Nuclear lamin proteins: domains required for nuclear targeting, assembly, and cell-cycle-regulated dynamics

The nuclear lamin proteins assemble at the nuclear membrane into a highly dynamic network whose integrity is exquisitely controlled by the major cell cycle regulators. Although the actual cellular functions of the lamins remain elusive, the processes of targeted lamin assembly and phosphorylation-induced disassembly have come to light recently. These processes require functionally interacting lamin domains to execute targeting to the nucleus and the nuclear membranes, lamina assembly, and the disassembly response to cell-cycle-dependent phosphorylation.