Regulation of lamin properties and functions: does phosphorylation do it all?

The main functions of lamins are their mechanical and structural roles as major building blocks of the karyoskeleton. They are also involved in chromatin structure regulation, gene expression, intracellular signalling pathway modulation and development. All essential lamin functions seem to depend on their capacity for assembly or disassembly after the receipt of specific signals, and after specific, selective and precisely regulated interactions through their various domains. Reversible phosphorylation of lamins is crucial for their functions, so it is important to understand how lamin polymerization and interactions are modulated, and which sequences may undergo such modifications. This review combines experimental data with results of our in silico analyses focused on lamin phosphorylation in model organisms to show the presence of evolutionarily conserved sequences and to indicate specific in vivo phosphorylations that affect particular functions.