The 'housekeeper of the gut' — sweeps the small intestine during fasting.
Part of the Metabolic & GLP-1 peptides cluster
Overview
Motilin is a 22-amino-acid gut hormone secreted by endocrine cells of the small intestine. It coordinates the migrating motor complex, the wave of contractions that clears the digestive tract between meals, earning it the nickname the housekeeper of the gut.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Endocrine cells of the small intestine
Primary research or clinical context: Endogenous hormone; its receptor inspired 'motilide' prokinetic research
Fasting-state motility
Between meals, motilin levels rise and fall in cycles that trigger the migrating motor complex — sweeping contractions that move residual contents through the small intestine. This distinguishes motilin from hormones that act mainly after eating, and makes it central to gastrointestinal-motility research.
The motilide connection
The motilin receptor is notable because certain macrolide antibiotics act on it as motilin mimetics ('motilides'), an observation that spurred research into prokinetic compounds. Motilin is therefore a recurring reference in discussions of how a single receptor can bridge peptide and small-molecule pharmacology.
Sequence
One-letter sequence commonly cited for Motilin (educational; isoforms and modifications may differ):
FVPIFTYGELQRMQEKERNKGQ
Residues plotted ~100° apart around an α-helix — clustering of one color reveals an amphipathic face.
FAQ about Motilin
What is Motilin?+
Motilin is a 22-amino-acid gut hormone secreted by endocrine cells of the small intestine. It coordinates the migrating motor complex, the wave of contractions that clears the digestive tract between meals, earning it the nickname the housekeeper of the gut.
Is Motilin an approved medicine?+
Motilin is discussed here as a research / educational topic. Endogenous hormone; its receptor inspired 'motilide' prokinetic research. This is not medical advice.
What is the typical length of Motilin?+
Motilin is commonly described as approximately 22 amino acids (Gut hormone).