The nuclear lamina is a thin (20 nm) yet insoluble protein meshwork that, in higher cells, lines the nucleoplasmic face of the nuclear envelope (NE). The lamina is intimately associated with both the inner nuclear membrane and underlying chromatin, while at the same time providing anchoring sites for nuclear pore complexes (Gerace and Burke 1988). Because of these extensive interactions, the lamina has long been considered to play an important role in the maintenance of nuclear architecture. This notion has been lent considerable weight in recent years by the findings that lamina and NE defects are linked to a number of human diseases (Wilson 2000). Steen and Collas 2001 (this issue) now provide some tantalizing data that links nuclear lamina organization to cell survival.
The major components of the nuclear lamina are the A- and...
