Glycagon: Difference between revisions
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=== Function === | === Function === | ||
The primary role of glucagon played in the body is increasing the [[Blood|blood]] [[ | The primary role of glucagon played in the body is increasing the [[Blood|blood]] [[Glucose|glucose]] concentrations, which is the opposite function of [[Insulin|insulin]], secreted from [[Beta cells of the pancreas|beta cells]] of the islets. To be specific, glucagon raises the [[Blood|blood]] [[Sugar|sugar]] levels through the breakdown of the glycogen in the [[Liver|liver]] when the concentration of the blood glucose is low <ref name="[1]">R.Bowen (1999), Glucagon, http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/pancreas/glucagon.html (last accessed 09.01.11)</ref>. This process is called [[Glycogenolysis|glycogenolysis]], which is decomposition of [[Glycogen|glycogen]] into [[Glucose|glucose]] <ref>Berg J., Tymoczko J. and Stryer L. (2007) Biochemistry, 6th edition, New York: WH Freeman(p601-603).</ref>.<sup> </sup>Another function of glucagon is activating [[Gluconeogenesis|gluconeogenesis]], which convert non-hexose, for instance, [[Amino acids|amino acids]], to glucose also for increasing the blood sugar levels <ref>Berg J., Tymoczko J. and Stryer L. (2007) Biochemistry, 6th edition, New York: WH Freeman(p770-771).</ref> | ||
=== Disease === | === Disease === | ||
Revision as of 14:48, 18 October 2015
Structure
Glucagon is a kind of peptide hormone with 29 amino acids in a linear structure. Glucagon is produced originally as a formation of proglucagon in the pancreas, which is then converted to glucagon as a functional state in alpha cells of the islets [1].
Function
The primary role of glucagon played in the body is increasing the blood glucose concentrations, which is the opposite function of insulin, secreted from beta cells of the islets. To be specific, glucagon raises the blood sugar levels through the breakdown of the glycogen in the liver when the concentration of the blood glucose is low [2]. This process is called glycogenolysis, which is decomposition of glycogen into glucose [3]. Another function of glucagon is activating gluconeogenesis, which convert non-hexose, for instance, amino acids, to glucose also for increasing the blood sugar levels [4]
Disease
Glucagonomas is a result of excessive seglucagon excretion, which causes some harm effects,for example, skin lesions [5].
References:
- ↑ R.Bowen (1999), Glucagon, http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/pancreas/glucagon.html (last accessed 09.01.11)
- ↑ R.Bowen (1999), Glucagon, http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/pancreas/glucagon.html (last accessed 09.01.11)
- ↑ Berg J., Tymoczko J. and Stryer L. (2007) Biochemistry, 6th edition, New York: WH Freeman(p601-603).
- ↑ Berg J., Tymoczko J. and Stryer L. (2007) Biochemistry, 6th edition, New York: WH Freeman(p770-771).
- ↑ R.Bowen (1999), Glucagon, http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/pancreas/glucagon.html (last accessed 09.01.11)