FBLN2 (fibulin 2)

Abstract

Fibulin-2 is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein with an important function in maintaining elastic properties in different tissues. Fibulin-2 belongs to a protein family with seven members characterized by sharing a globular domain at the carboxyterminus, which is called "fibulin-like", "FC domain" or domain III. Together with fibulin-1, fibulin-2 forms the so called subgroup 1 in the fibulin family which contains three anaphylatoxin modules in their sequence. Fibulin-2 does not only form part of elastic fibers but is also present in basement membranes and other connective tissue structures. Besides its structural function, alterations in fibulin-2 expression have also been related to several pathological processes. Thus, fibulin-2 has been shown to be implicated in blood pressure regulation, vascular injury protection or with a protective role in some heart malfunctioning. Also, fibulin-2 participation has been described in cancer showing both oncogenic or tumorsuppressor properties.