Laforin, also known as Lafora PTPase, is a dual specificity protein phosphatase. Laforin is involved in the control of glycogen metabolism, specifically in preventing the formation of poorly branched glycogen molecules (polyglucosans). Laforin forms a complex with NHLRC1/malin and HSP70 that suppresses the cellular toxicity of misfolded proteins by promoting their degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Laforin is expressed in heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, pancreas and brain. Defective Laforin is linked to progressive myoclonic epilepsy type 2 (EPM2).
