BSTRACTThe inner nuclear membrane proteins emerin and LEMD2 have both overlapping and separate functions in regulation of nuclear organization, gene expression and cell differentiation. We report here that emerin (EMR-1) and LEM domain protein 2 (LEM-2) are expressed in all tissues throughout Caenorhaditis elegans development but their relative distribution differs between cell types. The ratio of EMR-1 to LEM-2 is particularly high in contractile tissues, intermediate in neurons and hypodermis and lowest in intestine and germ line. We find that LEM-2 is recruited earlier than EMR-1 to reforming nuclear envelopes, suggesting the presence of separate mitotic membrane compartments and specific functions of each protein. Concordantly, we observe that nuclei of lem-2 mutant embryos, but not of emr-1 mutants, have reduced nuclear circularity. Finally, we uncover a so-far-unknown role of LEM-2 in nuclear separation and anchoring of microtubule organizing centers.