SUN1/2 Controls Macrophage Polarization via Modulating Nuclear Size and Stiffness

Alteration of the size and stiffness of the nucleus triggered by environmental cues are thought to be important for eukaryotic cell fate and function. Here we identify the nuclear envelope proteins SUN1/2 as mechano-regulators of the nucleus during M1 polarization of the macrophage. Specifically, we show that LPS treatment decreases the protein levels of SUN1/2 in a CK2-bTrCP-dependent manner to shrink and soften the nucleus, therefore altering the chromatin accessibility for M1-associated gene expression. Overall design: Chromatin Immunoprecipitation DNA-sequencing (ChIP-seq) for histone modification H3K4me3 in macrophages.