ULK2

ULK2 (Unc-51 Like Autophagy Activating Kinase 2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ULK2 gene. It is a serine/threonine-protein kinase involved in the regulation of autophagy, a cellular process that degrades and recycles unnecessary or dysfunctional components.

Function

ULK2 is a key component of the autophagy signaling pathway, which is activated in response to nutrient deprivation or other forms of cellular stress. The ULK2 protein is a member of the Unc-51 family of kinases, which are named for their homology to the Unc-51 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ULK2 is involved in the initiation of autophagy by phosphorylating and activating other components of the autophagy machinery, including Beclin-1 and ATG13. It also interacts with mTOR, a master regulator of cell growth and proliferation, to modulate the autophagy response.

Clinical Significance

Alterations in the ULK2 gene or its protein product have been implicated in several human diseases. For example, mutations in ULK2 have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, dysregulation of ULK2 and the autophagy pathway has been linked to cancer. Autophagy can have both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting effects, and the role of ULK2 in this process is an active area of research.

See Also

• Autophagy
• mTOR
• Beclin-1
• ATG13