@article{BatsiosPeterBaumannetal.2012,
  author    = {Batsios, Petros and Peter, Tatjana and Baumann, Otto and Stick, Reimer and Meyer, Irene and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph},
  title     = {A lamin in lower eukaryotes?},
  series = {Nucleus},
  volume    = {3},
  journal   = {Nucleus},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Landes Bioscience},
  address   = {Austin},
  issn      = {1949-1034},
  doi       = {10.4161/nucl.20149},
  pages     = {237 -- 243},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Lamins are the major components of the nuclear lamina and serve not only as a mechanical support, but are also involved in chromatin organization, epigenetic regulation, transcription and mitotic events. Despite these universal tasks, lamins have so far been found only in metazoans. Yet, recently we have identified Dictyostelium NE81 as the first lamin-like protein in a lower eukaryote. Based on the current knowledge, we draw a model for nuclear envelope organization in Dictyostelium in this Extra View and we review the experimental data that justified this classification. Furthermore we provide unpublished data underscoring the requirement of posttranslational CaaX-box processing for proper protein localization at the nuclear envelope. Sequence comparison of NE81 sequences from four Dictyostelia with bona fide lamins illustrates the evolutional relationship between these proteins. Under certain conditions these usually unicellular social amoebae congregate to form a multicellular body. We propose that the evolution of the lamin-like NE81 went along with the invention of multicellularity.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KruegerBatsiosBaumannetal.2012,
  author    = {Kr{\"u}ger, Anne and Batsios, Petros and Baumann, Otto and Luckert, Eva and Schwarz, Heinz and Stick, Reimer and Meyer, Irene and Gr{\"a}f, Ralph},
  title     = {Characterization of NE81, the first lamin-like nucleoskeleton protein in a unicellular organism},
  series = {Molecular biology of the cell : the official publication of the American Society for Cell Biology},
  volume    = {23},
  journal   = {Molecular biology of the cell : the official publication of the American Society for Cell Biology},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {American Society for Cell Biology},
  address   = {Bethesda},
  issn      = {1059-1524},
  doi       = {10.1091/mbc.E11-07-0595},
  pages     = {360 -- 370},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Lamins build the nuclear lamina and are required for chromatin organization, gene expression, cell cycle progression, and mechanical stabilization. Despite these universal functions, lamins have so far been found only in metazoans. We have identified protein NE81 in Dictyostelium, which has properties that justify its denomination as a lamin-like protein in a lower eukaryote. This is based on its primary structure, subcellular localization, and regulation during mitosis, and its requirement of the C-terminal CaaX box as a posttranslational processing signal for proper localization. Our knockout and overexpression mutants revealed an important role for NE81 in nuclear integrity, chromatin organization, and mechanical stability of cells. All our results are in agreement with a role for NE81 in formation of a nuclear lamina. This function is corroborated by localization of Dictyostelium NE81 at the nuclear envelope in human cells. The discovery of a lamin-like protein in a unicellular organism is not only intriguing in light of evolution, it may also provide a simple experimental platform for studies of the molecular basis of laminopathies.},
  language  = {en}
}