Sandbox Reserved 384: Difference between revisions

The purpose of the receptor is to bind glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) in the presence of glucose. This causes a chain reaction that increases secretion of insulin molecules. GIP binds to GIPR though <scene name='Sandbox_Reserved_384/Hydrophobics/1'>hydrophobic interactions</scene> and causes the release of G protein-coupled receptors, which in turn causes an enzymatic cascade resulting in the increased secretion of insulin. This occurs in the pancreatic islet beta-cells. It is likely that the cause of type 2 diabetes is due to the inability of GIP to bind properly to GIPR.<ref>PMID:11334402</ref>

 

The significance of this receptor makes it a prime target for diabetes research. Incretins are a class of biological molecules that act like gastrointestinal hormones<ref>"Byetta." BYETTA (exenatide) Injection | Welcome to BYETTA.com. Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2011. Web. 02 Dec. 2011. <http://www.byetta.com/Pages/index.aspx></ref>. One such example is glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which works with GIP to regulate the body's insulin levels. Synthetic versions of this peptide hormone have been made to treat people with type-2 diabetes. It works by stimulating GIP production as well as insulin secretion causing the body to properly regulate its blood glucose levels like someone without diabetes. The benefit of synthetic GLP-1 is that it is not protein and so would not be degraded as easily therefore prolonging the benefits of the drug. One such example is Byetta.