sma-2 encodes, along with sma-3 and sma-4, one of three C. elegans Smad proteins, with SMA-2 and SMA-3 most closely related to receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads) and SMA-4 more closely related to co-mediator Smads (CoSmads); during development, SMA-2 functions in a TGF-beta signaling pathway to regulate body size and specification of sensory structures in the male tail; sma-2, through this pathway, also regulates reproductive aging; studies show that reduction of TGF-beta pathway genes extends reproductive span by maintaining oocyte and germline quality; a sma-2::gfp reporter is expressed in the pharynx, intestine, and hypodermis; SMA-2 protein interacts with DAF-16.
Predicted to enable DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific; I-SMAD binding activity; and RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding activity. Involved in several processes, including male anatomical structure morphogenesis; positive regulation of cell growth; and regulation of anatomical structure morphogenesis. Predicted to be located in cytoplasm and nucleus. Predicted to be part of heteromeric SMAD protein complex. Expressed in head. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in several diseases, including Loeys-Dietz syndrome 3; carcinoma (multiple); and reproductive organ cancer (multiple). Is an ortholog of human SMAD9 (SMAD family member 9).