Scribd
Upload
13 views

Glucagon - Structure - Function - TeachMePhysiology

Uploaded by

Masood Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
13 views

Glucagon - Structure - Function - TeachMePhysiology

Uploaded by

Masood Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

8/29/24, 9:54 PM Glucagon - Structure - Function - TeachMePhysiology

Glucagon
Home / Endocrine / The Pancreas / Glucagon

Original Author(s): Neil Thakrar


Last updated: 8th February 2024
Revisions: 15

Glucagon is the hormone that opposes insulin, so it acts to raise blood glucose levels. It is a peptide hormone produced by the alpha cells of the
pancreas.

This article shall consider the structure of glucagon, its synthesis, secretion, mechanism of action and clinical conditions that may result from faults
in this process.

Structure
Glucagon is a single chain polypeptide and has no disulfide bridges, making it incredibly flexible.

© By Truthortruth (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Fig 1 – Representation of the structure of glucagon.

Synthesis
A precursor molecule, proglucagon, undergoes post-translational processing to become a biologically active glucagon.

Secretion
Glucagon is secreted by alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans in the tail of the pancreas. Low glucose levels in the blood are detected by alpha cells,
stimulating the release of glucagon. Like insulin, this undergoes margination and exocytosis to be released.

https://teachmephysiology.com/endocrine-system/pancreas/glucagon/ 1/2
8/29/24, 9:54 PM Glucagon - Structure - Function - TeachMePhysiology

Mechanism of Action
Glucagon binds to a specific glucagon receptor in the cell membrane, a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). This activates the enzyme adenylate
cyclase which increases cAMP intracellularly. This activates protein kinase A which phosphorylates and activates a number of important enzymes in
target cells.

Overall Effects
The overall metabolic effects of glucagon are typically exerted on the liver:

Increased glycogenolysis

Decreased glycogenesis

Increased gluconeogenesis

Increased ketogenesis

It also increases lipolysis in adipose tissue.

Control of Glucagon
Stimulates secretion Inhibits secretion

Adrenaline GI tract hormones

Noradrenaline Acetylcholine

+
Clinical Relevance - Glucagonoma
A glucagonoma is a tumour of the alpha cells of the pancreas. These tumours lead to the overproduction of glucagon, which can cause a variety of
symptoms:

Hyperglycaemia

Weight loss

Anaemia

Diarrhoea

Diabetes mellitus

The presenting problem in most cases however, is necrolytic migratory erythema (NME), a red, blistering rash that spreads across the skin. It
particularly affects the skin around the mouth and extremities, but can also be found on the lower abdomen, perineum and groin.

A blood serum glucagon of more than 1000pg/mL is indicative of a glucagonoma and the tumour can be localised using radiography such as CT
or MRI scans.

Medication that inhibits glucagon release or damages alpha cells in the pancreas can be used to help minimize symptom progression, however
the only curative treatment is surgical resection of the tumour.

https://teachmephysiology.com/endocrine-system/pancreas/glucagon/ 2/2

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy