Structural components of nuclear integrity with gene regulatory potential

•Extranuclear forces are transmitted to the intranuclear environment.•The nuclear lamina, matrix, proteins and nucleic acids contribute to structural integrity of the nucleus.•Structural components of the nucleus might coregulate transcription.

The nucleus is a mechanosensitive and load-bearing structure. Structural components of the nucleus interact to maintain nuclear integrity and have become subjects of exciting research that is relevant to cell and developmental biology. Here we outline the boundaries of what is known about key architectural elements within the nucleus and highlight their potential structural and transcriptional regulatory functions.