The nucleoskeleton as a genome-associated dynamic 'network of networks'.

In the cytosol, actin polymers, intermediate filaments and microtubules can anchor to cell surface adhesions and interlink to form intricate networks. This cytoskeleton is anchored to the nucleus through LINC (links the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complexes that span the nuclear envelope and in turn anchor to networks of filaments in the nucleus. The metazoan nucleoskeleton includes nuclear pore-linked filaments, A-type and B-type lamin intermediate filaments, nuclear mitotic apparatus (NuMA) networks, spectrins, titin, 'unconventional' polymers of actin and at least ten different myosin and kinesin motors. These elements constitute a poorly understood 'network of networks' that dynamically reorganizes during mitosis and is responsible for genome organization and integrity.

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.

Partners and post-translational modifications of nuclear lamins.

Nuclear intermediate filament networks formed by A- and B-type lamins are major components of the nucleoskeleton that are required for nuclear structure and function, with many links to human physiology. Mutations in lamins cause diverse human diseases ('laminopathies'). At least 54 partners interact with human A-type lamins directly or indirectly. The less studied human lamins B1 and B2 have 23 and seven reported partners, respectively. These interactions are likely to be regulated at least in part by lamin post-translational modifications. This review summarizes the binding partners and post-translational modifications of human lamins and discusses their known or potential implications for lamin function.

Cancer and the nuclear pore complex.

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) mediates trafficking between the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. It also plays key roles in other nuclear processes such as chromatin silencing, transcriptional regulation, and DNA damage repair. Nucleoporins, the structural components of the NPC, have been linked to a multitude of cancers through chromosomal translocations generating fusion proteins, changes in protein expression levels, and single point mutations. Only a small number of nucleoporins have been linked to tumorigenesis thus far, and these proteins--Nup62, Nup88, Nup98, Nup214, Nup358/RanBP2, and Tpr--line the trafficking pathway and are particularly associated with mRNA export. Overexpression of several associated nuclear export factors, most also involved in various stages of mRNA export, has been linked to cancers as well. Some oncogenic nucleoporin mutants are mislocalized to either the cytoplasm or nucleoplasm while others are incorporated into the NPC, and in all these cases they are thought to misregulate signaling pathways and transcription through either altered or diminished nucleoporin functionality. Intriguingly, many viruses target the same cancer-linked nucleoporins, often causing their degradation or mislocalization, implying that these viruses exploit some of the same weaknesses as the oncogenic defects.

OGT (O-GlcNAc Transferase) Selectively Modifies Multiple Residues Unique to Lamin A.

The LMNA gene encodes lamins A and C with key roles in nuclear structure, signaling, gene regulation, and genome integrity. Mutations in LMNA cause over 12 diseases ('laminopathies'). Lamins A and C are identical for their first 566 residues. However, they form separate filaments in vivo, with apparently distinct roles. We report that lamin A is ß-O-linked N-acetylglucosamine-(O-GlcNAc)-modified in human hepatoma (Huh7) cells and in mouse liver. In vitro assays with purified O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) enzyme showed robust O-GlcNAcylation of recombinant mature lamin A tails (residues 385⁻646), with no detectable modification of lamin B1, lamin C, or 'progerin' (Δ50) tails. Using mass spectrometry, we identified 11 O-GlcNAc sites in a 'sweet spot' unique to lamin A, with up to seven sugars per peptide. Most sites were unpredicted by current algorithms. Double-mutant (S612A/T643A) lamin A tails were still robustly O-GlcNAc-modified at seven sites. By contrast, O-GlcNAcylation was undetectable on tails bearing deletion Δ50, which causes Hutchinson⁻Gilford progeria syndrome, and greatly reduced by deletion Δ35. We conclude that residues deleted in progeria are required for substrate recognition and/or modification by OGT in vitro. Interestingly, deletion Δ35, which does not remove the majority of identified O-GlcNAc sites, does remove potential OGT-association motifs (lamin A residues 622⁻625 and 639⁻645) homologous to that in mouse Tet1. These biochemical results are significant because they identify a novel molecular pathway that may profoundly influence lamin A function. The hypothesis that lamin A is selectively regulated by OGT warrants future testing in vivo, along with two predictions: genetic variants may contribute to disease by perturbing OGT-dependent regulation, and nutrient or other stresses might cause OGT to misregulate wildtype lamin A.

Lamin A tail modification by SUMO1 is disrupted by familial partial lipodystrophy-causing mutations.

Lamin filaments are major components of the nucleoskeleton that bind LINC complexes and many nuclear membrane proteins. The tail domain of lamin A directly binds 21 known partners, including actin, emerin, and SREBP1, but how these interactions are regulated is unknown. We report small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO1) as a major new posttranslational modification of the lamin A tail. Two SUMO1 modification sites were identified based on in vitro SUMOylation assays and studies of Cos-7 cells. One site (K420) matches the SUMO1 target consensus; the other (K486) does not. On the basis of the position of K486 on the lamin A Ig-fold, we hypothesize the SUMO1 E2 enzyme recognizes a folded structure-dependent motif that includes residues genetically linked to familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD). Supporting this model, SUMO1-modification of the lamin A tail is reduced by two FPLD-causing mutations, G465D and K486N, and by single mutations in acidic residues E460 and D461. These results suggest a novel mode of functional control over lamin A in cells.

Direct actin binding to A- and B-type lamin tails and actin filament bundling by the lamin A tail.

Nuclear intermediate filament networks formed by A- and B-type lamins are major components of the nucleoskeleton. Lamins have growing links to human physiology and disease including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD), lipodystrophy, cardiomyopathy, neuropathy, cerebellar disorders and segmental accelerated 'aging' syndromes. How lamins interact with other nucleoskeletal components, and even the identities of these other components, are open questions. Previous studies suggested lamins might bind actin. We report that the recombinant C-terminal tail domain of human A- and B-type lamins binds directly to purified actin in high-speed pelleting assays. This interaction maps to a conserved Actin Binding site (AB-1) comprising lamin A residues 461-536 in the Ig-fold domain, which are 54% identical in lamin B1. Two EDMD-causing missense mutations (R527P and L530P) in lamin A that are predicted to disrupt the Ig-fold, each reduced F-actin binding by ∼66%, whereas the surface-exposed lipodystrophy-causing R482Q mutation had no significant effect. The lamin A tail was unique among lamins in having a second actin-binding site (AB-2). This second site was mapped to lamin A tail residues 564-608, based on actin-binding results for the lamin C tail and internal deletions in the lamin A tail that cause Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (Δ35, Δ50) or restrictive dermopathy (Δ90). Supporting the presence of two actin-binding sites, recombinant precursor (unmodified) and mature lamin A tails (not C or B1 tails) each bundled F-actin in vitro: furthermore F-actin bundling was reduced 25-40% by the R527P, L530P, Δ35 and Δ50 mutations, and was abolished by Δ90. Unexpectedly, the mature lamin A tail bound F-actin significantly more efficiently than did the prelamin A tail; this suggested unmodified residues 647-664, unique to prelamin A, might auto-inhibit binding to actin (and potentially other partners). These biochemical results suggest direct mechanisms by which lamins, particularly lamin A, might impact the concentration of free actin in the nucleus or pathways including transcription, nuclear export, chromatin remodeling, chromatin movement and nuclear assembly that require nuclear myosin 1c and polymerizable actin.