VIP Technical Overview
VIP belongs to the secretin/glucagon peptide superfamily, a group that also includes PACAP, secretin, and glucagon-like peptides. Its 28 residues fold into an extended alpha-helical segment that docks into the extracellular domain of its receptors, while the N-terminal residues insert into the transmembrane bundle to drive receptor activation.
The peptide is one of the most widely studied ligands in class B GPCR pharmacology. Because it binds VPAC1 and VPAC2 with comparable affinity and shares the PAC1 receptor with PACAP, VIP is routinely used as the comparator ligand in selectivity and displacement assays across the receptor family.
Research interest spans neuroendocrine signaling, epithelial ion transport, smooth muscle tone, circadian clock synchronization, and immune cell signaling. BioLongevity Labs supplies VIP for these in vitro and analytical applications only.
Compound Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| CAS Number |
40077-57-4 |
| PubChem CID |
16132300 |
| Molecular Formula |
C₁₄₇H₂₃₈N₄₄O₄₂S |
| Molecular Weight |
3325.80 g/mol |
| Amino Acid Sequence (one-letter) |
HSDAVFTDNYTRLRKQMAVKKYLNSILN-NH₂ |
| Amino Acid Sequence (three-letter) |
His-Ser-Asp-Ala-Val-Phe-Thr-Asp-Asn-Tyr-Thr-Arg-Leu-Arg-Lys-Gln-Met-Ala-Val-Lys-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asn-Ser-Ile-Leu-Asn-NH₂ |
| Sequence Length |
28 residues |
| C-Terminal Modification |
Amide (–NH₂) |
| Source |
Synthetic (solid-phase peptide synthesis) |
| UNII |
A67JUW790C |
| ChEMBL ID |
CHEMBL1981592 |
| Synonyms |
Aviptadil, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, VIP(1–28), Vasoactive intestinal octacosapeptide |
| Purity |
≥99% (HPLC) |
| Appearance |
Lyophilized white to off-white powder |
| Solubility |
Soluble in water and in dilute aqueous acetic acid |
| Storage |
≤ –20°C, protect from light |
Storage and Handling
- Store the lyophilized compound at ≤ –20°C, protected from light and moisture.
- After reconstitution, store at 2–8°C for short-term work or at –20°C in single-use aliquots, and use promptly.
- Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which degrade peptide integrity.
- Allow the sealed vial to reach room temperature before opening to limit condensation.
- Maintain aseptic handling to preserve compound integrity.
Lyophilized Format
This compound ships in lyophilized (freeze-dried) form. Freeze-drying supports long-term storage stability and preserves compound integrity. No fillers are added.
Research Use Disclaimer
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) is supplied for research use only. It is not a drug, food, cosmetic, or dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA. By purchasing, the buyer confirms the compound will be used solely for in vitro research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)?
VIP is a synthetic 28-residue neuropeptide of the secretin/glucagon superfamily, supplied as a lyophilized powder for laboratory research. It acts as a reference ligand at the VPAC1 and VPAC2 class B G protein-coupled receptors.
What Is the Molecular Weight of VIP?
VIP has a molecular weight of 3325.80 g/mol and a molecular formula of C₁₄₇H₂₃₈N₄₄O₄₂S, corresponding to the C-terminally amidated 28-residue sequence. Its CAS Number is 40077-57-4.
What Is the Amino Acid Sequence of VIP?
The VIP sequence is HSDAVFTDNYTRLRKQMAVKKYLNSILN-NH₂, a 28-residue chain terminating in a C-terminal amide. This sequence is identical across porcine, rat, and primate VIP.
How Should VIP Be Stored?
Store lyophilized VIP at ≤ –20°C, protected from light and moisture. Once reconstituted, aliquot the solution and keep it frozen to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
How Is the Purity of VIP Verified?
VIP purity is confirmed by reverse-phase HPLC at ≥99%, with identity confirmed by mass spectrometry. Third-party analytical documentation accompanies each lot.
VIP Research
VIP binds two closely related class B G protein-coupled receptors, VPAC1 and VPAC2, which couple primarily to Gs and raise intracellular cyclic AMP through adenylate cyclase. Mutagenesis and pharmacological mapping have defined the receptor residues that govern ligand recognition, G protein coupling, receptor desensitization, and receptor oligomerization [1]. A cryo-electron microscopy structure of the activated VPAC1 receptor bound to a related ligand and the Gs heterotrimer showed that the peptide N-terminus inserts into the transmembrane pocket while the helical midsection engages the extracellular domain, giving a structural account of how the receptor is switched on [2].
Downstream of cyclic AMP, VIP receptor engagement activates protein kinase A and the CREB transcription factor axis, and this cascade has been mapped across neuronal, epithelial, endocrine, and immune cell populations in research models [3]. Reviews of VIP receptor biology in gastrointestinal tissue describe how the same signaling produces changes in epithelial ion secretion, smooth muscle tone, and mucosal barrier gene expression in laboratory preparations [4]. In isolated vascular and cardiac tissue, VIP has been characterized as a nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmitter acting through adenylate cyclase, with observations in vessel preparations spanning nitric oxide and cyclic GMP signaling as well [5].
