a cell transitions from a dividing to a quiescent state. We found that DHX36/G4R1 co-purifies with a distinct set of proteins under quiescent conditions, which may represent a novel complex that regulates DHX36/G4R1 during cell cycle transitions and have implications for development and cancer.

Diverse cellular functions of barrier-to-autointegration factor and its roles in disease

Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF; encoded by BANF1) is a small highly conserved, ubiquitous and self-associating protein that coordinates with numerous binding partners to accomplish several key cellular processes. By interacting with double-stranded DNA, histones and various other nuclear proteins, including those enriched at the nuclear envelope, BAF appears to be essential for replicating cells to protect the genome and enable cell division. Cellular processes, such as innate immunity, post-mitotic nuclear reformation, repair of interphase nuclear envelope rupture, genomic regulation, and the DNA damage and repair response have all been shown to depend on BAF. This Review focuses on the regulation of the numerous interactions of BAF, which underlie the mechanisms by which BAF accomplishes its essential cellular functions. We will also discuss how perturbation of BAF function may contribute to human disease.

Nuclear Envelope Proteins Modulating the Heterochromatin Formation and Functions in Fission Yeast

The nuclear envelope (NE) consists of the inner and outer nuclear membranes (INM and ONM), and the nuclear pore complex (NPC), which penetrates the double membrane. ONM continues with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). INM and NPC can interact with chromatin to regulate the genetic activities of the chromosome. Studies in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe have contributed to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying heterochromatin formation by the RNAi-mediated and histone deacetylase machineries. Recent studies have demonstrated that NE proteins modulate heterochromatin formation and functions through interactions with heterochromatic regions, including the pericentromeric and the sub-telomeric regions. In this review, we first introduce the molecular mechanisms underlying the heterochromatin formation and functions in fission yeast, and then summarize the NE proteins that play a role in anchoring heterochromatic regions and in modulating heterochromatin formation and functions, highlighting roles for a conserved INM protein, Lem2.

The nuclear envelope: LINCing tissue mechanics to genome regulation in cardiac and skeletal muscle

Regulation of the genome is viewed through the prism of gene expression, DNA replication and DNA repair as controlled through transcription, chromatin compartmentalisation and recruitment of repair factors by enzymes such as DNA polymerases, ligases, acetylases, methylases and cyclin-dependent kinases. However, recent advances in the field of muscle cell physiology have also shown a compelling role for 'outside-in' biophysical control of genomic material through mechanotransduction. The crucial hub that transduces these biophysical signals is called the Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC). This complex is embedded across the nuclear envelope, which separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm. How the LINC complex operates to mechanically regulate the many functions of DNA is becoming increasingly clear, and recent advances have provided exciting insight into how this occurs in cells from mechanically activated tissues such as skeletal and cardiac muscle. Nevertheless, there are still some notable shortcomings in our understanding of these processes and resolving these will likely help us understand how muscle diseases manifest at the level of the genome.

Comparative Interactome Analysis of Emerin, MAN1 and LEM2 Reveals a Unique Role for LEM2 in Nucleotide Excision Repair

LAP2-Emerin-MAN1 (LEM) domain-containing proteins represent an abundant group of inner nuclear membrane proteins involved in diverse nuclear functions, but their functional redundancies remain unclear. Here, using the biotinylation-dependent proximity approach, we report proteome-wide comparative interactome analysis of the two structurally related LEM proteins MAN1 (LEMD3) and LEM2 (LEMD2), and the more distantly related emerin (EMD). While over 60% of the relatively small group of MAN1 and emerin interactors were also found in the LEM2 interactome, the latter included a large number of candidates (>85%) unique for LEM2. The interacting partners unique for emerin support and provide further insight into the previously reported role of emerin in centrosome positioning, and the MAN1-specific interactors suggest a role of MAN1 in ribonucleoprotein complex assembly. Interestingly, the LEM2-specific interactome contained several proteins of the nucleotide excision repair pathway. Accordingly, LEM2-depleted cells, but not MAN1- and emerin-depleted cells, showed impaired proliferation following ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation and prolonged accumulation of γH2AX, similar to cells deficient in the nucleotide excision repair protein DNA damage-binding protein 1 (DDB1). These findings indicate impaired DNA damage repair in LEM2-depleted cells. Overall, this interactome study identifies new potential interaction partners of emerin, MAN1 and particularly LEM2, and describes a novel potential involvement of LEM2 in nucleotide excision repair at the nuclear periphery.

Structural basis for receptor-regulated SMAD recognition by MAN1

Receptor-regulated SMAD (R-SMAD: SMAD1, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD5 and SMAD8) proteins are key transcription factors of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of cytokines. MAN1, an integral protein of the inner nuclear membrane, is a SMAD cofactor that terminates TGF-β superfamily signals. Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in MAN1 result in osteopoikilosis, Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome and melorheostosis. MAN1 interacts with MAD homology 2 (MH2) domains of R-SMAD proteins using its C-terminal U2AF homology motif (UHM) domain and UHM ligand motif (ULM) and facilitates R-SMAD dephosphorylation. Here, we report the structural basis for R-SMAD recognition by MAN1. The SMAD2–MAN1 and SMAD1–MAN1 complex structures show that an intramolecular UHM–ULM interaction of MAN1 forms a hydrophobic surface that interacts with a hydrophobic surface among the H2 helix, the strands β8 and β9, and the L3 loop of the MH2 domains of R-SMAD proteins. The complex structures also show the mechanism by which SMAD cofactors distinguish R-SMAD proteins that possess a highly conserved molecular surface.

