The nucleus provides a physical and selective chemical boundary to segregate the genome from the cytoplasm. The contents of the nucleus are surrounded by the nuclear envelope, which acts as a hub of mechanosensation, transducing forces from the external cytoskeleton to the nucleus, thus impacting on nuclear morphology, genome organisation, gene transcription and signalling pathways. Muscle tissues such as the heart are unique in that they actively generate large contractile forces, resulting in a distinctive mechanical environment which impacts nuclear properties, function and mechanosensing. In light of this, mutations that affect the function of the nuclear envelope (collectively known as nuclear envelopathies and laminopathies) disproportionately result in striated muscle diseases, which include dilated and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies. Here we review the nucleus and its role in mechanotransduction, as well as associated defects that lead to cardiac dysfunction.

细胞核提供了物理和选择性的化学边界以将基因组与细胞质分离。细胞核的内容物被核膜包围，核膜作为机械感觉的枢纽，将力从外部细胞骨架传递到细胞核，从而影响核形态、基因组组织、基因转录和信号通路。肌肉组织（例如心脏）的独特之处在于它们会主动产生较大的收缩力，从而形成独特的机械环境，从而影响核特性、功能和机械传感。鉴于此，影响核膜功能的突变（统称为核膜病和椎板病）会不成比例地导致横纹肌疾病，包括扩张型和致心律失常性心肌病。