Proglucagon
Proglucagon
Proglucagon (pronounced pro-gloo-ka-gon) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GCG gene. It is a precursor of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood glucose levels.
Etymology
The term "proglucagon" is derived from the words "pro-", a prefix in English that means "before", and "glucagon", the hormone that it eventually forms. The term signifies that proglucagon is the initial form of glucagon before it is fully formed.
Function
Proglucagon is a 160-amino acid peptide hormone precursor that is produced in the alpha cells of the pancreas. It is cleaved to produce glucagon and a number of other peptides by the action of prohormone convertase enzymes. These other peptides include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), and the major proglucagon fragment (MPGF).
Related Terms
- Glucagon: A hormone formed in the pancreas which promotes the breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver.
- Alpha cells: A type of cell in the pancreas that produces and secretes glucagon.
- Pancreas: A glandular organ in the digestive system and endocrine system of vertebrates.
- Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1): A peptide hormone of the glucagon family, secreted by the gut, that stimulates insulin secretion.
- Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2): A peptide hormone of the glucagon family, secreted by the gut, that stimulates growth and repair in the gut lining.
- Major proglucagon fragment (MPGF): A peptide hormone of the glucagon family, secreted by the gut, that has unknown function.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Proglucagon
- Wikipedia's article - Proglucagon
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