PARP2 is poly (ADP-ribosyl) transferase-like 2 protein, which contains a catalytic domain and is capable ofcatalyzing a poly (ADP-ribosyl) ation reaction. This protein has a catalytic domain which is homologous to thatof poly (ADP-ribosyl) transferase, but lacks an N-terminal DNA binding domain which activates the C-terminalcatalytic domain of poly (ADP-ribosyl) transferase. The basic residues within the N-terminal region of thisprotein may bear potential DNA-binding properties, and may be involved in the nuclear and/or nucleolar targetingof the protein. Two alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been found.