Theory 44/Cell Mechanics
Nuclear Limits Are a Stiffness Ratio
The claim
The deformation a nucleus can survive is set by the ratio of lamin stiffness to chromatin stiffness, so softening chromatin increases deformability only when lamin is high.
01The mechanism
The envelope resists deformation while chromatin resists compaction; whichever dominates sets the failure mode as the cell squeezes through pores.
02Predictions
- P1Deformation limit should track the ratio.
- P2Lamin alone should mispredict.
03Refutation
Limit tracking lamin alone would remove the chromatin term.