What is the Physiological Role of Matrin-3

Abstract

In mammals, Matrin-3 is a highly conserved inner nuclear matrix protein of 125 kDa. This protein has been implicated in various functions, including the maintenance of cell viability, proliferation and stemness, DNA protection, mRNA stability and transport of transcripts, and viral assembly as well as involvement in some neurodegenerative diseases. Yet, its physiological mode of action remains elusive. Here, we summarize the main data in the literature on matrin-3’s role in cells and suggest that its specific interaction with GRP78, a principal regulator of the unfolding protein pathway (UPR), may shed light on some of the functional activities associated with Matr3.