Merlin is a cytoskeletal protein. In humans, it is a tumor suppressor protein involved in Neurofibromatosis type II.Sequence data reveal its similarity to the ERM protein family.The name "merlin" is an acronym for "Moesin-Ezrin-Radixin-Like Protein". Human merlin is coded by the gene NF2 in Chromosome 22. Mouse merlin gene is located on the chromosome 11 and rat merlin gene on the chromosome 17. Fruit fly merlin gene (symbol Mer) is located on chromosome 1 and shares 58% similarity to its human homologue. Other merlin-like genes are known from a wide range of animals, and the derivation of merlin is thought to be in early metazoa. Merlin is a member of the ERM family of proteins including ezrin, moesin, and radixin, which are in the protein 4.1 superfamily of proteins.