The nuclear envelope is a regulated membrane barrier that separates the nucleus from the cytosol in eukaryotes. Although the NE is often depicted as a static barrier, new research has identified conditions where nuclear envelope rupturing causes a loss of compartmentalization. Nuclear envelope ruptures are rapidly repaired in the nucleus, but persist at aberrant, nuclear compartments, such as micronuclei and DNA bridges, that form around mis-segregated chromosomes. Compromised nuclear compartmentalization can result in DNA damage, inflammation, and clustered mutagenesis. The Maciejowski lab seeks to understand how the nuclear envelope safeguards the genome and prevents immune recognition of chromosomal DNA. We approach these problems using a combination of cell biology, biochemistry, and genomics.