ELMO2
Description
The ELMO2 (engulfment and cell motility 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 20.
Engulfment and cell motility protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ELMO2 gene. The protein encoded by this gene interacts with the dedicator of cyto-kinesis 1 protein. Similarity to a C. elegans protein suggests that this protein may function in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and in cell migration. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding the same protein.
ELMO2 plays a role in rearranging the cytoskeleton, which is necessary for the engulfment and removal of dying cells (apoptosis) and for cell movement. It works alongside proteins called DOCK1 and CRK. Initially, it was thought that ELMO2, in combination with DOCK1, was needed to activate Rac Rho small GTPases, which are proteins that control cell behavior. ELMO2 might also increase the activity of DOCK1, which is a protein that helps activate other proteins.
ELMO2 is also known as CED-12, CED12, Ced-12A, ELMO-2, VMPI.
