Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Receptor 2 (VIPR2)

Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 is a G-protein coupled receptor encoded by the VIPR2 gene. It is expressed in humans in the uterus, prostate, smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, seminal vesicles and skin, blood vessels and thymus. Research using VPAC2 knockout mice implicate it in the function of the circadian clock, growth, basal energy expenditure and male reproduction Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) are homologous peptides that function as neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine hormones. While the receptors for VIP and PACAP share homology, they differ in their substrate specificities and expression patterns.