Hnrnpul1, short for heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U-like 1, belongs to the family of RNA-binding proteins. It is involved in nucleic acid binding, transcription, and splicing, either by directly binding to DNA and RNA or interacting with other proteins in the spliceosome. These functions suggest its importance in various biological processes and its potential role in human development due to its cross-species conservation [1].

In zebrafish, Hnrnpul1 mutants exhibit reduced body and fin growth, missing bones, craniofacial tendon growth defects, and adult-onset caudal scoliosis, demonstrating its role in skeletal and limb development [1]. In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, reduced Hnrnpul1 expression enhances cisplatin sensitivity, suggesting its potential as a chemotherapy target [2]. In cervical cancer, NAT10-mediated RNA acetylation enhances Hnrnpul1 mRNA stability, promoting cancer progression, indicating the NAT10-ac4C-Hnrnpul1 axis might be a potential therapeutic target [3]. In ovarian cancer, AKAP8 regulates hnRNPUL1 transcription, promoting cancer progression and antagonizing PARP inhibitor sensitivity [4]. In bladder cancer, LINC00461 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition through the miR-518b/Hnrnpul1 axis, suggesting LINC00461 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target [5]. Also, arginine methylation of hnRNPUL1 by PRMT1 is crucial for its interaction with NBS1 and recruitment to DNA damage sites, highlighting its role in DNA damage response [6].

In summary, Hnrnpul1 plays essential roles in development, such as skeletal and limb formation, and in disease processes including multiple types of cancer and DNA damage response. Research on Hnrnpul1 using models like zebrafish and through functional studies in cancer cells has provided valuable insights into its biological functions and potential as a therapeutic target in various disease areas.