Solute carrier family 35 member A2 (SLC35A2)

Solute carrier family 35 member A2 (SLC35A2) is a Golgi-localized, multi-pass membrane nucleotide-sugar transporter responsible for importing UDP-galactose from the cytosol into Golgi vesicles, a pivotal step for glycosylation of proteins and lipids. By producing galactose-containing glycan structures, SLC35A2 ensures proper protein maturation, lipid processing, and cell membrane integrity. Mutations in SLC35A2 cause CDG2M, characterized clinically by neurological and developmental symptoms. In cancer contexts, particularly breast, hepatocellular, and colorectal cancers, upregulation of SLC35A2 correlates with poor prognosis and increased metastatic potential; silencing this gene inhibits proliferation and migration through effects on the Wnt/β-catenin/EMT pathway. SLC35A2 is classified as a solute carrier transporter in the SLC35 nucleotide-sugar subfamily, with broad impact on cellular physiology and pathology through its central role in glycosylation, making it a focal point for therapeutic and biomarker research.

Other names

UDP-galactose transporter 2SLC35A2CDG2M gene

Drugs targeting SLC35A2 would modulate glycosylation by altering UDP-galactose transport, affecting cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and signaling. In cancer research, gene silencing/inhibition decreases cell proliferation and invasion by impacting the Wnt/β-catenin/EMT signaling pathway.