Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (scaffold attachment factor A) (HNRNPU)

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (scaffold attachment factor A) (HNRNPU) is a multifunctional nuclear protein encoded by the HNRNPU gene on human chromosome 1q44[1][3][7]. It binds both RNA and DNA, notably associating with scaffold/matrix-attachment regions of chromatin and forming complexes with heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA). In cell biology, HNRNPU is crucial for regulating alternative splicing, chromatin structure, transcription, DNA replication, genome stability, mitotic fidelity, and X chromosome inactivation[1][5][7]. Its central position in RNA and chromatin metabolism means mutations or deletions cause severe neurodevelopmental diseases, including epileptic encephalopathy and intellectual disability, and potentially contribute to cardiac and other diseases. There are no drugs directly targeting HNRNPU as its disruption results in loss of essential cellular functions and rapid cell death[4][5][6][7].

Other names

Scaffold attachment factor A (SAF-A)hnRNP UHNRNPUp120 nuclear proteinU21.1C1orf199GRIP120pp120HNRPUHNRNPU antisense RNA 1Nuclear p120 ribonucleoprotein