Prognostic significance and biological function of Lamina-associated polypeptide 2 in non-small-cell lung cancer

Purpose: Lamina-associated polypeptide 2 (LAP2; encoded by TMPO), is a nuclear protein that may affect chromatin regulation and gene expression through dynamically binding to nuclear lamin. TMPO (LAP2) plays dual roles of either suppressing or promoting proliferation of cells, depending on the status of the cell. It has been reported that TMPO is up-regulated in various cancer types. However, its function in lung cancer has not been studied yet.

Materials and methods: A series of clinical microarray datasets for lung cancer were investigated to demonstrate the expression of TMPO. The transcription of TMPO gene in human lung cancer was analyzed using Oncomine platform (www.oncomine.org) according to the standardized procedures described previously. Four separate datasets (Hou Lung, Okayama Lung, Beer Lung, and Garber Lung) were analyzed.

Results: Here, we show that TMPO is over-expressed in lung cancer tissues, and that a high level of TMPO indicates a poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. Knockdown of TMPO in lung cancer cells inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. Also, down-regulation of TMPO leads to an impaired metastatic ability of tumor cells. A nude mice tumor model show that knockdown of TMPO suppresses tumor formation in vivo.

Conclusion: Collectively, this study suggests TMPO as an oncogene and a novel prognostic gene in lung cancer.

The very-long-chain fatty acid elongase Elo2 rescues lethal defects associated with loss of the nuclear barrier function in fission yeast cells

In eukaryotic cells, chromosomes are confined to the nucleus, which is compartmentalized by the nuclear membranes; these are continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum membranes. Maintaining the homeostasis of these membranes is an important cellular activity performed by lipid metabolic enzymes. However, how lipid metabolic enzymes affect nuclear membrane functions remains to be elucidated. We found that the very-long-chain fatty acid elongase Elo2 is located in the nuclear membrane and prevents lethal defects associated with nuclear membrane ruptures in mutants of the nuclear membrane proteins Lem2 and Bqt4 in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Lipid composition analysis shows that t20:0/24:0 phytoceramide (a conjugate of C20:0 phytosphingosine and C24:0 fatty acid) is a major ceramide species in S. pombe The quantity of this ceramide is reduced in the absence of Lem2, and restored by increased expression of Elo2. Furthermore, loss of S. pombe Elo2 can be rescued by its human orthologs. These results suggest that the conserved very-long-chain fatty acid elongase producing the ceramide component is essential for nuclear membrane integrity and cell viability in eukaryotes.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Chromatin dynamics governed by a set of nuclear structural proteins

During the past three decades, the study of nuclear and chromatin organization has become of great interest. The organization and dynamics of chromatin are directly responsible for many functions including gene regulation, genome replication, and maintenance. In order to better understand the details of these mechanisms, we need to understand the role of specific proteins that take part in these processes. The genome in the nucleus is organized in different length scales, ranging from the bead-like nucleosomes through topological associated domains up to chromosome territories. The mechanisms that maintain these structures, however, remain to be fully elucidated. Previous works highlighted the significance of lamin A, an important nucleoplasmic protein; however, there are other nuclear structural proteins that are also important for chromatin organization. Studying the organizational aspects of the nucleus is a complex task, and different methods have been developed and adopted for this purpose, including molecular and imaging methods. Here we describe the use of the live-cell imaging method and demonstrate that the dynamics of the nucleus is strongly related to its organizational mechanisms. We labeled different genomic sites in the nucleus and measured the effect of nuclear structural proteins on their dynamics. We studied lamin A, BAF, Emerin, lamin B, CTCF, and Cohesin and discuss how each of them affect chromatin dynamics. Our findings indicate that lamin A and BAF have a significant effect on chromosomes dynamics, while other proteins mildly affect the type of the diffusion while the volume of motion is not affected.

Nuclear envelope dynamics during mammalian spermatogenesis: new insights on male fertility

The production of highly specialized spermatozoa from undifferentiated spermatogonia is a strictly organized and programmed process requiring extensive restructuring of the entire cell. One of the most remarkable cellular transformations accompanying the various phases of spermatogenesis is the profound remodelling of the nuclear architecture, in which the nuclear envelope (NE) seems to be crucially involved. In recent years, several proteins from the distinct layers forming the NE (i.e. the inner and outer nuclear membranes as well as the nuclear lamina) have been associated with meiosis and/or spermiogenesis in different mammalian species. Among these are A- and B-type lamins, Dpy-19-like protein 2 (DPY19L2), lamin B receptor (LBR), lamina-associated polypeptide 1 (LAP1), LAP2/emerin/MAN1 (LEM) domain-containing proteins, spermatogenesis-associated 46 (SPATA46) and diverse elements of the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, namely Sad-1/UNC-84 homology (SUN) and Klarsicht/ANC-1/Syne-1 homology (KASH) domain-containing proteins. Herein, we summarize the current state of the art on the cellular and subcellular distribution of NE proteins expressed during mammalian spermatogenesis, and discuss the latest research developments regarding their testis-specific functions. This review provides a comprehensive and innovative overview of the NE network as a regulatory platform and as an essential determinant of efficient meiotic chromosome recombination as well as spermiogenesis-associated nuclear remodelling and differentiation in mammalian male germline cells. Thus, this review provides important novel insights on the biological relevance of NE proteins for male fertility.

