The regulation of mitotic nuclear envelope breakdown: a role for multiple lamin kinases

The chapter reviews the structure and function of the nuclear envelope and describes its dynamic structural changes during cell cycle. Particular emphasis is placed on the regulation of mitotic nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD), the process by which the physical barrier between cytoplasm and nucleus is dissolved to allow for cell division. The literature suggesting the involvement of multiple protein kinases in NEBD is reviewed and evidence is presented that multiple mitotic lamin kinases, including p34cdc2/cyclin B kinase and protein kinase C, play key roles in mitotic nuclear lamina disassembly. Finally, a model for regulation of mitotic nuclear lamina disassembly by multi-site phosphorylation is described.