Scientific background: |
Profilin-2, also called PFN2, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PFN2 gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a ubiquitous actin monomer-binding protein belonging to the profilin family. This gene is mapped to 3q25.1. It is thought to regulate actin polymerization in response to extracellular signals. There are two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms described for this gene. It binds to actin and affects the structure of the cytoskeleton. At high concentrations, profilin prevents the polymerization of actin, whereas it enhances it at low concentrations. By binding to PIP2, it inhibits the formation of IP3 and DG. |
References: |
1. Gieselmann, R., Kwiatkowski, D. J., Janmey, P. A., Witke, W. Distinct biochemical characteristics of the two human profilin isoforms. Europ. J. Biochem. 229: 621-628, 1995.
2. Joensuu, T., Blanco, G., Pakarinen, L., Sistonen, P., Kaariainen, H., Brown, S., de la Chapelle, A., Sankila, E.-M. Refined mapping of the Usher syndrome type III locus on chromosome 3, exclusion of candidate genes, and identification of the putative mouse homologous region. Genomics 38: 255-263, 1996.
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