Glucagon

Glucagon is a peptide hormone, produced by alpha cells of the pancreas. It works to raise the concentration of glucose and fatty acids in the bloodstream, and is considered to be the main catabolic hormone of the body.[3] It is also used as a medication to treat a number of health conditions. Its effect is opposite to that of insulin, which lowers extracellular glucose.[4] It is produced from proglucagon, encoded by the GCG gene.

This article is about the natural hormone. For the medication, see Glucagon (medication).
GCG
Available structures
PDBHuman UniProt search: PDBe RCSB
Identifiers
AliasesGCG, GLP1, glucagon, GRPP, GLP-1, GLP2
External IDsOMIM: 138030 HomoloGene: 136497 GeneCards: GCG
Gene location (Human)
Chr.Chromosome 2 (human)[1]
Band2q24.2Start162,142,882 bp[1]
End162,152,404 bp[1]
RNA expression pattern
More reference expression data
Orthologs
SpeciesHumanMouse
Entrez

2641

n/a

Ensembl

ENSG00000115263

n/a

UniProt

P01275

n/a

RefSeq (mRNA)

NM_002054

n/a

RefSeq (protein)

NP_002045

n/a

Location (UCSC)Chr 2: 162.14 – 162.15 Mbn/a
PubMed search[2]n/a
Wikidata
View/Edit Human

The pancreas releases glucagon when the amount of glucose in the bloodstream is too low. Glucagon causes the liver to engage in glycogenolysis: converting stored glycogen into glucose, which is released into the bloodstream.[5] High blood-glucose levels, on the other hand, stimulate the release of insulin. Insulin allows glucose to be taken up and used by insulin-dependent tissues. Thus, glucagon and insulin are part of a feedback system that keeps blood glucose levels stable. Glucagon increases energy expenditure and is elevated under conditions of stress.[6] Glucagon belongs to the secretin family of hormones.

Function

Glucagon generally elevates the concentration of glucose in the blood by promoting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.[7] Glucagon also decreases fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue and the liver, as well as promoting lipolysis in these tissues, which causes them to release fatty acids into circulation where they can be catabolised to generate energy in tissues such as skeletal muscle when required.[8]

Glucose is stored in the liver in the form of the polysaccharide glycogen, which is a glucan (a polymer made up of glucose molecules). Liver cells (hepatocytes) have glucagon receptors. When glucagon binds to the glucagon receptors, the liver cells convert the glycogen into individual glucose molecules and release them into the bloodstream, in a process known as glycogenolysis. As these stores become depleted, glucagon then encourages the liver and kidney to synthesize additional glucose by gluconeogenesis. Glucagon turns off glycolysis in the liver, causing glycolytic intermediates to be shuttled to gluconeogenesis.

Glucagon also regulates the rate of glucose production through lipolysis. Glucagon induces lipolysis in humans under conditions of insulin suppression (such as diabetes mellitus type 1).[9]

Glucagon production appears to be dependent on the central nervous system through pathways yet to be defined. In invertebrate animals, eyestalk removal has been reported to affect glucagon production. Excising the eyestalk in young crayfish produces glucagon-induced hyperglycemia.[10]

Mechanism of action
Metabolic regulation of glycogen by glucagon.

Glucagon binds to the glucagon receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor, located in the plasma membrane of the cell. The conformation change in the receptor activates G proteins, a heterotrimeric protein with α, β, and γ subunits. When the G protein interacts with the receptor, it undergoes a conformational change that results in the replacement of the GDP molecule that was bound to the α subunit with a GTP molecule. This substitution results in the releasing of the α subunit from the β and γ subunits. The alpha subunit specifically activates the next enzyme in the cascade, adenylate cyclase.

