Characterization of HEMK2 in nuclear shape regulation

Abstract

Nuclear morphology is a widely used characteristic in clinical diagnostics, and alterations in nuclear shape are associated with a variety of disorders. Nuclear shape is determined by multiple factors, including intranuclear proteins, cytoplasmic forces, and genome organization. Recent studies have suggested that epigenetic regulation by methyltransferases may also influence nuclear shape. HEMK2 is a Class I methyltransferase that is associated with translation termination, cell proliferation, gametogenesis, and various diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. Although some methyltransferases are associated with nuclear shape, no similar link has previously been reported for HEMK2. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate whether HEMK2 affects nuclear shape in U2OS cells. The results of this study suggest that HEMK2 is associated with nuclear shape abnormalities, as evidenced by nuclear invaginations in HEMK2-depleted cells. Additionally, lamin A/C expression level was shown to be altered among cell lines. Lastly, HEMK2 was reported to be predominantly cytoplasmic in U2OS cells. In summary, this study suggests that HEMK2 is associated with nuclear morphology in U2OS cells, and this association may be independent of HEMK2's methylation function.