The farnesylated nuclear proteins KUGELKERN and LAMIN B promote aging-like phenotypes in Drosophila flies

Abstract

The nuclear lamina consists of a meshwork of lamins and lamina-associated proteins, which provide mechanical support, control size and shape of the nucleus, and mediate the attachment of chromatin to the nuclear envelope. Abnormal nuclear shapes are observed in aging cells of humans and nematode worms. The expression of laminΔ50, a constitutively active lamin A splicing variant in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome patients, leads to the lobulation of the nuclear envelope accompanied by DNA damage, and loss of heterochromatin. So far, it has been unclear whether these age-related changes are laminΔ50 specific or whether proteins that affect nuclear shape such as KUGELKERN or LAMIN B in general play a causative role in senescence. Here we show that in adult Drosophila flies, the size of the nuclei increases with age and the nuclei assume an aberrant shape. Moreover, induced expression of the farnesylated lamina proteins Lamin B and Kugelkern cause aberrant nuclear shapes and reduce the lifespan of adult flies. The shorter lifespan correlates with an early decline in age-dependent locomotor behaviour. Expression of kugelkern or lamin B in mammalian cells induces a nuclear lobulation phenotype in conjunction with DNA damage, and changes in histone modification similar to that found in cells expressing laminΔ50 or in cells from aged individuals. We conclude that lobulation of the nuclear membrane induced by the insertion of farnesylated lamina-proteins can lead to aging-like phenotypes. © 2008 The Authors Journal compilation © Blackwell Publishing Ltd/The Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2008.