Identification of the evolutionarily conserved nuclear envelope proteins Lem2 and MicLem2 in Tetrahymena thermophila

Lem2 family proteins, i.e. the LAP2-Emerin-MAN1 (LEM) domain-containing nuclear envelope proteins, are well-conserved from yeasts to humans, both of which belong to the Opisthokonta supergroup. However, whether their homologs are present in other eukaryotic phylogenies remains unclear. In this study, we identified two Lem2 homolog proteins, which we named as Lem2 and MicLem2, in a ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila belonging to the SAR supergroup. Lem2 was localized to the nuclear envelope of the macronucleus (MAC) and micronucleus (MIC), while MicLem2 was exclusively localized to the nuclear envelope of the MIC. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that Lem2 in T. thermophila was localized to both the inner and outer nuclear envelopes of the MAC and MIC, while MicLem2 was mostly localized to the nuclear pores of the MIC. Molecular domain analysis using GFP-fused protein showed that the N-terminal and luminal domains, including the transmembrane segments, are responsible for nuclear envelope localization. During sexual reproduction, enrichment of Lem2 occurred in the nuclear envelopes of the MAC and MIC to be degraded, while MicLem2 was enriched in the nuclear envelope of the MIC that escaped degradation. These findings suggest the unique characteristics of Tetrahymena Lem2 proteins. Our findings provide insight into the evolutionary divergence of nuclear envelope proteins.

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Conserved nuclear envelope proteins Lem2 and MicLem2 are identified in Tetrahymena.

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Lem2 is localized to the nuclear envelope of the macronucleus and the micronucleus.

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MicLem2 is localized to the nuclear pore complex of the micronucleus.

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In sexual reproduction, Lem2 is enriched to the nuclei assigned to degradation.

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MicLem2 is enriched to the micronuclei that are escaped from degradation.

Laminopathies: what can humans learn from fruit flies

Lamin proteins are type V intermediate filament proteins (IFs) located inside the cell nucleus. They are evolutionarily conserved and have similar domain organization and properties to cytoplasmic IFs. Lamins provide a skeletal network for chromatin, the nuclear envelope, nuclear pore complexes and the entire nucleus. They are also responsible for proper connections between the karyoskeleton and structural elements in the cytoplasm: actin and the microtubule and cytoplasmic IF networks. Lamins affect transcription and splicing either directly or indirectly. Translocation of active genes into the close proximity of nuclear lamina is thought to result in their transcriptional silencing. Mutations in genes coding for lamins and interacting proteins in humans result in various genetic disorders, called laminopathies. Human genes coding for A-type lamin (LMNA) are the most frequently mutated. The resulting phenotypes include muscle, cardiac, neuronal, lipodystrophic and metabolic pathologies, early aging phenotypes, and combined complex phenotypes. The Drosophila melanogaster genome codes for lamin B-type (lamin Dm), lamin A-type (lamin C), and for LEM-domain proteins, BAF, LINC-complex proteins and all typical nuclear proteins. The fruit fly system is simpler than the vertebrate one since in flies there is only single lamin B-type and single lamin A-type protein, as opposed to the complex system of B- and A-type lamins in Danio, Xenopus and Mus musculus. This offers a unique opportunity to study laminopathies. Applying genetic tools based on Gal4 and in vitro nuclear assembly system to the fruit fly model may successfully advance knowledge of laminopathies. Here, we review studies of the laminopathies in the fly model system.

Linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complex proteins in cardiomyopathy

The linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex couples the nuclear lamina to the cytoskeleton. The LINC complex and its associated proteins play diverse roles in cells, ranging from genome organization, nuclear morphology, gene expression, to mechanical stability. The importance of a functional LINC complex is highlighted by the large number of mutations in genes encoding LINC complex proteins that lead to skeletal and cardiac myopathies. In this review, the structure, function, and interactions between components of the LINC complex will be described. Mutations that are known to cause cardiomyopathy in patients will be discussed alongside their respective mouse models. Furthermore, future challenges for the field and emerging technologies to investigate LINC complex function will be discussed.

Consequences of Lamin B1 and Lamin B Receptor Downregulation in Senescence

Anchoring of heterochromatin to the nuclear envelope appears to be an important process ensuring the spatial organization of the chromatin structure and genome function in eukaryotic nuclei. Proteins of the inner nuclear membrane (INM) mediating these interactions are able to recognize lamina-associated heterochromatin domains (termed LAD) and simultaneously bind either lamin A/C or lamin B1. One of these proteins is the lamin B receptor (LBR) that binds lamin B1 and tethers heterochromatin to the INM in embryonic and undifferentiated cells. It is replaced by lamin A/C with specific lamin A/C binding proteins at the beginning of cell differentiation and in differentiated cells. Our functional experiments in cancer cell lines show that heterochromatin in cancer cells is tethered to the INM by LBR, which is downregulated together with lamin B1 at the onset of cell transition to senescence. The downregulation of these proteins in senescent cells leads to the detachment of centromeric repetitive sequences from INM, their relocation to the nucleoplasm, and distension. In cells, the expression of LBR and LB1 is highly coordinated as evidenced by the reduction of both proteins in LBR shRNA lines. The loss of the constitutive heterochromatin structure containing LADs results in changes in chromatin architecture and genome function and can be the reason for the permanent loss of cell proliferation in senescence.

