Serine Peptidase Inhibitor Kunitz Type 2 (SPINT2)

SPINT2 encodes a transmembrane protein with two extracellular Kunitz domains that inhibits a variety of serine proteases. The protein inhibits HGF activator which prevents the formation of active hepatocyte growth factor. This gene is a putative tumor suppressor, and mutations in this gene result in congenital sodium diarrhea. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.SPINT2 protein is structurally similar to SPINT1 and contains an N-terminal putative signal peptide sequence, a hydrophobic, membrane associated C-terminal region, and a central region that encodes the processed, cleaved protein. SPINT2 has 2 potential N-glycosylation sites, but a different N-linked sugar chain from that of SPINT1. Two regions show extensive similarity to the Kunitz-type sequence of serine protease inhibitors