Dual functions for transcriptional regulators: myth or reality?

Several transcriptional regulatory molecules have been described that appear to possess dual function in separate cellular compartments. It remains unclear whether the proteins really exert dual functions, or which of the transcriptional regulatory role or the cytoplasm-associated function is the physiologically relevant action of the protein. This review will briefly describe the cases at hand and attempt to sort the true bifunctional proteins from the aritfactual trespassers. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppls. 32/33:32-40, 1999. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.