Several distinct research threads have grown out of that shared signaling core.
Receptor Signaling in Cell and Genetic Models
In the Huh7 cell line, VIP application reduced Bcl-xL and CREB levels and raised caspase-3, with the response reversed by a VIP receptor antagonist and by the cyclic AMP antagonist Rp-cAMPS, indicating that the observed changes run through the cyclic AMP/Bcl-xL axis [6]. Receptor-deficient rodent models have been used to separate the two receptor subtypes, with VPAC2-null animals showing altered amplitude and phase of clock gene expression relative to wild-type controls, a result that has been used to test how far peripheral tissue clocks depend on VPAC2 signaling [7]. Together these lines make VIP a common positive control in cyclic AMP reporter assays and receptor selectivity panels.
| Research Area |
In Vitro Application |
| Receptor pharmacology |
VPAC1 and VPAC2 binding, displacement, and selectivity assays |
| Second-messenger signaling |
Cyclic AMP accumulation and PKA/CREB reporter assays in cultured cells |
| Structural biology |
Reference ligand for class B GPCR structure and mutagenesis studies |
| Epithelial transport |
Ion secretion and barrier gene expression in cultured epithelial monolayers |
| Chronobiology |
Clock gene expression studies in VPAC2 receptor-deficient tissue preparations |
| Cell signaling models |
Cyclic AMP-dependent apoptosis and proliferation assays in established cell lines |
References
- Langer I. (2012). Mechanisms involved in VPAC receptors activation and regulation: lessons from pharmacological and mutagenesis studies. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 3:129. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3483716/
- Duan J, Shen DD, Zhou XE, et al. (2020). Cryo-EM structure of an activated VIP1 receptor-G protein complex revealed by a NanoBiT tethering strategy. Nature Communications, 11(1):4121. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7431577/
- Martínez C, Juarranz Y, Gutiérrez-Cañas I, et al. (2019). A Clinical Approach for the Use of VIP Axis in Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(1):65. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6982157/
- Iwasaki M, Akiba Y, Kaunitz JD. (2019). Recent advances in vasoactive intestinal peptide physiology and pathophysiology: focus on the gastrointestinal system. F1000Research, 8:F1000 Faculty Rev-1629. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6743256/
- Henning RJ, Sawmiller DR. (2001). Vasoactive intestinal peptide: cardiovascular effects. Cardiovascular Research, 49(1):27-37. https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/article/49/1/27/293330
- Hara M, Takeba Y, Iiri T, et al. (2019). Vasoactive intestinal peptide increases apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the cAMP/Bcl-xL pathway. Cancer Science, 110(1):235-244. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6317926/
- Georg B, Fahrenkrug J, Jørgensen HL, Hannibal J. (2021). The Circadian Clock Is Sustained in the Thyroid Gland of VIP Receptor 2 Deficient Mice. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12:737581. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8441547/
Certificate of Analysis (COA) for Every Batch
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document that verifies a compound’s identity, purity, and batch quality through independent laboratory testing. Every compound from BioLongevity Labs ships with a COA tied to its specific batch, so researchers can confirm exactly what they received before it enters a protocol.
Each COA reports results from third-party laboratory analysis, including:
- Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) for purity, typically confirmed at 99% or higher
- Mass identification for molecular confirmation and content quantitation
- Endotoxin quantitation by Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay where applicable
- Visual and physical characterization of the finished material
How to verify a COA independently
Every certificate can be checked against the issuing laboratory’s own records, not just the copy hosted here. Verification does not depend on BioLongevity Labs.
- MDx BioAnalytical Laboratory certificates carry a QC tracking number and a search code. Newer certificates also carry a QR code. Scan the code, or enter the search code at mdxbiolabs.com, to pull the official record.
- BioRegen reports of analysis carry a Report ID and a Validation Key. Scan the QR code on the certificate to open the official record, or reference both identifiers when contacting the laboratory at the address printed on the report.
- SafeCert Labs certificates, which appear on a number of earlier batches, carry a COA number and the signature of the reporting chemist. Reference that number when requesting confirmation from the laboratory directly.
Batches are frequently tested by both laboratories independently. When two certificates exist for the same lot, each one resolves at its own issuing laboratory, which lets a researcher confirm the same material twice through two unrelated sources.
COAs are sourced from independent certified labs rather than in-house testing alone, giving researchers a verifiable record of molecular integrity for each batch. All compounds are supplied for research use only.
Review the COAs for this batch below, or browse the full COA library.
VIP (12085)
Endotoxin VIP
VIP (11369)
VIP (251535)
VIP (251535E)
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