Figure 2.

Illustration concept of force equilibrium for nuclear morphology maintenance within the nucleus. Inside the nucleus, the densely packed DNA causes it to exert an outward expansion force. To counteract this force and prevent nuclear rupture, lamin proteins form a reinforcing mesh network on the inner side of the INM, known as the nuclear lamina. Chromatin is anchored to this mesh network through integral membrane proteins, effectively serving as tension wires. These anchored chromatin regions exert an inward fastening force, reinforcing the lamina’s structural integrity, resulting in the complementation of the lamina’s resistance against the nuclear expansion force. In the cytoplasm, actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules are linked to the nuclear membrane via membrane-spanning proteins. These cytoskeletal elements play a crucial role in determining the nucleus’s position within the cell and provide the necessary force to pull the nuclear membrane outward, ensuring its proper shape is maintained.