Lamin A/C modulates spatial organization and function of the Hsp70 gene locus via nuclear myosin I

The structure-function relationship of the nucleus is tightly regulated, especially during heat shock. Typically, heat shock activates molecular chaperones that prevent protein misfolding and preserve genome integrity. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate nuclear structure-function relationships during heat shock remain unclear. Here, we show that lamin A and C (hereafter lamin A/C; both lamin A and C are encoded by LMNA) are required for heat-shock-mediated transcriptional induction of the Hsp70 gene locus (HSPA genes). Interestingly, lamin A/C regulates redistribution of nuclear myosin I (NM1) into the nucleus upon heat shock, and depletion of either lamin A/C or NM1 abrogates heat-shock-induced repositioning of Hsp70 gene locus away from the nuclear envelope. Lamins and NM1 also regulate spatial positioning of the SC35 (also known as SRSF2) speckles - important nuclear landmarks that modulates Hsp70 gene locus expression upon heat shock. This suggests an intricate crosstalk between nuclear lamins, NM1 and SC35 organization in modulating transcriptional responses of the Hsp70 gene locus during heat shock. Taken together, this study unravels a novel role for lamin A/C in the regulation of the spatial dynamics and function of the Hsp70 gene locus upon heat shock, via the nuclear motor protein NM1.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.