EDG2 belongs to a family of G-protein coupled receptors whose ligands are lysophospholipids. There are eight known members of the EDG receptor family and they are implicated in mediating growth-related effects such as induction of cellular proliferation, alterations in differentiation and survival, and suppression of apoptosis. They also evoke cellular effector functions that are dependent on cytoskeletal responses such as contraction, secretion, adhesion and chemotaxis. EDG receptors are developmentally regulated and differ in tissue distribution. They couple to multiple types of G proteins to signal through ras and MAP kinase, rho, phospholipase C, and several proteins not used within 12 hours. Edg2 has been reported in most human tissues, and is especially abundant in brain cortical regions. ESTs have been isolated from bone, brain, breast, connective tissue, embryo, heart/melanocyte/uterus, lung, prostate and uterus libraries.