Lem2 is retained at the nuclear envelope through its interaction with Bqt4 in fission yeast

Inner nuclear membrane (INM) proteins are thought to play important roles in modulating nuclear organization and function through their interactions with chromatin. However, these INM proteins share redundant functions in metazoans that pose difficulties for functional studies. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe exhibits a relatively small number of INM proteins, and molecular genetic tools are available to separate their redundant functions. In S. pombe, it has been reported that among potentially redundant INM proteins, Lem2 displays a unique genetic interaction with another INM protein, Bqt4, which is involved in anchoring telomeres to the nuclear envelope. Double mutations in the lem2 and bqt4 genes confer synthetic lethality during vegetative growth. Here, we show that Lem2 is retained at the nuclear envelope through its interaction with Bqt4, as the loss of Bqt4 results in the exclusive accumulation of Lem2 to the spindle pole body (SPB). An N-terminal nucleoplasmic region of Lem2 bears affinity to both Bqt4 and the SPB in a competitive manner. In contrast, the synthetic lethality of the lem2 bqt4 double mutant is suppressed by the C-terminal region of Lem2. These results indicate that the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of Lem2 show independent functions with respect to Bqt4.

Cellular and Nuclear Forces: An Overview

Biological cells sample their surrounding microenvironments using nanoscale force sensors on the cell surfaces. These surface-based force and stress sensors generate physical and chemical responses inside the cell. The inherently well-connected cytoskeleton and its physical contacts with the force elements on the nuclear membrane lead these physicochemical responses to cascade all the way inside the cell nucleus, physically altering the nuclear state. These physical alterations of the cell nucleus, through yet-unknown complex steps elicit physical and functional response from the chromatin in the form of altered gene expression profiles. This mechanism of force/stress sensing by the cell and then its nuclear response has been shown to play a vital role in maintaining robust cellular homeostasis, controlling gene expression profiles during developmental phases as well as cell differentiation. Over the last few years, there has been appreciable progress toward identification of the molecular players responsible for force sensing. However, the actual sensing mechanism of cell surface bound force sensors and more importantly cascading of the signals, both physical (via cytosolic force sensing elements such as microtubule and actin framework) and chemical (cascade of biochemical signaling from cell surface to nuclear surface and further to the chromatin), inside the cell is poorly understood. In this chapter, we present a review of the currently known molecular players in cellular as well as nuclear force sensing repertoire and their possible mechanistic aspects. We also introduce various biophysical concepts that are used to describe the force/stress sensing and response of a cell. We hope this will help asking clearer questions and designing pointed experiments for better understanding of the force-dependent design principles of the cell surface, nuclear surface, and gene expression.

Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) involvement in prelamin A-related chromatin organization changes

Chromatin disorganization is one of the major alterations linked to prelamin A processing impairment. In this study we demonstrate that BAF is necessary to modulate prelamin A effects on chromatin structure. We show that when prelamin A and BAF cannot properly interact no prelamin A-dependent effects on chromatin occur; similar to what is observed in human Nestor Guillermo Progeria Syndrome cells harboring a BAF mutation, in HEK293 cells expressing a BAF mutant unable to bind prelamin A, or in siRNA mediated BAF-depleted HEK293 cells expressing prelamin A. BAF is necessary to induce histone trimethyl-H3K9 as well as HP1-alpha and LAP2-alpha nuclear relocalization in response to prelamin A accumulation. These findings are enforced by electron microscopy evaluations showing how the prelamin A-BAF interaction governs overall chromatin organization. Finally, we demonstrate that the LAP2-alpha nuclear localization defect observed in HGPS cells involves the progerin-BAF interaction, thus establishing a functional link between BAF and prelamin A pathological forms.

LEM4/ANKLE-2 deficiency impairs post-mitotic re-localization of BAF, LAP2α and LaminA to the nucleus, causes nuclear envelope instability in telophase and leads to hyperploidy in HeLa cells

The human LEM-domain protein family is involved in fundamental aspects of nuclear biology. The LEM-domain interacts with the barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF), which itself binds DNA. LEM-domain proteins LAP2, emerin and MAN1 are proteins of the inner nuclear membrane; they have important functions: maintaining the integrity of the nuclear lamina and regulating gene expression at the nuclear periphery. LEM4/ANKLE-2 has been proposed to participate in nuclear envelope reassembly after mitosis and to mediate dephosphorylation of BAF through binding to phosphatase PP2A. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to create several cell lines deficient in LEM4/ANKLE-2. By using time-lapse video microscopy, we show that absence of this protein severely compromises the post mitotic re-association of the nuclear proteins BAF, LAP2α and LaminA to chromosomes. These defects give rise to a strong mechanical instability of the nuclear envelope in telophase and to a chromosomal instability leading to increased number of hyperploid cells. Reintroducing LEM4/ANKLE-2 in the cells by transfection could efficiently restore the telophase association of BAF and LAP2α to the chromosomes. This rescue phenotype was abolished for N- or C-terminally truncated mutants that had lost the capacity to bind PP2A. We demonstrate also that, in addition to binding to PP2A, LEM4/ANKLE-2 binds BAF through its LEM-domain, providing further evidence for a generic function of this domain as a principal interactor of BAF.

