The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (HNRNPK) is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein involved in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. It belongs to the hnRNP family and plays critical roles in RNA processing, DNA repair, chromatin remodeling, and cellular stress responses. HNRNPK interacts with nucleic acids (RNA/DNA) and proteins through its three K-homology (KH) domains, acting as a molecular scaffold to integrate signaling pathways. Its functions span mRNA stabilization, splicing, translation, and epigenetic regulation, impacting cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
HNRNPK antibodies are essential tools for studying its expression, localization, and interactions in both physiological and pathological contexts. These antibodies are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Dysregulation of HNRNPK is linked to cancers (e.g., leukemia, breast, and liver cancer), neurological disorders, and developmental defects, making its detection crucial for understanding disease mechanisms. Research using HNRNPK antibodies has highlighted its role in oncogenic signaling, viral replication, and stress granule formation, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic or diagnostic target. Validation of antibody specificity remains critical due to structural similarities among KH domain proteins.