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. 2025 May 21;3(2):100135.
doi: 10.1016/j.mbm.2025.100135. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Mechanosensitive nuclear checkpoint: nuclear envelope as a sensor of chromosomal instability and driver of cell fate

Chenyang Ji  1 , Junwei Chen  1 , Fuxiang Wei  1
Affiliations

Mechanosensitive nuclear checkpoint: nuclear envelope as a sensor of chromosomal instability and driver of cell fate

Chenyang Ji et al. Mechanobiol Med. .

Abstract

The nuclear envelope (NE) is a dynamic, mechanosensitive structure that functions as a protective barrier for the genome and serves as a checkpoint responding to external stimuli. It plays a critical role in maintaining genomic stability and regulating cell fate. This review synthesizes recent research highlighting the role of NE as a mechanical checkpoint in ensuring accurate chromosome segregation, regulating cell cycle progression, and contributing to cancer development. Chromosome mis-segregation during cell division is a major driver of aneuploidy, a condition closely associated with genomic instability and cellular transformation. The role of NE in chromatin organization and gene expression regulation is also discussed, underscoring its importance in cell differentiation and identity.

Keywords: Cell cycle; Chromatin; Gene expression; Mechanosensitive checkpoint; Nuclear envelope.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic of the nuclear envelope determines cell fate. Chromosome mis-segregation leads to nuclear envelope dysfunction and tension decrease, which quickly activates the p53/p21 pathway, probably induces cellular transformation and cancer progression. Nuclear envelop works as a mechanosensitive checkpoint during this progress.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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