Glucagon-like peptide-2 Peptide: Structure, Research & Science Guide

By The Peptides Codex Editorial TeamIndividual review date not recorded

Page data last changed: 2026-10-05. Registry refreshes and identity assessments are separate from scientific content review.

Reference backbone length

33 positions

Class

Peptide hormone (proglucagon-derived)

Function

Promotes intestinal growth and absorptive function via the GLP-2 receptor

Context

Intestinal physiology and short-bowel research

An intestinotrophic gut hormone co-released with GLP-1 that expands the absorptive surface.

Also known as: GLP-2 · teduglutide (analog)

Part of the Metabolic & GLP-1 peptides cluster

Overview

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is a 33-amino-acid gut hormone produced from proglucagon in intestinal L cells and co-released with GLP-1. Acting through the GLP-2 receptor, it promotes intestinal growth, mucosal integrity and nutrient absorption. This page is educational and not medical advice.

Source & context

Biological / chemical source: Secreted by intestinal L cells (proglucagon gene)

Primary research or clinical context: Intestinal physiology and short-bowel research

Origin and actions

GLP-2 is cleaved from the same proglucagon precursor as GLP-1 and secreted after meals. It increases intestinal villus height and crypt depth, enhances barrier function and blood flow, and reduces bone breakdown, with a short native half-life because of DPP-4 degradation.

Therapeutic analog

The DPP-4-resistant analog teduglutide substitutes glycine for alanine at position 2, extending its half-life, and is approved for short bowel syndrome. This makes GLP-2 a well-characterized model for intestinal-adaptation and gut-hormone research.

Sequence of the selected reference form

Sequence backbone for the reference form: Human GLP-2(1–33), unphosphorylated free peptide. Termini, stereochemistry and modifications are described below.

HADGSFSDEMNTILDNLAARDFINWLIQTKITD

Glucagon-like peptide-2 — Structure cardDownload SVG

Helical wheel projection

Residues plotted ~100° apart around an α-helix — clustering of one color reveals an amphipathic face.

Analyze sequences in the playground →

Structure & chemistry

Molecular identity & reference confidence

Source-supported reference

The selected human33-residue chain is independently identical in reviewed UniProt, GSRS and the fully specified PubChem structure. Its free termini and absence of phosphate are explicit in the selected PubChem molecular form. UniProt also annotates inferred phosphoserines in the precursor; these distinct phosphorylated forms are not selected. This chain has Thr19, whereas the selected human chain has Ala19. Reviewed rat proglucagonP06883(146–178) contains the Thr19 sequence, corroborating the species distinction. Its formulaC166H256N44O56S and mass3796.1 must not be combined with human GLP-2. This explicitly estimated numeric property is not used. PubChem reports3766.1 for the selected full structure; its formula is corroborated by independent atom accounting.

Molecular form: Human GLP-2(1–33), unphosphorylated free peptide
Species: Homo sapiens
Termini (N / C): Free His amino terminus / Asp free carboxylic acid

Average reference mass · Molecular identity assessment: 2026-10-05

Reference policy updated: 2026-10-05

PubChem PUG molecular properties, CID 71300624 · 2026-10-05
PubChem structure-derived biologic notation, CID 71300624 · 2026-10-05
Reviewed UniProtKB P01275 · 2026-10-05
NIH NCATS/FDA GSRS, UNII 0825W549JC · 2026-10-05
Reviewed rat UniProtKB P06883 (excluded variant) · 2026-10-05
PubChem structure-derived biologic notation, CID 155817394 · 2026-10-05

Molecular formula: C165H254N44O55S
Average reference mass: ≈ 3,766.1
Backbone: Human GLP-2(1–33), unphosphorylated free peptide
C-terminus: Asp free carboxylic acid

Identifiers

PubChem CID: 71300624
CAS RN: 223460-79-5
UNII: 0825W549JC

Chemistry values: curated profile, PubChem.

Clinical development snapshot

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 37 registered studies with “Glucagon-like peptide-2” as an intervention (snapshot 2026-10-01). A registry footprint is not evidence of efficacy or approval.

