Animals underwent a standardized phenotypic screen to determine the effects of deletion.[10][17] Twenty eight tests were carried out on homozygous mutant mice of both sex and nine significant abnormalities were observed, including an absence of pinna reflex, abnormal eye pigmentation and morphology including cataracts, decreased leukocyte cell number, abnormal brainstem auditory evoked potential, increased bone mineral content and a range of atypical peripheral blood lymphocyte parameters.[10] Males additionally displayed decreased circulating glucose and increased circulating bilirubin levels.[10]
The orthologous protein in zebrafish has been shown to transport sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) out of cells during vascular development, and human SPNS2 can transport S1P analogues, including the immunomodulating drug FTY720-P.[18][19]
↑Kawahara A, Nishi T, Hisano Y, Fukui H, Yamaguchi A, Mochizuki N (January 2009). "The sphingolipid transporter spns2 functions in migration of zebrafish myocardial precursors". Science. 323 (5913): 524–7. doi:10.1126/science.1167449. PMID19074308.
