Multiple and surprising new functions for emerin, a nuclear membrane protein

Abstract

Emerin is an integral protein of the nuclear inner membrane. Emerin is not essential, but its loss of function causes Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. We summarize significant recent progress in understanding emerin, which was previously known to interact with barrier-to-autointegration factor and lamins. New partners include transcription repressors, an mRNA splicing regulator, a nuclear membrane protein named nesprin, nuclear myosin I and F-actin. These interactors imply multiple roles for emerin in the nucleus, some of which overlap with related LEM-domain proteins.