Recent advances in our understanding of peptide hormone receptors and RAMPS.

The family B or class II group of G-protein coupled receptors encompasses receptors for peptide hormones including secretin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, glucagon, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. Receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs) are novel single transmembrane domain proteins that can modulate the expression and/or activity of at least two members of this receptor family. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on RAMPs, as well as recent literature that is contributing to our general understanding of how ligands interface with family B G-protein coupled receptors.