VIP

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide · 28-residue peptide

Identifier graph

Cross-references to canonical chemistry knowledge graphs. Each binding is the same identity used in PubMed-indexed literature.

CAS Registry Number
37221-79-7 · CAS Common Chemistry
InChIKey
VBUWHHLIZKOSMS-RIWXPGAOSA-N
PubChem CID
CID 53314964
Wikidata
Q414964
ChEMBL
CHEMBL525028
Molecular formula
C147H238N44O43S
Molecular weight
3326.83 g/mol
IUPAC name
(2S)-4-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-4-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-5-amino-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3R)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-4-amino-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S,3R)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-amino-3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)propanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]-3-carboxypropanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]-3-methylbutanoyl]amino]-3-phenylpropanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxybutanoyl]amino]-3-carboxypropanoyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoyl]amino]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxybutanoyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamidopentanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-5-carbamimidamidopentanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-5-oxopentanoyl]amino]-4-methylsulfanylbutanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]-3-methylbutanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoic acid

What is VIP?

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) is a 28-residue neuropeptide originally isolated from porcine intestine but widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neural tissues. It is a member of the glucagon/secretin peptide superfamily, sharing structural homology with PACAP, GHRH, secretin and glucagon.

CAS 37221-79-7, molecular formula C₁₄₇H₂₃₈N₄₄O₄₃S, molecular weight 3326.83 g/mol. Wikidata QID Q414964, PubChem CID 53314964, ChEMBL ID CHEMBL525028.

Mechanism of action

VIP binds two principal receptors — VPAC1 and VPAC2 (and with lower affinity PAC1) — that are class-B G-protein-coupled receptors signalling through cAMP/PKA and other downstream cascades. The peptide has multifunctional activity: vasodilation, bronchodilation, modulation of intestinal motility, immune modulation (anti-inflammatory effects via T-cell skewing toward Th2 responses), and neurotrophic activity in the central nervous system.

VIP's plasma half-life is very short (1–2 minutes) due to rapid proteolytic degradation, which is the principal challenge for therapeutic-development efforts.

Research context

Investigated in preclinical models of pulmonary hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis), and neurodegenerative disorders. The very short plasma half-life is the principal obstacle to translational use; most research focuses on delivery-system development or on VIP-analogue peptides with extended residence.

Analytical specifications

Every batch of VIP supplied by NMChem is characterised by reversed-phase HPLC for purity determination and by mass spectrometry for identity confirmation. Certificate of Analysis (COA) documents are issued per batch and made available on request.

Identity is confirmed by electrospray-ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS); the observed mass falls within ±2 Da of the theoretical monoisotopic mass calculated from the residue sequence. Purity is determined by reversed-phase HPLC on a C18 column with a trifluoroacetic-acid-modified water/acetonitrile gradient and reported as the area-under-curve percentage of the main peak at 214 nm. NMChem specification is ≥99% main peak. Material ships as lyophilised powder and must be reconstituted in sterile water or bacteriostatic water immediately before use.

Browse the COA database

UK regulatory status

Supplied as a research-grade reference standard for laboratory use only. Not a licensed medicinal product in the United Kingdom and not approved by the MHRA for human or veterinary administration. Sale is restricted to researchers, institutions and laboratory professionals; the compound must be retained within research premises. End-user compliance with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (where applicable) and local institutional biosafety policy is the responsibility of the buyer.

Research literature

Selected peer-reviewed publications from PubMed referencing this compound.

  1. VIP regulation of embryonic growth. Hill JM et al. · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 1996
    PubMed PMID 8993408
  2. VIP: molecular biology and neurobiological function. Gozes I et al. · Molecular neurobiology · 1989
    PubMed PMID 2698176
  3. VIP as a trophic factor in the CNS and cancer cells. Moody TW et al. · Peptides · 2003
    PubMed PMID 12576099

Related compounds

Other research compounds in adjacent mechanism classes or commonly used alongside VIP.

  • Oxytocin
    Nonapeptide hormone · cyclic disulfide-bridged
  • DSIP
    Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide · 9-residue peptide
  • Selank
    Synthetic tuftsin-derived heptapeptide

Frequently asked questions about VIP

Why is VIP's half-life so short?
VIP is rapidly degraded by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-IV) and other plasma proteases, producing a circulating half-life of only 1–2 minutes. This pharmacokinetic limitation is the principal reason why VIP itself has not progressed to clinical translation despite its multifunctional research profile.

Get research-grade VIP from NMChem

UK supplier · HPLC and MS verified · Per-batch Certificate of Analysis · Tracked Royal Mail dispatch.

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