GLP-1 is made from proglucagon in the L cells of the distal small intestine and colon when nutrients arrive. It acts on its receptor (GLP-1R), a GPCR found in the pancreas, stomach, brain, heart and kidney.
Its described actions include increasing insulin release only when glucose is high, reducing glucagon secretion, slowing stomach emptying and acting on hypothalamic and brainstem centres linked to appetite and satiety.
Natural GLP-1 lasts only a couple of minutes in circulation, broken down by DPP-4. That gave rise to long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, and later to agonists that combine GLP-1 with GIP (tirzepatide), with glucagon (survodutide, mazdutide) or with both (retatrutide).
GLP-1 is the common denominator of the whole metabolic family in the catalogue. Any comparison between those compounds starts with how much and how they activate this receptor.
Related terms
Learn it in depth at the Peptide University
- Metabolic and repair (1–5) · Module 14
- Pharmacology of agonists: single, dual and triple · Module 3
- Evidence and comparison · Module 3
- Incretin physiology · Module 3
- Complementary monographs (16–20) · Module 14
Related catalogue compounds
Definition for educational and scientific purposes. It is not medical advice or a recommendation for use. NeoPeptidos products are sold labelled for research use only (RUO).