Research Progress on the Structural and Functional Roles of hnRNPs in Muscle Development

Abstract

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are a superfamily of RNA-binding proteins consisting of more than 20 members. These proteins play a crucial role in various biological processes by regulating RNA splicing, transcription, and translation through their binding to RNA. In the context of muscle development and regeneration, hnRNPs are involved in a wide range of regulatory mechanisms, including alternative splicing, transcription regulation, miRNA regulation, and mRNA stability regulation. Recent studies have also suggested a potential association between hnRNPs and muscle-related diseases. In this report, we provide an overview of our current understanding of how hnRNPs regulate RNA metabolism and emphasize the significance of the key members of the hnRNP family in muscle development. Furthermore, we explore the relationship between the hnRNP family and muscle-related diseases.