Final answer:
Specific proteins and hormones that enter the nucleus are primarily involved in gene transcription and translation processes, leading to the production of proteins that alter cell functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Specific proteins and hormones that enter the nucleus from the cytoplasm may be required for gene transcription and translation. Proteins synthesized in the cytosol that are destined for the nucleus contain signals that direct them to their appropriate destinations, such as regulatory DNA sequences or hormone response elements (HRE) in the case of hormones.
For instance, when a steroid hormone binds to an intracellular nuclear receptor (NR) in the cytoplasm, it dissociates from a heat shock protein (HSP) and the hormone-receptor complex then moves to the nucleus. There, it binds to a DNA sequence called an HRE, which triggers gene transcription and translation, leading to the production of proteins that mediate changes in cell function.