Profilin 2 (PFN2)

Profilin-2 is a ubiquitous actin monomer-binding protein belonging to the profilin family. 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.

Profilin is a 14-kDa protein responsible for keeping the cytoskeletal protein actin monomeric under ionic conditions that promote its polymerization into filaments. Two isoforms of profilin are known: profilin-1 (PFN1) and profilin-2 (PFN2). By expressing both isoforms in E. coli, Gieselmann et al. (1995) assessed the biochemical characteristics of the profilins and compared their interactions with poly(L-proline), phosphatidylinositol-4,5- bisphosphate, and actin.