Vascular endothelial growth factor and type I collagen inducible protein (VCIP), also known as phosphatidic acid phosphatase 2b (PAP2b), was originally identified in a functional assay of angiogenesis. VCIP/PAP2b exhibits an Arg - Gly - Asp (RGD) cell adhesion sequence. Immunoprecipitation and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses demonstrated that VCIP-RGD is exposed to the outside of the cell surface. Retroviral transduction of VCIP can induce cell aggregation and cell-cell interactions, modestly increase p120 catenin expression and promote activation of the Fak, Akt and GSK3ß protein kinases. Expression of VCIP promoted adhesion, spreading and tyrosine phosphorylation of Fak, Shc, Cas and paxillin in endothelial cells. PAP2b/VCIP is expressed in close proximity to vascular endothelial growth factor, von Willebrand factor and {alpha}vbeta3 integrin in tumor vasculatures.Synonyms: Lipid phosphate phosphohydrolase 3, PAP2-beta, PAP2B, Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase type 2b, Phosphatidic acid phosphatase 2b, VCIP, Vascular endothelial growth factor and type I collagen-inducible protein