The SRSF3-MBNL1-Acin1 circuit constitutes an emerging axis to lessen DNA fragmentation in colorectal cancer via an alternative splicing mechanism

•Differential splicing profiles of MBNL1 and Acin1 gene is noted in CRC tissues or cells.•Autoregulated exclusion of MBNL1 exons is altered with upregulated SRSF3•MBNL1 isoform differentially modulates CRC-related AS events.•SRSF3 and MBNL1 exerts opposite impact on expression of the Acin1 isoform.•Acin1 isoform exhibits distinct influence on DNA fragmentation in CRC cells.•SRSF3-MBNL11-Acin1 constitutes an emerging circuit involved in apoptosis of CRC cells.