CDC42 small effector protein 2 (small effector of CDC42 protein 2, CDC42SE2, SPEC2)

Function

• probably involved in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton by acting downstream of CDC42, inducing actin filament assembly
• recruited to the activated TCR prior to actin polymerization
• alters CDC42-induced cell shape changes
• in activated T-cells, may play a role in CDC42-mediated F-actin accumulation at the immunological synapse
• may play a role in early contractile events in phagocytosis in macrophages
• interacts with CDC42 (in GTP-bound form)
• interacts weakly with RAC1 & not at all with RHOA

Structure

• CRIB domain mediates interaction with CDC42
• belongs to the CDC42SE/SPEC family
• contains 1 CRIB domain

Compartment

• cytoplasm, cell membrane, lipid-anchor
• localizes at the phagocytic cup of macrophages

Expression

• widely expressed
• expressed at higher level in T lymphocytes
• highly expressed in CCRF-CEM T lymphocytes, Jurkat T lymphocytes, & Raji B lymphocytes (at protein level)

Genetics

• CDC42SE2 is mapped in the genomic region associated with schizophrenia

More general terms

• cytoskeletal protein

Database

• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:5699
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9NRR3.html