Actin Related Protein 3 (ACTR3)

The specific function of this gene has not yet been determined; however, the protein it encodes is known to be a major constituent of the ARP2/3 complex. This complex is located at the cell surface and is essential to cell shape and motility through lamellipodial actin assembly and protrusion.

The ARP3 cDNA encodes a deduced 418-amino acid protein that is identical to bovine Arp3, 59% identical to S. pombe Arp3, and 58% identical to S. cerevisiae Arp3. ARP3 localizes to the lamellipodia of stationary and locomoting fibroblasts. It also localizes to the actin tails assembled by moving intracellular Listeria monocytogenes bacteria and to actin clouds surrounding stationary L. monocytogenes. ARP3 was not detected in cellular bundles of actin filaments