Mining the Stiffness-Sensitive Transcriptome in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Identifies Long Noncoding RNA Stiffness Regulators

OBJECTIVE

Vascular extracellular matrix stiffening is a risk factor for aortic and coronary artery disease. How matrix stiffening regulates the transcriptome profile of human aortic and coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is not well understood. Furthermore, the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the cellular response to stiffening has never been explored. This study characterizes the stiffness-sensitive (SS) transcriptome of human aortic and coronary VSMCs and identifies potential key lncRNA regulators of stiffness-dependent VSMC functions.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Aortic and coronary VSMCs were cultured on hydrogel substrates mimicking physiological and pathological extracellular matrix stiffness. Total RNAseq was performed to compare the SS transcriptome profiles of aortic and coronary VSMCs. We identified 3098 genes (2842 protein coding and 157 lncRNA) that were stiffness sensitive in both aortic and coronary VSMCs (false discovery rate <1%). Hierarchical clustering revealed that aortic and coronary VSMCs grouped by stiffness rather than cell origin. Conservation analyses also revealed that SS genes were more conserved than stiffness-insensitive genes. These VSMC SS genes were less tissue-type specific and expressed in more tissues than stiffness-insensitive genes. Using unbiased systems analyses, we identified MALAT1 as an SS lncRNA that regulates stiffness-dependent VSMC proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the transcriptomic landscape of human aortic and coronary VSMCs in response to extracellular matrix stiffness and identifies novel SS human lncRNAs. Our data suggest that the SS transcriptome is evolutionarily important to VSMCs function and that SS lncRNAs can act as regulators of stiffness-dependent phenotypes.

Role of Chromatin Modifications in Drosophila Germline Stem Cell Differentiation

During Drosophila oogenesis, germline stem cells (GSCs) self-renew and differentiate to give rise to a mature egg. Self-renewal and differentiation of GSCs are regulated by both intrinsic mechanisms such as regulation of gene expression in the germ line and extrinsic signaling pathways from the surrounding somatic niche. Epigenetic mechanisms, including histone-modifying proteins, nucleosome remodeling complexes, and histone variants, play a critical role in regulating intrinsic gene expression and extrinsic signaling cues from the somatic niche. In the GSCs, intrinsic epigenetic modifiers are required to maintain a stem cell fate by promoting expression of self-renewal factors and repressing the differentiation program. Subsequently, in the GSC daughters, epigenetic regulators activate the differentiation program to promote GSC differentiation. During differentiation, the GSC daughter undergoes meiosis to give rise to the developing egg, containing a compacted chromatin architecture called the karyosome. Epigenetic modifiers control the attachment of chromosomes to the nuclear lamina to aid in meiotic recombination and the release from the lamina for karyosome formation. The germ line is in close contact with the soma for the entirety of this developmental process. This proximity facilitates signaling from the somatic niche to the developing germ line. Epigenetic modifiers play a critical role in the somatic niche, modulating signaling pathways in order to coordinate the transition of GSC to an egg. Together, intrinsic and extrinsic epigenetic mechanisms modulate this exquisitely balanced program.

Beyond Tethering and the LEM domain: MSCellaneous functions of the inner nuclear membrane Lem2

The nuclear envelope plays a pivotal role in the functional organization of chromatin. Various inner nuclear membrane (INM) proteins associate with transcriptionally repressed chromatin, which is often found at the nuclear periphery. A prominent example is the conserved family of LEM (LAP2-Emerin-MAN1) domain proteins that interact with DNA-binding proteins and have been proposed to mediate tethering of chromatin to the nuclear membrane. We recently reported that the fission yeast protein Lem2, a homolog of metazoan LEM proteins, contributes to perinuclear localization and silencing of heterochromatin. ¹ We demonstrate that binding and tethering of centromeric chromatin depends on the LEM domain of Lem2. Unexpectedly, this domain is dispensable for heterochromatin silencing, which is instead mediated by a different structural domain of Lem2, the MSC (MAN1-Src1 C-terminal) domain. Hence, silencing and tethering by Lem2 can be mechanistically separated. Notably, the MSC domain has multiple functions beyond heterochromatic silencing. Here we discuss the implications of these novel findings for the understanding of this conserved INM protein.

Inner nuclear membrane protein Lem2 augments heterochromatin formation in response to nutritional conditions

Inner nuclear membrane proteins interact with chromosomes in the nucleus and are important for chromosome activity. Lem2 and Man1 are conserved members of the LEM-domain nuclear membrane protein family. Mutations of LEM-domain proteins are associated with laminopathy, but their cellular functions remain unclear. Here, we report that Lem2 maintains genome stability in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. S. pombe cells disrupted for the lem2(+) gene (lem2∆) showed slow growth and increased rate of the minichromosome loss. These phenotypes were prominent in the rich culture medium, but not in the minimum medium. Centromeric heterochromatin formation was augmented upon transfer to the rich medium in wild-type cells. This augmentation of heterochromatin formation was impaired in lem2∆ cells. Notably, lem2∆ cells occasionally exhibited spontaneous duplication of genome sequences flanked by the long-terminal repeats of retrotransposons. The resulting duplication of the lnp1(+) gene, which encodes an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein, suppressed lem2∆ phenotypes, whereas the lem2∆ lnp1∆ double mutant showed a severe growth defect. A combination of mutations in Lem2 and Bqt4, which encodes a nuclear membrane protein that anchors telomeres to the nuclear membrane, caused synthetic lethality. These genetic interactions imply that Lem2 cooperates with the nuclear membrane protein network to regulate genome stability.

Nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of the endonuclease ankyrin repeats and LEM domain-containing protein 1 (Ankle1) is mediated by canonical nuclear export- and nuclear import signals

BACKGROUND

Ankyrin repeats and LEM domain containing protein 1 (Ankle1) belongs to the LEM protein family, whose members share a chromatin-interacting LEM motif. Unlike most other LEM proteins, Ankle1 is not an integral protein of the inner nuclear membrane but shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. It contains a GIY-YIG-type nuclease domain, but its function is unknown. The mammalian genome encodes only one other GIY-YIG domain protein, termed Slx1. Slx1 has been described as a resolvase that processes Holliday junctions during homologous recombination-mediated DNA double strand break repair. Resolvase activity is regulated in a spatial and temporal manner during the cell cycle. We hypothesized that Ankle1 may have a similar function and its nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling may contribute to the regulation of Ankle1 activity. Hence, we aimed at identifying the domains mediating Ankle1 shuttling and investigating whether cellular localization is affected during DNA damage response.

RESULTS

Sequence analysis predicts the presence of two canonical nuclear import and export signals in Ankle1. Immunofluorescence microscopy of cells expressing wild-type and various mutated Ankle1-fusion proteins revealed a C-terminally located classical monopartite nuclear localization signal and a centrally located CRM1-dependent nuclear export signal that mediate nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of Ankle1. These sequences are also functional in heterologous proteins. The predominant localization of Ankle1 in the cytoplasm, however, does not change upon induction of several DNA damage response pathways throughout the cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified the domains mediating nuclear import and export of Ankle1. Ankle1's cellular localization was not affected following DNA damage.

Drosophila male and female germline stem cell niches require the nuclear lamina protein Otefin

The nuclear lamina is an extensive protein network that underlies the inner nuclear envelope. This network includes the LAP2-emerin-MAN1-domain (LEM-D) protein family, proteins that share an association with the chromatin binding protein Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF). Loss of individual LEM-D proteins causes progressive, tissue-restricted diseases, known as laminopathies. Mechanisms associated with laminopathies are not yet understood. Here we present our studies of one of the Drosophila nuclear lamina LEM-D proteins, Otefin (Ote), a homologue of emerin. Previous studies have shown that Ote is autonomously required for the survival of female germline stem cells (GSCs). We demonstrate that Ote is also required for survival of somatic cells in the ovarian niche, with loss of Ote causing a decrease in cap cell number and altered signal transduction. We show germ cell-restricted expression of Ote rescues these defects, revealing a non-autonomous function for Ote in niche maintenance and emphasizing that GSCs contribute to the maintenance of their own niches. Further, we investigate the requirement of Ote in the male fertility. We show that ote mutant males become prematurely sterile as they age. Parallel to observations in females, this sterility is associated with GSC loss and changes in somatic cells of the niche, phenotypes that are largely rescued by germ cell-restricted Ote expression. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that Ote is required autonomously for survival of two stem cell populations, as well as non-autonomously for maintenance of two somatic niches. Finally, our data add to growing evidence that LEM-D proteins have critical roles in stem cell survival and tissue homeostasis.

The GIY-YIG Type Endonuclease Ankyrin Repeat and LEM Domain-Containing Protein 1 (ANKLE1) Is Dispensable for Mouse Hematopoiesis

Ankyrin repeat and LEM-domain containing protein 1 (ANKLE1) is a GIY-YIG endonuclease with unknown functions, mainly expressed in mouse hematopoietic tissues. To test its potential role in hematopoiesis we generated Ankle1-deficient mice. Ankle1Δ/Δ mice are viable without any detectable phenotype in hematopoiesis. Neither hematopoietic progenitor cells, myeloid and lymphoid progenitors, nor B and T cell development in bone marrow, spleen and thymus, are affected in Ankle1Δ/Δ-mice. Similarly embryonic stress erythropoiesis in liver and adult erythropoiesis in bone marrow and spleen appear normal. To test whether ANKLE1, like the only other known GIY-YIG endonuclease in mammals, SLX1, may contribute to Holliday junction resolution during DNA repair, Ankle1-deficient cells were exposed to various DNA-damage inducing agents. However, lack of Ankle1 did not affect cell viability and, unlike depletion of Slx1, Ankle1-deficiency did not increase sister chromatid exchange in Bloom helicase-depleted cells. Altogether, we show that lack of Ankle1 does neither affect mouse hematopoiesis nor DNA damage repair in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, indicating a redundant or non-essential function of ANKLE1 in mouse.

Barrier to Autointegration Factor (BANF1): interwoven roles in nuclear structure, genome integrity, innate immunity, stress responses and progeria

The Barrier to Autointegration Factor (BAF or BANF1) is an abundant, highly conserved DNA binding protein. BAF is involved in multiple pathways including mitosis, nuclear assembly, viral infection, chromatin and gene regulation and the DNA damage response. BAF is also essential for early development in metazoans and relevant to human physiology; BANF1 mutations cause a progeroid syndrome, placing BAF within the laminopathy disease spectrum. This review summarizes previous knowledge about BAF in the context of recent discoveries about its protein partners, posttranslational regulation, dynamic subcellular localizations and roles in disease, innate immunity, transposable elements and genome integrity.