Adenylate cyclase manufactures cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP or cAMP), which activates protein kinase A (cAMP-dependent protein kinase). This enzyme, in turn, activates phosphorylase kinase, which then phosphorylates glycogen phosphorylase b (PYG b), converting it into the active form called phosphorylase a (PYG a). Phosphorylase a is the enzyme responsible for the release of glucose 1-phosphate from glycogen polymers. An example of the pathway would be when glucagon binds to a transmembrane protein. The transmembrane proteins interacts with Gɑβ𝛾. Gɑ separates from Gβ𝛾 and interacts with the transmembrane protein adenylyl cyclase. Adenylyl cyclase catalyzes the conversion of ATP to cAMP. cAMP binds to protein kinase A, and the complex phosphorylates phosphorylase kinase.[11] Phosphorylated phosphorylase kinase phosphorylates phosphorylase. Phosphorylated phosphorylase clips glucose units from glycogen as glucose 1-phosphate. Additionally, the coordinated control of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver is adjusted by the phosphorylation state of the enzymes that catalyze the formation of a potent activator of glycolysis called fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.[12] The enzyme protein kinase A (PKA) that was stimulated by the cascade initiated by glucagon will also phosphorylate a single serine residue of the bifunctional polypeptide chain containing both the enzymes fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase and phosphofructokinase-2. This covalent phosphorylation initiated by glucagon activates the former and inhibits the latter. This regulates the reaction catalyzing fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (a potent activator of phosphofructokinase-1, the enzyme that is the primary regulatory step of glycolysis)[13] by slowing the rate of its formation, thereby inhibiting the flux of the glycolysis pathway and allowing gluconeogenesis to predominate. This process is reversible in the absence of glucagon (and thus, the presence of insulin).

Glucagon stimulation of PKA also inactivates the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase in hepatocytes.[14]

Physiology

Production
A microscopic image stained for glucagon

The hormone is synthesized and secreted from alpha cells (α-cells) of the islets of Langerhans, which are located in the endocrine portion of the pancreas. Production, which is otherwise freerunning, is suppressed/regulated by amylin, a peptide hormone co-secreted with insulin from the pancreatic β cells.[15] As plasma glucose levels recede, the subsequent reduction in amylin secretion alleviates its suppression of the α cells, allowing for glucagon secretion.

In rodents, the alpha cells are located in the outer rim of the islet. Human islet structure is much less segregated, and alpha cells are distributed throughout the islet in close proximity to beta cells. Glucagon is also produced by alpha cells in the stomach.[16]

Recent research has demonstrated that glucagon production may also take place outside the pancreas, with the gut being the most likely site of extrapancreatic glucagon synthesis.[17]

Regulation

Secretion of glucagon is stimulated by:

Secretion of glucagon is inhibited by:

Structure

Glucagon is a 29-amino acid polypeptide. Its primary structure in humans is: NH2-His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr-COOH.

The polypeptide has a molecular mass of 3485 daltons.[25] Glucagon is a peptide (nonsteroid) hormone.

Glucagon is generated from the cleavage of proglucagon by proprotein convertase 2 in pancreatic islet α cells. In intestinal L cells, proglucagon is cleaved to the alternate products glicentin, GLP-1 (an incretin), IP-2, and GLP-2 (promotes intestinal growth).[26]

Pathology

Abnormally elevated levels of glucagon may be caused by pancreatic tumors, such as glucagonoma, symptoms of which include necrolytic migratory erythema,[27] reduced amino acids, and hyperglycemia. It may occur alone or in the context of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1[28]

Elevated glucagon is the main contributor to hyperglycemic ketoacidosis in undiagnosed or poorly treated type 1 diabetes. As the beta cells cease to function, insulin and pancreatic GABA are no longer present to suppress the freerunning output of glucagon. As a result, glucagon is released from the alpha cells at a maximum, causing rapid breakdown of glycogen to glucose and fast ketogenesis.[29] It was found that a subset of adults with type 1 diabetes took 4 times longer on average to approach ketoacidosis when given somatostatin (inhibits glucagon production) with no insulin. Inhibiting glucagon has been a popular idea of diabetes treatment, however some have warned that doing so will give rise to brittle diabetes in patients with adequately stable blood glucose.

The absence of alpha cells (and hence glucagon) is thought to be one of the main influences in the extreme volatility of blood glucose in the setting of a total pancreatectomy.

History

In the 1920s, Kimball and Murlin studied pancreatic extracts, and found an additional substance with hyperglycemic properties. They described glucagon in 1923.[30] The amino acid sequence of glucagon was described in the late 1950s.[31] A more complete understanding of its role in physiology and disease was not established until the 1970s, when a specific radioimmunoassay was developed.

