RNASET2 belongs to the RNase T2 family (EC 3.1.27.1) of proteins that are present in all phyla and primarily function in the extracellular milieu. In some microorganisms and plants, T2 RNases mediate phosphate uptake by digesting extracellular RNAs. In other species, they provide host protection against pathogens or trigger cellular senescence. Human RNASET2 appears to suppress tumorigenicity (Monti et al., 2008).

By searching for coding sequences in a region of chromosome 6 that is frequently rearranged in malignancies, followed by screening a pooled tissue cDNA library, Trubia et al. (1997) cloned RNASET2. The deduced 191-amino acid protein contains 2 highly conserved pentameric catalytic motifs. Northern blot analysis detected a 1.2-kb transcript in all tissues examined.