| HNRNPK — Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | HNRNPK |
| Full Name | Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K |
| Chromosome | 9q21.33 |
| NCBI Gene | 3190 |
| Ensembl | ENSG00000165548 |
| OMIM | 300086 |
| UniProt | P61956 |
| Diseases | [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis), [Cancer](/diseases/carcino) |
| Expression | Ubiquitous - highest in brain, spleen, thymus |
HNRNPK (Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K) is a gene located on chromosome 9q21.33 that encodes an RNA-binding protein belonging to the hnRNP family. HNRNPK is a multifunctional protein involved in various aspects of RNA metabolism, including transcription, splicing, RNA stability, and translation [1]. It acts as a KH domain-containing RNA-binding protein that recognizes poly(C) sequences in DNA and RNA. HNRNPK has been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and various cancers, making it an important gene in both neurodegeneration and oncology [2].
HNRNPK is one of the most abundant and versatile hnRNP proteins. It contains three KH (hnRNP K homology) domains that mediate RNA binding, as well as multiple regulatory domains that enable interaction with various signaling pathways. The protein localizes to both the nucleus and cytoplasm, where it performs distinct functions in RNA processing and signal transduction.
In the context of ALS, HNRNPK has been shown to localize to stress granules and is involved in RNA granule dynamics, which are critical for cellular stress responses and are dysregulated in ALS pathogenesis [3].
The HNRNPK gene spans approximately 50 kb and consists of 17 exons. The gene is located on chromosome 9q21.33.
HNRNPK produces multiple isoforms through alternative splicing:
HNRNPK is a 51-kDa protein with a modular structure:
HNRNPK has been implicated in ALS through several mechanisms:
HNRNPK is ubiquitously expressed with highest levels in:
The study of Hnrnpk — Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Page created: 2026-03-08