Physiology and emerging biochemistry of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor

Exp Diabetes Res. 2012:2012:470851. doi: 10.1155/2012/470851. Epub 2012 May 14.

Abstract

The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor is one of the best validated therapeutic targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Over several years, the accumulation of basic, translational, and clinical research helped define the physiologic roles of GLP-1 and its receptor in regulating glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism. These efforts provided much of the foundation for pharmaceutical development of the GLP-1 receptor peptide agonists, exenatide and liraglutide, as novel medicines for patients suffering from T2DM. Now, much attention is focused on better understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in ligand induced signaling of the GLP-1 receptor. For example, advancements in biophysical and structural biology techniques are being applied in attempts to more precisely determine ligand binding and receptor occupancy characteristics at the atomic level. These efforts should better inform three-dimensional modeling of the GLP-1 receptor that will help inspire more rational approaches to identify and optimize small molecule agonists or allosteric modulators targeting the GLP-1 receptor. This article reviews GLP-1 receptor physiology with an emphasis on GLP-1 induced signaling mechanisms in order to highlight new molecular strategies that help determine desired pharmacologic characteristics for guiding development of future nonpeptide GLP-1 receptor activators.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Site
  • Biochemistry / methods
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics
  • Exenatide
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / analogs & derivatives
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / pharmacology
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Liraglutide
  • Models, Biological
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Glucagon / chemistry
  • Receptors, Glucagon / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Venoms / metabolism
  • Venoms / pharmacology

Substances

  • GLP1R protein, human
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
  • Ligands
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Glucagon
  • Venoms
  • Liraglutide
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • Exenatide
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Glucose