PON2

Serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 2 is an enzyme encoded by the PON2 gene in humans.

The gene encodes a member of the paraoxonase gene family, which includes three known members located next to each other on the long arm of chromosome 7. The encoded protein is ubiquitous in human tissues, binds to cell membranes, and acts as a cellular antioxidant to protect cells from oxidative stress. The hydrolysis activity against acyl homoserine lactone (an important bacterial quorum sensing mediator) suggests that the encoded protein may also play a role in the defense response against pathogenic bacteria. The mutation of this gene may be related to vascular diseases and many quantitative phenotypes related to diabetes. Transcription variants that encode splices of different isoforms have been described.