Glucagon-like peptide structure and function - Claude
Glucagon-like describes peptides (short proteins) that are structurally and functionally similar to glucagon but are distinct molecules in their own right. The term indicates they belong to the same peptide family, even though they may have evolved to perform different roles. Glucagon itself is a 29-amino-acid hormone produced by the pancreas. It raises blood glucose by stimulating the liver to release stored glucose. The "glucagon-like" peptides share enough structural similarity that scientists recognized them as evolutionary relatives, but they've diverged to have their own specialized functions. The most important examples are: GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide 1) — A 31-amino-acid peptide with major clinical significance. Unlike its parent glucagon, GLP-1 lowers blood glucose by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin. It also slows stomach emptying and increases feelings of fullness. Drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) work by mimicking GLP-1 and are widely used for diabetes
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