The lamins are components of the nuclear lamina, which forms a fibrous
meshwork lining the inner nuclear membrane. Lamina-membrane interacti
ons play a crucial role during nuclear disassembly and reassembly at m
itosis, whereas lamina-chromatin association has been proposed to be e
ssential for chromatin organization. The composition of the lamina cha
nges considerably during embryonic development and cell differentiatio
n. Recent studies have provided insights into the regulation of the la
min genes.