Lamin

A lamin is a type of intermediate filament protein forming part of the nuclear lamina, a network associated with the inner surface of the nuclear envelope. Lamins contribute to nuclear shape and mechanical organization and interact with components connecting the envelope to chromatin. They differ from laminin, an extracellular-matrix protein, despite the similar names. ^[ref]

Regulated assembly is useful during cell division. Phosphorylation of lamins helps promote lamina disassembly as the nuclear envelope breaks down in open mitosis; subsequent reassembly supports daughter nuclei. Thus a structural protein can form a load-bearing network while retaining a chemically regulated route for dismantling it.