SLAIN motif family member 2 (SLAIN2) (SLAIN2)

SLAIN motif family member 2 (SLAIN2) is a microtubule-plus-end-tracking protein (+TIP) that serves as a critical regulator of microtubule dynamics and organization in eukaryotic cells (UniProt Q9P270). It functions as a molecular linker between end-binding proteins (EBs) and the microtubule polymerase ch-TOG, thereby promoting processive microtubule polymerization and nucleation (van der Vaart et al., 2011). During interphase, SLAIN2 is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of the radial microtubule array, while its activity is downregulated by Cdk1-mediated phosphorylation during mitosis (Alliance of Genome Resources). In the context of oncology, SLAIN2 is implicated in promoting mesenchymal cell invasion and metastasis by stabilizing microtubules in three-dimensional environments, which supports the formation of invasive pseudopods (maayanlab.cloud). Furthermore, SLAIN2 has been identified as a neuroprotective factor that maintains axonal microtubule structure and can mitigate neuronal injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage (PubMed: 37913845). Although there are currently no FDA-approved drugs that directly target SLAIN2, its pivotal role in cancer progression and neuroprotection makes it a significant subject of therapeutic research (GeneCards).

Other names

KIAA1458FLJ21611SLAIN motif-containing protein 2

No approved drugs currently target SLAIN2; research focuses on its role as a microtubule stabilizer in cancer metastasis and neuroprotection.