GLP-1
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (native)
The original incretin — and the reason for DPP-4-resistant analogs.
Half-life
~ 2 minutes (native, DPP-4-cleaved)
Mol. weight
3297.6 g/mol
Sequence
His-Ala-Glu-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Val-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Lys-Glu-Phe-Ile-Ala-Trp-Leu-Val-Lys-Gly-Arg
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Overview
Native glucagon-like peptide-1 is the gut hormone whose long-acting engineered analogs (semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide) transformed metabolic medicine. In its native form it is degraded within ~2 minutes by DPP-4, which is why every therapeutic in the class is a stability-engineered analog.
Mechanism of action
GLP-1 is released from intestinal L-cells after eating. It amplifies glucose-dependent insulin release from beta cells, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and signals satiety to the brain via the vagus and brainstem. Native GLP-1's clinical utility is destroyed by DPP-4, which cleaves it within minutes — driving the entire field toward DPP-4-resistant analogs and DPP-4 inhibitors.
Researched benefits
- Insulin regulation (glucose-dependent)
- Appetite and gastric-emptying control
- Foundational to the entire modern GLP-1 therapy class
Considerations
- Native GLP-1 degrades within ~2 minutes (DPP-4)
- Not used therapeutically in native form
- Educational reference compound for understanding the drug class
Key Academic Literature & Studies
Search more in PubMedPeer-reviewed citations and clinical trials evaluating GLP-1 in scientific literature.
Query PubMed for recent peer-reviewed preclinical and clinical publications on GLP-1:
View GLP-1 index on PubMed (NCBI)