A membrane-sensing mechanism links lipid metabolism to protein degradation at the nuclear envelope.

Lipid composition determines organelle identity; however, whether the lipid composition of the inner nuclear membrane (INM) domain of the ER contributes to its identity is not known. Here, we show that the INM lipid environment of animal cells is under local control by CTDNEP1, the master regulator of the phosphatidic acid phosphatase lipin 1. Loss of CTDNEP1 reduces association of an INM-specific diacylglycerol (DAG) biosensor and results in a decreased percentage of polyunsaturated containing DAG species.