Cardiovascular · Disulphide-constrained endothelin peptide; ETA and ETB receptor agonist
Endothelin-2
Also known as ET-2; ET2
A 21-residue, disulphide-constrained endothelin ligand used to study ETA/ETB signalling and tissue-specific peptide biology.
- Length
- 21 amino acids
- Half-life
- Not well characterised
- Mechanism
- Endothelin-2 activates ETA and ETB G protein-coupled receptors, engaging pathways that include phospholipase C, inositol phosphate production and intracellular calcium mobilisation. Receptor subtype, cellular context and endothelial contributions shape the resulting experimental response.
- Studied in
- Receptor-expressing cells, isolated smooth-muscle preparations and animal ovarian and intestinal models examine endothelin-2 signalling and tissue-specific EDN2 biology.
About Endothelin-2
Mature human endothelin-2 has the sequence Cys–Ser–Cys–Ser–Ser–Trp–Leu–Asp–Lys–Glu–Cys–Val–Tyr–Phe–Cys–His–Leu–Asp–Ile–Ile–Trp. Two disulphide bonds connect Cys1 to Cys15 and Cys3 to Cys11, constraining the N-terminal region while leaving a C-terminal tail. Identified during characterisation of the endothelin family in the late 1980s, it is encoded by EDN2. Its mature sequence differs from endothelin-1 at positions 6 and 7, where endothelin-2 contains tryptophan and leucine, respectively.
Endothelin-2 is produced through precursor processing, including conversion of big endothelin-2 by endothelin-converting enzymes. Both ETA and ETB receptors recognise the mature peptide, so it is not a subtype-selective probe. Laboratory studies examine calcium signalling, smooth-muscle contraction and receptor trafficking. Tissue-specific investigations also use ovarian models to explore periovulatory EDN2 expression and intestinal models to examine epithelial signalling, distinguishing local peptide production from responses to externally added mature endothelin-2.
Laboratory notes
- For research use only. Confirm native disulphide connectivity; intact mass alone cannot distinguish correctly folded peptide from disulphide isomers.
- Avoid reducing assay conditions unless disulphide disruption is intentional, and validate solubility and recovery in the selected buffer.
- Use ETA- and ETB-selective controls to resolve receptor contributions, and account for receptor internalisation and persistent signalling during assay design.
Storage and reconstitution basics: storage guide.
Questions about Endothelin-2
How does endothelin-2 differ structurally from endothelin-1?
The mature human peptides differ at residues 6 and 7: endothelin-2 contains Trp–Leu, whereas endothelin-1 contains Leu–Met.
Why is disulphide mapping important?
The native Cys1–Cys15 and Cys3–Cys11 connections support the receptor-active fold. Incorrectly paired material can have the expected molecular mass but altered activity.
Is mature endothelin-2 interchangeable with big endothelin-2?
No. Big endothelin-2 is a longer processing intermediate. Experiments using it depend on conversion capacity and cannot be interpreted as equivalent to assays using the mature 21-residue peptide.
Is Endothelin-2 for human use?
No. It is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and is not for human or animal consumption.
Related research peptides
All products are sold for laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption, not a medicine, not for diagnosing, treating or preventing any condition.