Introduction and Its Functional Significance

• SRSF3 (Serine and Arginine Rich Splicing Factor 3) belongs to the SR protein family.
• Involved in alternative splicing and mRNA processing.
• Impacts post-transcriptional gene regulation, cell cycle control, and cell differentiation.
• Recent research highlights its roles in growth, cancer, and cellular stress responses.

Molecular Mechanisms and Role in Alternative Splicing

• Splicing enables a gene to create various proteins, heavily reliant on SR proteins like SRSF3.
• SRSF3 binds to exonic splicing enhancers (ESEs) and recruits spliceosome components.
• Determines inclusion or exclusion of exons in mRNA transcripts.
• Vital in tissues like heart and nerve cells for splicing gene functions.
• Plays a role in stress responses, making splicing decisions for repair or cell death.

Development and Differentiation

• Influences growth and specialization of cells during development.
• Levels fluctuate with cell progression stages; higher in rapidly dividing cells.
• In embryos, influences pluripotency gene expression for stem cell formation.
• In cell differentiation, blocks pathways for specialization, maintaining growth state.
• Has implications in regenerative medicine and developmental biology.

Role in Cancer and Disease

• Increased presence in cancer types like liver, lung, and breast cancers.
• Influences splicing of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, promoting survival and proliferation.
• In liver cancer, promotes glycolytic function for growth and survival.
• Adjusts splicing of apoptosis-related genes to prevent cell death and promote tumors.
• Linked with Alzheimer's disease, heart conditions, and structural protein splicing.

Therapeutic Potential and Future Directions

• Potential target for treating splicing irregularities in diseases.
• Research on chemical compounds to influence splicing by targeting SRSF3.
• RNA-based treatments like antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for correcting splicing abnormalities.
• ASOs tailored to target molecules improperly regulated by SRSF3.
• Ongoing clinical studies for ASOs aiming at splicing regulators.
• Understanding SRSF3 functions in cell metabolism and stress response for new treatment options.