Incretin backbone behind a generation of metabolic drugs.
Also known as: glucagon-like peptide-1
Part of the Metabolic & GLP-1 peptides cluster
Overview
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is an incretin hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and influences appetite. Engineered analogs dominate modern metabolic medicine research.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Intestinal L-cells
Primary research or clinical context: Basis of diabetes & obesity therapeutics
Native peptide vs. analogs
Native GLP-1 is rapidly degraded by DPP-4. Drug development focused on extending half-life through amino-acid substitution, fatty-acid acylation, and related engineering — yielding agents such as exenatide and semaglutide.
Research context
GLP-1 receptor biology is one of the most active areas in peptide therapeutics. Educational materials often contrast endogenous GLP-1 with long-acting analogs.
Sequence
One-letter sequence commonly cited for GLP-1 (educational; isoforms and modifications may differ):
HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVKGRG
Residues plotted ~100° apart around an α-helix — clustering of one color reveals an amphipathic face.
FAQ about GLP-1
What is GLP-1?+
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is an incretin hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and influences appetite. Engineered analogs dominate modern metabolic medicine research.
Is GLP-1 an approved medicine?+
GLP-1 is discussed here as a research / educational topic. Basis of diabetes & obesity therapeutics. This is not medical advice.
What is the typical length of GLP-1?+
GLP-1 is commonly described as approximately 31 amino acids (Incretin).