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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2014 Feb 4;0:16–27. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2014.01.003

Figure 1. Mechanisms of nuclear size and shape regulation.

Figure 1

The central diagram depicts the major cellular components involved in regulating nuclear morphology. The blue boxes around the edge depict specific examples where mechanisms determining nuclear size and/or shape have been identified. (a) In Xenopus egg extracts, lamin B3 (LB3) depletion reduces nuclear size [13], while supplementing extract with LB3 increases the rate of NE expansion [14]. (b) Mislocalization of LAP2 or addition of a dominant negative fragment of LAP2 to Xenopus egg extract inhibits nuclear growth [19,20]. (c) Expression of nesprin-2 lacking the ABD increases nuclear size, while expression of nesprin-2-mini decreases nuclear size [21,22]. (d) Altered LBR and lamin A (LA) expression in neutrophils affects nuclear lobulation [30,31]. (e) Progerin expression leads to the formation of misshapen nuclei that can be rescued with farnesylation inhibitors [34]. (f) Altered expression of Arabidopsis thaliana Nup136 affects both nuclear size and elongation [44,45]. (g) Stem cell differentiation is associated with acquisition of a perinuclear actin cap that regulates nuclear morphology through LINC and lamina interactions [49]. (h) ECM stiffness modulates nuclear shape [53].