Etymology

Kimball and Murlin coined the term glucagon in 1923 when they initially named the substance the glucose agonist.[32]

See also

References
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  2. "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
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  8. HABEGGER, K. M., HEPPNER, K. M., GEARY, N., BARTNESS, T. J., DIMARCHI, R. & TSCHÖP, M. H. (2010). "The metabolic actions of glucagon revisited". Nature Reviews. Endocrinology. 6 (12): 689–697. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2010.187. PMC 3563428. PMID 20957001.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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  10. Leinen RL, Giannini AJ (1983). "Effect of eyestalk removal on glucagon induced hyperglycemia in crayfish". Society for Neuroscience Abstracts. 9: 604.
  11. Yu Q, Shuai H, Ahooghalandari P, Gylfe E, Tengholm A (July 2019). "Glucose controls glucagon secretion by directly modulating cAMP in alpha cells". Diabetologia. 62 (7): 1212–1224. doi:10.1007/s00125-019-4857-6. PMC 6560012. PMID 30953108.
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  18. Layden BT, Durai V, Lowe WL (2010). "G-Protein-Coupled Receptors, Pancreatic Islets, and Diabetes". Nature Education. 3 (9): 13.
  19. Skoglund G, Lundquist I, Ahrén B (November 1987). "Alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor activation increases plasma glucagon levels in the mouse". European Journal of Pharmacology. 143 (1): 83–8. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(87)90737-0. PMID 2891547.
  20. Honey RN, Weir GC (October 1980). "Acetylcholine stimulates insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin release in the perfused chicken pancreas". Endocrinology. 107 (4): 1065–8. doi:10.1210/endo-107-4-1065. PMID 6105951.
  21. Zhang, Xiao-Xi (2016). "Neuroendocrine Hormone Amylin in Diabetes". World J Diabetes. 7 (9): 189–197. doi:10.4239/wjd.v7.i9.189. PMC 4856891. PMID 27162583.
  22. Xu E, Kumar M, Zhang Y, Ju W, Obata T, Zhang N, Liu S, Wendt A, Deng S, Ebina Y, Wheeler MB, Braun M, Wang Q (January 2006). "Intra-islet insulin suppresses glucagon release via GABA-GABAA receptor system". Cell Metabolism. 3 (1): 47–58. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2005.11.015. PMID 16399504.
  23. Krätzner R, Fröhlich F, Lepler K, Schröder M, Röher K, Dickel C, Tzvetkov MV, Quentin T, Oetjen E, Knepel W (February 2008). "A peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-retinoid X receptor heterodimer physically interacts with the transcriptional activator PAX6 to inhibit glucagon gene transcription". Molecular Pharmacology. 73 (2): 509–17. doi:10.1124/mol.107.035568. PMID 17962386. S2CID 10108970.
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  25. Unger RH, Orci L (June 1981). "Glucagon and the A cell: physiology and pathophysiology (first two parts)". The New England Journal of Medicine. 304 (25): 1518–24. doi:10.1056/NEJM198106183042504. PMID 7015132.
  26. Orskov C, Holst JJ, Poulsen SS, Kirkegaard P (November 1987). "Pancreatic and intestinal processing of proglucagon in man". Diabetologia. 30 (11): 874–81. doi:10.1007/BF00274797 (inactive 2021-01-14). PMID 3446554.CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of January 2021 (link)
  27. John AM, Schwartz RA (December 2016). "Glucagonoma syndrome: a review and update on treatment". Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 30 (12): 2016–2022. doi:10.1111/jdv.13752. PMID 27422767. S2CID 1228654.
  28. Oberg K (December 2010). "Pancreatic endocrine tumors". Seminars in Oncology. 37 (6): 594–618. doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2010.10.014. PMID 21167379.
  29. Fasanmade OA, Odeniyi IA, Ogbera AO (June 2008). "Diabetic ketoacidosis: diagnosis and management". African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences. 37 (2): 99–105. PMID 18939392.
  30. Kimball C, Murlin J (1923). "Aqueous extracts of pancreas III. Some precipitation reactions of insulin". J. Biol. Chem. 58 (1): 337–348. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)85474-6.
  31. Bromer W, Winn L, Behrens O (1957). "The amino acid sequence of glucagon V. Location of amide groups, acid degradation studies and summary of sequential evidence". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 79 (11): 2807–2810. doi:10.1021/ja01568a038.
  32. "History of glucagon - Metabolism, insulin and other hormones - Diapedia, The Living Textbook of Diabetes". www.diapedia.org. Archived from the original on 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
  • PDBe-KB provides an overview of all the structure information available in the PDB for Human Glucagon
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