Networking in the nucleus: a spotlight on LEM-domain proteins

Proteins resident in the inner nuclear membrane and underlying nuclear lamina form a network that regulates nuclear functions. This review highlights a prominent family of nuclear lamina proteins that carries the LAP2-emerin-MAN1-domain (LEM-D). LEM-D proteins share an ability to bind lamins and tether repressive chromatin at the nuclear periphery. The importance of this family is underscored by findings that loss of individual LEM-D proteins causes progressive, tissue-restricted diseases, known as laminopathies. Diverse functions of LEM-D proteins are linked to interactions with unique and overlapping partners including signal transduction effectors, transcription factors and architectural proteins. Recent investigations suggest that LEM-D proteins form hubs within the nuclear lamina that integrate external signals important for tissue homeostasis and maintenance of progenitor cell populations.

The plant nuclear envelope as a multifunctional platform LINCed by SUN and KASH

The nuclear envelope (NE) is a double membrane system enclosing the genome of eukaryotes. Besides nuclear pore proteins, which form channels at the NE, nuclear membranes are populated by a collection of NE proteins that perform various cellular functions. However, in contrast to well-conserved nuclear pore proteins, known NE proteins share little homology between opisthokonts and plants. Recent studies on NE protein complexes formed by Sad1/UNC-84 (SUN) and Klarsicht/ANC-1/Syne-1 Homology (KASH) proteins have advanced our understanding of plant NE proteins and revealed their function in anchoring other proteins at the NE, nuclear shape determination, nuclear positioning, anti-pathogen defence, root development, and meiotic chromosome organization. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of plant SUN, KASH, and other related NE proteins, and compare their function with the opisthokont counterparts.

The human protein PRR14 tethers heterochromatin to the nuclear lamina during interphase and mitotic exit

The nuclear lamina is a protein meshwork that lies under the inner nuclear membrane of metazoan cells. One function of the nuclear lamina is to organize heterochromatin at the inner nuclear periphery. However, very little is known about how heterochromatin attaches to the nuclear lamina and how such attachments are restored at mitotic exit. Here, we show that a previously unstudied human protein, PRR14, functions to tether heterochromatin to the nuclear periphery during interphase, through associations with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and the nuclear lamina. During early mitosis, PRR14 is released from the nuclear lamina and chromatin and remains soluble. Strikingly, at the onset of anaphase, PRR14 is incorporated rapidly into chromatin through HP1 binding. Finally, in telophase, PRR14 relocalizes to the reforming nuclear lamina. This stepwise reassembly of PRR14 suggests a function in the selection of HP1-bound heterochromatin for reattachment to the nuclear lamina as cells exit mitosis.

Role of nuclear Lamin A/C in cardiomyocyte functions

Lamin A/C is a structural protein of the nuclear envelope (NE) and cardiac involvement in Lamin A/C mutations was one of the first phenotypes to be reported in humans, suggesting a crucial role of this protein in the cardiomyocytes function. Mutations in LMNA gene cause a class of pathologies generically named 'Lamanopathies' mainly involving heart and skeletal muscles. Moreover, the well-known disease called Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome due to extensive mutations in LMNA gene, in addition to the systemic phenotype of premature aging, is characterised by the death of patients at around 13 typically for a heart attack or stroke, suggesting again the heart as the main site sensitive to Lamin A/C disfunction. Indeed, the identification of the roles of the Lamin A/C in cardiomyocytes function is a key area of exploration. One of the primary biological roles recently conferred to Lamin A/C is to affect contractile cells lineage determination and senescence. Then, in differentiated adult cardiomyocytes both the 'structural' and 'gene expression hypothesis' could explain the role of Lamin A in the function of cardiomyocytes. In fact, recent advances in the field propose that the structural weakness/stiffness of the NE, regulated by Lamin A/C amount in NE, can 'consequently' alter gene expression.

The molecular basis of emerin-emerin and emerin-BAF interactions

Emerin is a conserved membrane component of nuclear lamina structure. Here, we report an advance in understanding the molecular basis of emerin function: intermolecular emerin-emerin association. There were two modes: one mediated by association of residues 170-220 in one emerin molecule to residues 170-220 in another, and the second involving residues 170-220 and 1-132. Deletion analysis showed residues 187-220 contain a positive element essential for intermolecular association in cells. By contrast, deletion of residues 168-186 inactivated a proposed negative element, required to limit or control association. Association of GFP-emerin with nuclear BAF in cells required the LEM domain (residues 1-47) and the positive element. Emerin peptide arrays revealed direct binding of residues 170-220 to residues 206-225 (the proposed positive element), residues 147-174 (particularly P(153)MYGRDSAYQSITHYRP(169)) and the LEM domain. Emerin residues 1-132 and 159-220 were each sufficient to bind lamin A or B1 tails in vitro, identifying two independent regions of molecular contact with lamins. These results, and predicted emerin intrinsic disorder, support the hypothesis that there are multiple 'backbone' and LEM-domain configurations in a proposed intermolecular emerin network at the nuclear envelope.

Whole exome sequencing identifies a novel EMD mutation in a Chinese family with dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Variants in the emerin gene (EMD) were implicated in X-linked recessive Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD), characterized by early-onset contractures of tendons, progressive muscular weakness and cardiomyopathy. To date, 223 mutations have been reported in EMD gene and the majority of them caused a predominant skeletal muscular phenotype. In this study, we identified a novel deletion mutation in EMD exon 1, which results in almost a complete loss of emerin protein in a large Chinese family. However, the patients suffered severe dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) but very mild skeletal muscle disorder.

