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CACTIN was originally identified in Drosophila (fruit flies). Cactin gene is responsible for innate immune system responses and acts as negative Toll-like receptor. The full-length cactin protein length is 3,150 bp long and with an N-terminus from 356–547 residues and a domain in the C-terminal 731–855 residues. This protein resides in many organs and tissues of all vertebrates, however, most recently it has also been found in plants, protist, and fungi. The location that is highest in concentration of cactin gene is in the testis of males and in the spleen. The cactin gene in this specific areas like the testis enables RNA binding activity. This protein was also found to be involved in other process like cellular response from cytokines and negative signal transduction (negative feed back loops).

Scientist are still discovering different process that cactin gene is involved in. For instance, biochemist have discovered that the absence of cactin gene will result in gluten allergy, which is in many breads and sweets. Most recently, biochemist have discovered that cactin gene is in both plant and animal cells. In plant the cactcin gene is associated with SR proteins localized in the nucleus, and in many cases the cells form nuclear speckles (speckles structures are not clear amongst biologist yet, more studies need to be done). Plant and human cells share the same spliceosomal proteins, which involved the eradication of introns in order to form messenger RNA, in which cactin gene promotes this process and can also tell it when to stop. In the next decades to come we will uncover more information of the cactin gene with the improvement of technology.