FLOT2

FLOT2, or flotillin-2, is a protein encoded by the human FLOT2 gene. It is a member of the flotillin family, which also includes flotillin-1 (FLOT1). Flotillins are peripheral membrane proteins that associate with cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich membrane microdomains, often referred to as lipid rafts, and they participate in various membrane trafficking and signaling processes.

Flotillin-2 is part of the SPFH (stomatin, prohibitin, flotillin, HflK/C) domain-containing protein family. It localizes to the plasma membrane and intracellular compartments such as endosomes, where it forms complexes with flotillin-1 to create functional structures involved in membrane organization. Together, flotillins act as scaffolding platforms that help assemble signaling and trafficking complexes and influence endocytosis that is independent of clathrin and caveolae.

Functions attributed to FLOT2 include involvement in endocytic pathways, vesicular trafficking, and regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics. Through its association with membrane microdomains, FLOT2 can modulate signaling pathways linked to receptor tyrosine kinases and downstream networks such as the Ras/MAPK axis, as well as potentially influencing PI3K/AKT signaling in certain contexts.

Expression of FLOT2 is widespread across tissues, with detectable levels in many cell types. Post-translational modifications, including lipid modifications that promote membrane attachment, contribute to its localization and function at the cell surface and within endosomal compartments.

Clinical relevance of FLOT2 has been explored in various diseases. Altered FLOT2 expression has been reported in several cancers, though the direction and significance of these changes are variable and context-dependent. Flotillins are also studied for their roles in viral entry and other pathogen-host interactions due to their involvement in membrane dynamics.