Thioredoxin, mitochondrial is a protein encoded by the TXN2 gene in humans. Thioredoxin 2 is a small redox protein th at plays an important role in cellular antioxidant defenses, as well as in the regulation of apoptosis. It possesses a dithiol-reducing enzymatic activity with mammalian thioredoxin reductase and NADPH. It is resistant to oxidation when compared to Trx1. It interacts with specific components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and plays a crutial role in the regulation of the mitochondrial membrane potential. TXN2 is expressed in mitochondria and may directly protect it by preventing depolarization. Thioredoxin 2 interacts with mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) and facilitates its binding to damaged DNA. It also functions as an antioxidant.
