Lamins are components of the nuclear lamina, a fibrous layer on the nucleoplasmic side of the inner nuclear membrane, which is thought to provide a framework for the nuclear envelope and may also interact with chromatin. Expressed in oocytes. There are at least five different lamins in Xenopus: the somatic lamins L(I), L(II), and A; the oocyte germinal vesicle lamin L(III); and the male germ cells lamin l(IV). Belongs to the intermediate filament family.