F
IPR015550

Glucagon

InterPro entry
Short nameGlucagon

Description

A number of polypeptidic hormones, mainly expressed in the intestine or the pancreas, belong to a group of structurally related peptides
[1, 2]
. Once such hormone, glucagon is widely distributed and produced in the alpha-cells of pancreatic islets
[3]
. It affects glucose metabolism in the liver
[4]
by inhibiting glycogen synthesis, stimulating glycogenolysis and enhancing gluconeogenesis. It also increases mobilisation of glucose, free fatty acids and ketone bodies, which are metabolites produced in excess in diabetes mellitus.

Glucagon is produced, like other peptide hormones, as part of a larger precursor (preproglucagon), which is cleaved to produce glucagon, glucagon-like protein I (GLP-1) and glucagon-like protein II (GLP-2)
[5]
. GLP-1 and GLP-2 are key neuroendocrine signals for the gut-brain axis to control food intake and glucose homeostasis
[6]
. The structure of glucagon itself is fully conserved in all known mammalian species
[3]
.

References

1.Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and related peptides. Isolation and chemistry. Mutt V. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 527, 1-19, (1988). View articlePMID: 3133967

2.Glucagon and related peptides. Molecular structure and biological specificity. Bataille D, Blache P, Mercier F, Jarrousse C, Kervran A, Dufour M, Mangeat P, Dubrasquet M, Mallat A, Lotersztajn S. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 527, 168-85, (1988). View articlePMID: 3291691

3.Primary structure of glucagon from an elasmobranchian fish. Torpedo marmorata. Conlon JM, Thim L. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 60, 398-405, (1985). View articlePMID: 4076759

4.Mammalian pancreatic preproglucagon contains three glucagon-related peptides. Lopez LC, Frazier ML, Su CJ, Kumar A, Saunders GF. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 5485-9, (1983). View articlePMID: 6577439

5.Isolation of peptide hormones from the pancreas of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). Amino acid sequences of pancreatic polypeptide, oxyntomodulin, and two glucagon-like peptides. Pollock HG, Hamilton JW, Rouse JB, Ebner KE, Rawitch AB. J. Biol. Chem. 263, 9746-51, (1988). View articlePMID: 3260236

6.Gut hormones and the regulation of energy homeostasis. Murphy KG, Bloom SR. Nature 444, 854-9, (2006). View articlePMID: 17167473

GO terms

biological process

  • None

cellular component

  • None

Cross References

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