This particular family member contains a PDZ domain, a consensus sequence for cortactin SH3 domain-binding peptides and a sterile alpha motif.

[6] It is thought that SHANK2 might play a role in synaptogenesis by attaching metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) to an existing pool of NMDA receptors (NMDA-R), bylinking to the NMDA-R through PSD-95, and the mGluRs through HOMER1.

[7] An alternative hypothesis is that the Homer/Shank/GKAP/PSD-95 assembly mediates physical association of the NMDAR with IP3R/RYR and intracellular Ca2+ stores.

SHANK2 has been shown to interact with: Mutations in SHANK2 have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia.

[14] Neurons generated from people with ASD and SHANK2 mutations develop larger dendritic trees and more synaptic connections than those from healthy controls.