Acylphosphatase 2 (ACYP2)

Acylphosphatase 2 (ACYP2) is a small multifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of acyl-phosphate bonds and plays important roles in intracellular calcium homeostasis, energy metabolism, and cell differentiation. The enzyme can hydrolyze the phosphoenzyme intermediate of different membrane pumps, particularly the Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle. ACYP2 exhibits dual subcellular localization, functioning in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells. In the cytoplasm, ACYP2 regulates potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily N member 4 (KCNN4), inhibiting K+ efflux and subsequent inactivation of the ERK pathway, which impedes tumor growth and metastasis. In the nucleus, ACYP2 inhibits telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activity, leading to telomere shortening and reversal of cell immortalization. ACYP2 represents an innovative therapeutic target, particularly for hepatocellular carcinoma, where restoration of its expression through targeted delivery systems has shown promising results in preclinical models. The enzyme's multifaceted roles in cellular signaling, telomere maintenance, and disease susceptibility position it as a critical mediator linking fundamental enzymatic activity with broader aspects of human health and disease.

Other names

acylphosphatase 2 muscle typeacylphosphate phosphohydrolase 2ACYMACYPacylphosphatase muscle type isozymetesticular tissue protein Li 11

Gene therapy approaches using pcDNA-ACYP2 vectors have been developed, with novel targeted nanotherapy strategies involving encapsulation within polyetherimide nanoparticles coated with HCC cell membranes