HomeAboutRankingsData Sources
© 2026 GeneE
🧬
GeneE
10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
ⓘGeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
GALR2
galanin receptor 2
Chromosome 17 · 17q25.1
NCBI Gene: 8811Ensembl: ENSG00000182687.4HGNC: HGNC:4133UniProt: O43603
38PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Receptor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase IIgalanin-activated signaling pathwayprotein bindingciliumneoplasmhead and neck squamous cell carcinomaplasma fibronectin deficiencycolitis
✦AI Summary

GALR2 (galanin receptor 2) is a G protein-coupled receptor that binds galanin, galanin-like peptide (GALP), and spexin-1 as its primary ligands 1. The receptor is located on chromosome 17.3 and encodes a 387 amino acid protein with high affinity for galanin (Kd = 0.24-0.3 nM) 21. GALR2 exhibits dual G protein coupling mechanisms: it activates phospholipase C/protein kinase C pathway via Gq/11 to increase intracellular calcium levels, and inhibits adenylyl cyclase via Gi/o proteins 13. The receptor shows wide tissue distribution in brain regions including hypothalamus, dentate gyrus, and mammillary nuclei, as well as peripheral tissues like small intestine 1. GALR2 has significant clinical relevance across multiple conditions. In cardiovascular disease, spexin acting through GALR2 reduces atrial fibrillation susceptibility by inhibiting CREB phosphorylation and downregulating ion channel expression 4. The receptor is implicated in neuropathic pain control and processing, with potential therapeutic applications for pain management 5. In cancer, the GAL/GALR2 axis promotes perineural invasion in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition 6. Additionally, GALR2 signaling appears relevant to metabolic disorders and reproductive health, with altered expression patterns observed in polycystic ovary syndrome and potential links to diabetes-Alzheimer's disease comorbidity 78.

Sources cited
1
GALR2 binds galanin, GALP and couples to phospholipase C and adenylyl cyclase pathways; tissue distribution in brain and periphery
PMID: 9832121
2
GALR2 has high affinity binding to galanin with Kd = 0.24 nM
PMID: 9480833
3
Human GALR2 gene localized to chromosome 17q25.3; dual G protein coupling mechanisms
PMID: 9685625
4
Spexin/GALR2 signaling reduces atrial fibrillation by inhibiting CREB phosphorylation
PMID: 38726666
5
GALR2 implicated in neuropathic pain control and has potential as therapeutic target
PMID: 36580831
6
GAL/GALR2 axis promotes perineural invasion in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma via EMT
PMID: 36039037
7
Altered GALR2 expression observed in polycystic ovary syndrome
PMID: 36055012
8
GALR2 signaling potentially links type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease
PMID: 41570651
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
head and neck squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
plasma fibronectin deficiencyOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
colitisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
mononeuropathyOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
atrial heart septal defectOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
diabetic nephropathyOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
neutropenia, severe congenital, 2, autosomal dominantOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Hereditary persistence of alpha-fetoproteinOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
combined immunodeficiency with skin granulomasOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
inflammatory bowel diseaseOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
congenital lethal erythrodermaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
X-Linked Combined Immunodeficiency DiseasesOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
common variable immunodeficiencyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Congenital deficiency in alpha-fetoproteinOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
immunodeficiency 18Open Targets
0.03Suggestive
immunodeficiency 15aOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
immunodeficiency 84Open Targets
0.03Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
SPXProtein interaction88%ZACNProtein interaction82%GALPProtein interaction82%GNG2Protein interaction81%GNASProtein interaction80%GNB1Protein interaction80%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Liver
36%
Lung
24%
Brain
12%
Ovary
6%
Heart
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GALR2SPXZACNGALPGNG2GNASGNB1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB7WQ4 · 2.60 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.76LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.01Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.93 [0.48–1.76]
RankingsWhere GALR2 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #10,483of 20,598
    Most Researched38
  • #16,383of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.76
Genes detectedGALR2
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Spexin Diminishes Atrial Fibrillation Vulnerability by Acting on Galanin Receptor 2.
PMID: 38726666
Circulation · 2024
1.00
2
Investigating the potential of GalR2 as a drug target for neuropathic pain.
PMID: 36580831
Neuropeptides · 2023
0.90
3
Cloning and expression of the human galanin receptor GalR2.
PMID: 9480833
Biochem Biophys Res Commun · 1998
0.80
4
Molecular characterization and expression of cloned human galanin receptors GALR2 and GALR3.
PMID: 9832121
J Neurochem · 1998
0.70
5
The role of galanin/GALR2 signaling in the link between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
PMID: 41570651
Neuropeptides · 2026
0.60