Profilin 3 (PFN3)

Members of the profilin family of actin-binding proteins, including PFN3, are key regulators of actin dynamics in living cells.By database analysis using the rat Pfn3 cDNA as query, Braun et al. (2002) identified human and mouse PFN3. The deduced 137-amino acid human protein shares 89% amino acid identity with the mouse protein. Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR of mouse tissues and testis detected Pfn3 expression in testis only. In situ hybridization of mouse testis detected Pfn3 expression specifically in spermatocytes in the last stages of spermatogenesis.

Braun et al. (2002) determined that the PFN3 gene contains a single exon. It is in head-to-head orientation with the SLC34A1 gene, which is on the opposite strand.