Receptor-regulated SMAD (R-SMAD) that is an intracellular signal transducer and transcriptional modulator activated by TGF-beta (transforming growth factor) and activin type 1 receptor kinases. Binds the TRE element in the promoter region of many genes that are regulated by TGF-beta and, on formation of the SMAD2/SMAD4 complex, activates transcription. Promotes TGFB1-mediated transcription of odontoblastic differentiation genes in dental papilla cells (By similarity). Positively regulates PDPK1 kinase activity by stimulating its dissociation from the 14-3-3 protein YWHAQ which acts as a negative regulator. May act as a tumor suppressor in colorectal carcinoma (PubMed:8752209). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q62432, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16751101, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16862174, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17327236, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19289081, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8752209, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9892009}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000175387 (SMAD2, SMAD family member 2).