Recent advances in nuclear matrix function.

The nuclear matrix in eukaryotes is a non-histone proteinaceous nucleoskeleton structure having attachment sites for DNA loops during DNA replication. The nuclear matrix has been implicated in transcription, regulation of gene expression, primary transcription processing and provides a mooring for certain hormone receptors. Moreover, the nuclear matrix protein has linkages to intermediate filaments of the cytoskeleton. This review presents recent advances concerning the involvement of the nuclear matrix in DNA replication, relaxation of the superhelical strain in DNA, processing of hnRNA and snRNP, and RNA transport.