The big coiled-coil protein that this gene produces attaches itself to the inner surface of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) to generate intranuclear filaments. The protein has direct interactions with a number of NPC constituents. It is necessary for various proteins and mRNAs to be exported from the nucleus. Certain neoplasias have oncogenic fusions of this gene's 5' end with multiple distinct kinase genes.

a part of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), which is necessary for trafficking in radioactive material across the nuclear envelope. contributes to the formation of nuclear-peripheral chromatin compartmentalization in interphase, acts as a scaffolding element in the nuclear phase of the NPC necessary for normal nucleocytoplasmic transport of proteins and mRNAs, and is involved in mitotic spindle checkpoint signaling during mitosis.

TPR-related chromosomal abnormality has been detected in papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs). TRK-T1 is a fusion protein created by intrachromosomal rearrangement connecting the 5' end of the TPR gene to the NTRK1 protein kinase domain. A 55 kDa protein called TRK-T1 reacts with antibodies to the NTRK1 protein's carboxy terminus.