hnRNP complexes: composition, structure, and function.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are predominantly nuclear RNA-binding proteins that form complexes with RNA polymerase II transcripts. These proteins function in a staggering array of cellular activities, ranging from transcription and pre-mRNA processing in the nucleus to cytoplasmic mRNA translation and turnover. Recent studies suggest that several fundamental characteristics of hnRNPs account for their involvement in multiple regulatory pathways.