PER2 Proteins

Protein Information

PER2, also known as Period circadian protein homolog 2, is a mainly nuclear protein that shows nucleocytoplasmic shuttling which is effected by interaction with other circadian core oscillator proteins and/or by phosphorylation. PER2 belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors and contains a PAC (PAS-associated C-terminal) domain and two PAS (PER-ARNT-SIM) domains. PER2 is a component of the circadian core oscillator, which includes the CRY proteins, CLOCK or NPAS2, BMAL1 or BMAL2, CSNK1D and/or CSNK1E, TIMELESS, and the PER proteins. This protein is thus essential for generating circadian rhythms and is a negative element in the circadian transcriptional loop which influences clock function by interacting with other circadian regulatory proteins and transporting them to the nucleus. Expression of PER2 is fairly wide spread with strong expression in skeletal muscle and pancreas and slight expression in lung. Defects in PER2 are a cause of familial advanced sleep-phase syndrome (FASPS).

Synonyms

Circadian clock protein PERIOD 2; FASPS; FASPS1; hPER2; KIAA0347; mKIAA0347; mPer2; PER2; per2 {ECO:0000312; period 2; period circadian clock 2; period circadian protein 2; period circadian protein homolog 2; period homolog 2; RGD:61945}; rPER2