Emerging roles of lipids in nuclear function and homeostasis

Although research on the nucleus has historically focused on proteins and nucleic acids, the crucial roles of lipids in nuclear biology have remained underappreciated. Lipids are not merely structural components but are now understood to be active regulators of diverse processes vital to nuclear homeostasis and function, including nuclear pore complex assembly, RNA processing, the DNA damage response and gene expression control. Furthermore, the nucleus is emerging as a critical hub for both lipid metabolism and mechanosensing, contributing to cellular lipid and mechanical homeostasis. This Perspective synthesizes the current understanding of lipids in nuclear function and genome integrity, highlighting the key findings and open questions that were the focus of The Company of Biologists Workshop 'Roles of Lipids in Nuclear Homeostasis and Genome Stability'.