The Beta2 Adrenergic Receptor

The beta2 adrenergic receptor is a cell surface receptor that responds to adrenalin, one of the hormones our bodies use to mediate the effects of everyday stress. It is part of the catecholamine system of neurotransmitters, one of the earliest to appear in a developing fetus during pregnancy. The beta2 adrenergic receptor gene is coded on chromosome 5 of our DNA. Each of us inherits one copy of the gene from our mother and one copy from our father. It is expressed on every cell of our bodies and along with other cell receptors is known to be important in brain development and, therefore, integral to human development and functioning.