Martin W. Hetzer

Genomic DNA that resides in the nuclei of mammalian neurons can be as old as the organism itself. The life span of nuclear RNAs, which are critical for proper chromatin architecture and transcription regulation, has not been determined in adult tissues. In this work, we identified and characterized nuclear RNAs that do not turn over for at least 2 years in a subset of postnatally born cells in the mouse brain. These long-lived RNAs were stably retained in nuclei in a neural cell type–specific manner and were required for the maintenance of heterochromatin. Thus, the life span of neural cells may depend on both the molecular longevity of DNA for the storage of genetic information and also the extreme stability of RNA for the functional organization of chromatin.

During apoptosis, caspases degrade 8 out of ~30 nucleoporins to irreversibly demolish the nuclear pore complex. However, for poorly understood reasons, caspases are also activated during cell differentiation. Here, we show that sublethal activation of caspases during myogenesis results in the transient proteolysis of four peripheral Nups and one transmembrane Nup. ‘Trimmed’ NPCs become nuclear export-defective, and we identified in an unbiased manner several classes of cytoplasmic, plasma membrane, and mitochondrial proteins that rapidly accumulate in the nucleus. NPC trimming by non-apoptotic caspases was also observed in neurogenesis and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our results suggest that caspases can reversibly modulate nuclear transport activity, which allows them to function as agents of cell differentiation and adaptation at sublethal levels. © 2023, eLife Sciences Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.

The LINC complex tethers the cell nucleus to the cytoskeleton to regulate mechanical forces during cell migration, differentiation, and various diseases. The function of LINC complexes relies on the interaction between highly conserved SUN and KASH proteins that form higher-order assemblies capable of load bearing. These structural details have emerged from in vitro assembled LINC complexes; however, the principles of in vivo assembly remain obscure. Here, we report a conformation-specific SUN2 antibody as a tool to visualize LINC complex dynamics in situ. Using imaging, biochemical, and cellular methods, we find that conserved cysteines in SUN2 undergo KASH-dependent inter- and intramolecular disulfide bond rearrangements. Disruption of the SUN2 terminal disulfide bond compromises SUN2 localization, turnover, LINC complex assembly in addition to cytoskeletal organization and cell migration. Moreover, using pharmacological and genetic perturbations, we identify components of the ER lumen as SUN2 cysteines redox state regulators. Overall, we provide evidence for SUN2 disulfide bond rearrangement as a physiologically relevant structural modification that regulates LINC complex functions. © 2023 Sharma and Hetzer.