A microexon in Arp2 alters tissue-specific Arp2/3-generated actin structures.

ABSTRACT: The Arp2/3 complex nucleates essential branched actin networks in most eukaryotes. Interestingly, the subunit Arp2 encodes two splice variants that differ merely by five amino acids in the D-loop, which is critical for actin polymerization. However, it is unknown if this alternative exon, or "microexon," impacts Arp2/3 function or is even expressed. Here, we found that the Arp2 microexon has been evolutionarily retained for over 600 million years yet varies in sequence. We investigated the unique microexon in Drosophila Arp2 and found that the long splice variant encoding the microexon ("Arp2L") is expressed, though not as highly as the shorter variant ("Arp2s") in some tissues. We purified recombinant Drosophila Arp2/3 containing Arp2s or Arp2L and found no difference

SUBMITTER: Powell J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12632905 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature