Angiotensin II receptor type 2, also known as the AT₂ receptor is a

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...

that in humans is encoded by the AGTR2

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...

Function

Angiotensin II is a potent

pressor An antihypotensive agent, also known as a vasopressor agent or simply vasopressor, or pressor, is any substance, whether endogenous or a medication, that tends to raise low blood pressure. Some antihypotensive drugs act as vasoconstrictors to in ...

hormone A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones are require ...

and a primary regulator of aldosterone secretion. It is an important effector controlling blood pressure and volume in the cardiovascular system. It acts through at least two types of receptors termed AT₁ and AT₂. AGTR2 belongs to a family 1 of

G protein-coupled receptor G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), also known as seven-(pass)-transmembrane domain receptors, 7TM receptors, heptahelical receptors, serpentine receptors, and G protein-linked receptors (GPLR), form a large group of evolutionarily-related p ...

s. It is an integral membrane protein. It plays a role in the central nervous system and cardiovascular functions that are mediated by the

renin–angiotensin system The renin–angiotensin system (RAS), or renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), is a hormone system that regulates blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte balance, and systemic vascular resistance. When renal blood flow is reduced, ...

. This receptor mediates programmed cell death ( apoptosis). In adults, it is highly expressed in

myometrium The myometrium is the middle layer of the uterine wall, consisting mainly of uterine smooth muscle cells (also called uterine myocytes) but also of supporting stromal and vascular tissue. Its main function is to induce uterine contractions. Struc ...

with lower levels in

adrenal gland The adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are endocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones including adrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and cortisol. They are found above the kidneys. Each gland has an outer cortex whic ...

and fallopian tube. It is highly expressed in fetal kidney and intestine. The human AGTR2 gene is composed of three exons and spans at least 5 kb. Exons 1 and 2 encode for 5' untranslated mRNA sequence and exon 3 harbors the entire uninterrupted open reading frame. Stimulation of AT₂ by the selective agonist CGP 42112A increases mucosal nitric oxide production.

Model organisms

Model organisms have been used in the study of AGTR2 function. A conditional

knockout mouse A knockout mouse, or knock-out mouse, is a genetically modified mouse (''Mus musculus'') in which researchers have inactivated, or " knocked out", an existing gene by replacing it or disrupting it with an artificial piece of DNA. They are importa ...

line, called ''Agtr2^{tm1a(EUCOMM)Wtsi}'' was generated as part of the International Knockout Mouse Consortium program — a high-throughput mutagenesis project to generate and distribute animal models of disease to interested scientists — at the

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute The Wellcome Sanger Institute, previously known as The Sanger Centre and Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, is a non-profit British genomics and genetics research institute, primarily funded by the Wellcome Trust. It is located on the Wellcome G ...

. Male and female animals underwent a standardized

phenotypic screen In genetics, the phenotype () is the set of observable characteristics or traits of an organism. The term covers the organism's morphology or physical form and structure, its developmental processes, its biochemical and physiological proper ...

to determine the effects of deletion. Twenty one tests were carried out on

mutant In biology, and especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism or a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism. It ...

mice, but no significant abnormalities were observed.

Gene

Angiotensin II receptor type 2 (''AGTR2'') gene is a protein coding gene responsible for encoding AGTR2, the integral membrane protein that binds to two different G-protein coupled receptors. AGTR2 has recently been discovered to play a role in modifying lung disease. This receptor functions to mediate signaling in lung fibrosis and regulate nitric oxide synthase expression in pulmonary endothelium. AGTR2 has recently been prescribed as a target for lung inflammation therapy in cases of cystic fibrosis (CF). The X-chromosome region associated with CF lung disease is located in a non-coding region 3′ of the ''AGTR2'' gene. The modification effect is likely due to variation in gene regulation rather than a change in protein coding sequence. Variants at the X-chromosome locus containing ''AGTR2'' gene were identified as significantly associating with lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis. Genetically modified mouse studies determined that absence of the ''AGTR2'' gene normalized pulmonary function indicators in two independent CF mouse models. Furthermore, pharmacological antagonism of AGTR2 signaling improved lung function in CF mice to near wild-type levels. Manipulation of the angiotensin-signaling pathway to reduce AGTR2 signaling may be translatable for the treatment or prevention of CF.

Interactions

Angiotensin II receptor type 2 has been shown to

interact Advocates for Informed Choice, dba interACT or interACT Advocates for Intersex Youth, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization using innovative strategies to advocate for the legal and human rights of children with intersex traits. The organizati ...

with MTUS1.

References

External links

* * {{Angiotensin receptor modulators G protein-coupled receptors Genes mutated in mice