Molecular models of LINC complex assembly at the nuclear envelope

Zeinab Jahed; Nya Domkam; Jessica Ornowski; Ghafar Yerima; Mohammad R K Mofrad

doi:10.1242/jcs.258194

Molecular models of LINC complex assembly at the nuclear envelope

J Cell Sci. 2021 Jun 15;134(12):jcs258194. doi: 10.1242/jcs.258194. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Authors

Zeinab Jahed^{1

2}, Nya Domkam³, Jessica Ornowski³, Ghafar Yerima³, Mohammad R K Mofrad^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
² Department of Nanoengineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA 92039, USA.
³ Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
⁴ Molecular Biophysics and Integrative Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

PMID: 34152389
DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258194

Abstract

Large protein complexes assemble at the nuclear envelope to transmit mechanical signals between the cytoskeleton and nucleoskeleton. These protein complexes are known as the linkers of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complexes (LINC complexes) and are formed by the interaction of SUN and KASH domain proteins in the nuclear envelope. Ample evidence suggests that SUN-KASH complexes form higher-order assemblies to withstand and transfer forces across the nuclear envelope. Herein, we present a review of recent studies over the past few years that have shed light on the mechanisms of SUN-KASH interactions, their higher order assembly, and the molecular mechanisms of force transfer across these complexes.

Keywords: Higher-order assembly; LINC complex; Mechanotransduction; Nuclear envelope; Nuclear mechanics; SUN.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Membrane Proteins
Models, Molecular
Nuclear Envelope* / genetics
Nuclear Matrix
Nuclear Proteins* / genetics

Substances

Membrane Proteins
Nuclear Proteins