Nuclear actin dynamics in gene expression and genome organization

Salla Kyheröinen1, Maria K Vartiainen1

  • 1Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute for Life Science, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.

Summary

This review explores how actin, a protein typically found in the cytoplasm, functions in the cell nucleus. Actin exists in two forms in the nucleus: monomers and filaments. Monomers are part of complexes that modify chromatin and regulate transcription factors. Filaments are involved in DNA damage response and cell cycle progression. The balance between these forms is tightly controlled and crucial for nuclear processes. The study synthesizes recent findings on how actin dynamics influence gene expression and genome organization. The authors propose that actin's roles in the nucleus are as significant as those in the cytoplasm. Understanding these dynamics is important for grasping the full scope of actin's biological roles.

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