HS3ST2

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

HS3ST2 (heparan sulfate glucosamine 3-O-sulfotransferase 2) is an enzyme that adds sulfate groups to heparan sulfate chains, helping create diverse heparan sulfate structures that regulate many biological processes. It is a type II membrane protein and part of the heparan sulfate biosynthetic enzyme family, with activity specific to heparan sulfate glucosaminyl 3-O-sulfotransferase.

This gene is mainly expressed in the brain, suggesting a role in the nervous system. In humans, HS3ST2 is located on chromosome 16p12.2; its mouse counterpart is on chromosome 7.

In breast cancer, the HS3ST2 promoter is often hypermethylated compared with normal breast tissue, which may indicate involvement in cancer development. When HS3ST2 is upregulated in breast cancer cells, it can alter invasiveness through changes in MAP kinase signaling and matrix metalloproteinase expression.

Overall, HS3ST2 contributes to the fine-tuning of heparan sulfate structures that control signaling and cell behavior, with potential implications for brain biology and cancer.