Abstract: Ataxin-2 is a 140 kDa cytoplasmic multifunctional protein that plays fundamental roles in diverse cellular mechanisms (Costa et al., 2024). Although widely studied in the context of the neurodegenerative diseases spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), ataxin-2 functions span far beyond its pathogenic properties in the disease context (Figure 1). In fact, it has a wide range of biological functions that include RNA metabolism, translation regulation, stress response, endocytosis, calcium signaling, and the control of circadian rhythm. In this perspective, we highlight the main roles of ataxin-2 protein, which are described in detail in Costa et al. (2024).