Registered studies

Highest phase reached

Phase 4

Active in latest 100

Most recent update

2026-09-08

Most recently updated studies
NCT	Title	Phase	Status	Updated
NCT03905707	Evaluation of Long Term Safety and Efficacy of Glepaglutide in Treatment of SBS	Phase 3	completed	2026-09-08
NCT07759258	Plasma GLP-2 Dynamics and Acute Radiation Enteritis After Abdominopelvic Radiotherapy	—	not yet recruiting	2026-08-12
NCT07742735	A Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Apraglutide Compared With Placebo in Adult Participants With	Phase 3	recruiting	2026-08-04
NCT07704047	A Clinical Study of FT1 in Patients With Short Bowel Syndrome	Phase 2	recruiting	2026-07-15
NCT06194955	The Effect of GIP, GLP-1 and GLP-2 in Individuals With Genetically Altered Receptor Function	Not applicable	completed	2026-04-29
NCT07537686	Glucagon-like Peptide 2 (GLP-2) in Undernourished Women Improving From Histology-Confirmed Environmental Enter	Phase 2	not yet recruiting	2026-04-17

See all on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Concentration math

Glucagon-like peptide-2 — reconstitution calculator

Enter how much peptide is in the vial and how much diluent (e.g. bacteriostatic water) is added. The tool returns the resulting solution concentration — and, for any amount you type, the volume it corresponds to. This is educational arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.

Reference form: Human GLP-2(1–33), unphosphorylated free peptideAverage reference mass: 3,766.1 Da

Peptide in vial (mg)

Diluent added (mL)

Syringe graduation

Solution concentration

5 mg/mL5,000 mcg/mL

Amount to measure (optional)

mcg

Enter an amount to see the volume it corresponds to.

Educational concentration mathematics only. This tool does not recommend a dose, amount, or protocol, and nothing here is medical advice. Many peptides are not authorized by Health Canada for human use — see our reconstitution and bacteriostatic-water guides for context.

Open the Glucagon-like peptide-2 calculator on its own page →

Change log

Dated observations from the data pipeline (registry flags, trial footprints, identifiers) and editorial reviews of this profile.

2026-10-01ChemistryPubChem formula updated to C165H254N44O55S.

FAQ about Glucagon-like peptide-2

What is Glucagon-like peptide-2?+

What Canadian product status is recorded for Glucagon-like peptide-2?+

Canadian product status for Glucagon-like peptide-2 has not been verified in this profile. No verified record here does not mean no authorization exists. Status depends on the product, formulation and use; consult Health Canada's product records.

What is the length of the selected reference form for Glucagon-like peptide-2?+

The selected reference form (Human GLP-2(1–33), unphosphorylated free peptide) has 33 residues or residue-derived units in its backbone. Other forms in this family may have a different length.

Related peptides

BPC-157

Research pentadecapeptide (gastric-juice-derived sequence)

BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic 15-residue peptide, GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, derived from a sequence found in human gastric juice. Hundreds of rodent studies, most from a single Zagreb group, report accelerated healing of tendon, muscle, ligament, gut and skin injuries via VEGFR2, nitric-oxide and ERK1/2 pathways. Human evidence is limited to a small safety study and a retrospective chart review; the first phase 2 efficacy trial began recruiting in 2026. It is not approved anywhere and the FDA barred it from compounding in 2023.

TB-500

Synthetic thymosin β4 fragment (research peptide)

TB-500 is the synthetic, N-acetylated heptapeptide Ac-Leu-Lys-Lys-Thr-Glu-Thr-Gln (Ac-LKKTETQ), corresponding to residues 17–23 of thymosin β4, the protein's actin-binding motif. It first appeared as a veterinary preparation and is sold as a research chemical; its metabolism has been characterised in rats. A 2026 rat tendon study reported benefits with vendor-labelled TB-500 whose sequence was not characterized, so it does not establish efficacy of Ac-LKKTETQ. The fragment has no published human efficacy data. No product-specific authorization record has been verified in this profile; human trial registration does not establish approval. Its first registered human trial began recruiting in 2026.

Tirzepatide

Incretin dual agonist

Tirzepatide is a 39-amino-acid synthetic peptide (C225H348N48O68, ≈4,814 Da) that activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Its backbone is derived from GIP, with an exendin-4-like C-terminal tail, Aib residues at positions 2 and 13, and a C20 fatty diacid on Lys20 that binds albumin for a half-life of about 5 days. Approved as Mounjaro (type 2 diabetes, 2022) and Zepbound (weight management, 2023; obstructive sleep apnoea, 2024).

Retatrutide

Incretin triple agonist

Retatrutide (LY3437943) is an investigational 39-amino-acid peptide (C221H342N46O68, ≈4,731 Da) that activates three receptors — GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon. It shares its GIP-based scaffold and exendin-4 tail with tirzepatide, adds α-methyl-leucine and a second Aib, and carries a C20 fatty diacid on Lys17 for a half-life of about 6 days. In phase 2 it produced a mean weight change of −24.2% at 48 weeks; phase 3 trials are ongoing and it is not yet approved.

References & further reading

Disclaimer: Educational content only. Not medical advice. Not instructions for human use. Research peptides and unapproved products may be restricted or illegal to market for human consumption in your jurisdiction. Consult qualified professionals and applicable law.

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