CASE PRESENTATION

Whole exome sequencing (WES) and linkage analysis were performed to identify the underlying mutation in a Chinese DCM family spanning five generations. A missense variation in the GPR50 gene was found co-segregated with the disease phenotype, whereas no functional alteration was detected in the variant GPR50 protein. When analyzing the failure sequences in the exome sequencing data, a novel deletion mutation (c.26_39delATACCGAGCTGACC) in EMD exon 1, was identified in this family. Different from the typical clinical features caused by most reported EMD mutations, patients in our study presented very mild skeletal muscle degeneration that had not been diagnosed until the mutation was found.

CONCLUSION

We described a family with rare clinical presentations caused by a novel EMD deletion mutation. Our findings broaden the heterogeneous spectrum of phenotypes attributed to EMD mutations and provide new insight to explain the genotype-phenotype correlations between EMD mutations and EDMD symptoms.

The nuclear lamina is mechano-responsive to ECM elasticity in mature tissue

How cells respond to physical cues in order to meet and withstand the physical demands of their immediate surroundings has been of great interest for many years, with current research efforts focused on mechanisms that transduce signals into gene expression. Pathways that mechano-regulate the entry of transcription factors into the cell nucleus are emerging, and our most recent studies show that the mechanical properties of the nucleus itself are actively controlled in response to the elasticity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in both mature and developing tissue. In this Commentary, we review the mechano-responsive properties of nuclei as determined by the intermediate filament lamin proteins that line the inside of the nuclear envelope and that also impact upon transcription factor entry and broader epigenetic mechanisms. We summarize the signaling pathways that regulate lamin levels and cell-fate decisions in response to a combination of ECM mechanics and molecular cues. We will also discuss recent work that highlights the importance of nuclear mechanics in niche anchorage and cell motility during development, hematopoietic differentiation and cancer metastasis, as well as emphasizing a role for nuclear mechanics in protecting chromatin from stress-induced damage.

Molecular simulation investigation on the interaction between barrier-to-autointegration factor or its Gly25Glu mutant and DNA

In order to understand the binding mechanism between Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) and DNA, two DNA:BAF complexes with wild type (WT) BAF and its Gly25Glu point mutate type (MT) were generated by molecular docking on the basis of the crystal structures of BAF (PDB code: 2ODG, chain A) and DNA (PDB code: 2BZF, chain B and C). Then, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the two docked structures, as well as BAF (WT) and BAF (MT). The results show that monomer BAF is more flexible than BAF in DNA:BAF complex, suggesting that DNA is effective to stabilize conformation of BAF, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. Besides, the mutated Glu25 in DNA:BAF (MT) can change the BAF conformation to some extent. With deeper investigation on the DNA:BAF structures, the hydrogen bonds are found to make great contribution to the interaction between DNA and BAF. The hydrogen bonds in DNA:BAF (MT) are fewer than those in DNA:BAF (WT), indicating that the Gly25Glu mutation in BAF has an important effect on the hydrogen bonds in the DNA:BAF complex. Besides, the binding free energy in DNA:BAF (MT) is also higher than that in DNA:BAF (WT). It results from the influence of Glu25 side chain on the orientation of Lys6 and Lys33 in the interface between DNA and BAF. The binding free energy of Lys72, another key residue, decreases a lot in DNA:BAF (MT) anomalously. The decreasing energy causes the destruction of hydrophobic pocket in the binding site between DNA and BAF (MT). Our results are helpful for further experimental investigations.

Unique and shared functions of nuclear lamina LEM domain proteins in Drosophila

The nuclear lamina is an extensive protein network that contributes to nuclear structure and function. LEM domain (LAP2, emerin, MAN1 domain, LEM-D) proteins are components of the nuclear lamina, identified by a shared ∼45-amino-acid motif that binds Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF), a chromatin-interacting protein. Drosophila melanogaster has three nuclear lamina LEM-D proteins, named Otefin (Ote), Bocksbeutel (Bocks), and dMAN1. Although these LEM-D proteins are globally expressed, loss of either Ote or dMAN1 causes tissue-specific defects in adult flies that differ from each other. The reason for such distinct tissue-restricted defects is unknown. Here, we generated null alleles of bocks, finding that loss of Bocks causes no overt adult phenotypes. Next, we defined phenotypes associated with lem-d double mutants. Although the absence of individual LEM-D proteins does not affect viability, loss of any two proteins causes lethality. Mutant phenotypes displayed by lem-d double mutants differ from baf mutants, suggesting that BAF function is retained in animals with a single nuclear lamina LEM-D protein. Interestingly, lem-d double mutants displayed distinct developmental and cellular mutant phenotypes, suggesting that Drosophila LEM-D proteins have developmental functions that are differentially shared with other LEM-D family members. This conclusion is supported by studies showing that ectopically produced LEM-D proteins have distinct capacities to rescue the tissue-specific phenotypes found in single lem-d mutants. Our findings predict that cell-specific mutant phenotypes caused by loss of LEM-D proteins reflect both the constellation of LEM-D proteins within the nuclear lamina and the capacity of functional compensation of the remaining LEM-D proteins.

Linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complex proteins in cardiac structure, function, and disease

The linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex, composed of proteins within the inner and the outer nuclear membranes, connects the nuclear lamina to the cytoskeleton. The importance of this complex has been highlighted by the discovery of mutations in genes encoding LINC complex proteins, which cause skeletal or cardiac myopathies. Herein, this review summarizes structure, function, and interactions of major components of the LINC complex, highlights how mutations in these proteins may lead to cardiac disease, and outlines future challenges in the field.