Angiopoietin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ANGPTL2 gene. Angiopoietins are members of the vascular endothelial growth factor family and the growth factors largely specific for vascular endothelium.

Human and mouse ANGPT2 are 85% identical in amino acid sequence and approximately 60% identical to their ANGPT1 homologues. Transgenic overexpression of ANGPT2 in mice disrupted blood vessel formation in the mouse embryo.

By FISH and radiation hybrid analysis, the human ANGPT2 gene was mapped to 8p23, and in a region of syntenic homology on mouse chromosome 8, where the ANGPT2 gene was mapped. ANGPT2 is a naturally occurring antagonist of angiopoietin-1 that competes for binding to the TIE2 receptor and blocks ANGPT1-induced TIE2 autophosphorylation during vasculogenesis.