Publications · Journal of Cell Science 2026 · Co-first author

Lamin B1 coordinates the assembly of the nuclear lamina

Rebuilt the nuclear lamina one lamin at a time in smooth muscle cells lacking all three lamin genes, showing that lamin B1 alone forms a normal meshwork and is needed for the other lamins to organize.

The question

The nuclear lamina is a meshwork of lamin proteins lining the inside of the nucleus. Which lamin organizes it, and can the others form a normal meshwork on their own?

What we found

• Smooth muscle cells were made to lack all three lamin genes, and the lamina was then rebuilt one lamin at a time.
• Lamin B1 alone formed a normal meshwork.
• The other lamins needed lamin B1 to organize properly, including when the lamina reassembles after cell division.

Why it matters

In progeria mice, lamin B1 levels in the aorta fall with age, so knowing that lamin B1 coordinates lamina assembly helps explain why its loss leaves the nucleus fragile.

Journal of Cell Science also interviewed me about this paper for its First Person series, which features the first authors of selected papers: “First person – Paul H. Kim” ↗

Lamin B1 coordinates the assembly of the nuclear lamina. Journal of Cell Science (2026) 139(19):jcs265156. doi:10.1242/jcs.265156