Ghrelin
Ghrelin
Overview
Ghrelin is a 28-amino-acid peptide hormone produced primarily in the stomach that functions as the body's primary hunger signal and a potent GH secretagogue. It is often called the hunger hormone and plays central roles in energy homeostasis appetite regulation GH secretion and metabolic function. Ghrelin declines after meals and rises before them creating the hunger drive. Beyond appetite ghrelin has important effects on sleep cardiovascular function immune modulation and stress response. It is the endogenous ligand for the ghrelin receptor that synthetic compounds like MK-677 and Hexarelin target.
Mechanism of Action
Ghrelin acts through the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR-1a) expressed in the hypothalamus pituitary stomach and other tissues. In the hypothalamus it activates neuropeptide Y and AgRP neurons in the arcuate nucleus stimulating appetite and reducing energy expenditure. In the pituitary it synergizes with GHRH to produce robust GH pulses. Ghrelin exists in two forms: acylated ghrelin (AG) which is the active form that crosses the blood-brain barrier and activates GHSR-1a and desacyl ghrelin (DAG) which has distinct effects including anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective actions through different receptors. Circulating ghrelin levels are highest during fasting and lowest after eating. In sleep ghrelin promotes slow-wave sleep and is thought to mediate some of the GH release that occurs during deep sleep stages.
Where does Ghrelin sit?
See how this peptide compares across all 85 peptides in our database.
Dosage Information
Typical Dose
N/A — reference compound. See MK-677 or Hexarelin for ghrelin receptor agonists
Frequency
N/A
Administration
Reference compound
Notes
Native ghrelin is not used therapeutically due to short half-life and complex acylation requirements. This entry provides mechanistic context for the ghrelin receptor agonist class including MK-677 and all GHRPs.
Compound Data
Molecular Formula
C149H249N47O42
Molecular Weight
3370.90 g/mol
IUPAC Name
(4S)-4-[[(2S)-1-[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[(2-aminoacetyl)amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]amino]-3-octanoyloxypropanoyl]amino]-3-phenylpropanoyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-3-hydroxypropanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino]-5-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[(2S)-2-[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[(2S)-2-[[(1S)-4-carbamimidamido-1-carboxybutyl]carbamoyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]carbamoyl]pyrrolidine-1-carbonyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-4-carboxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-5-oxopentanoic acid
PubChem CID
16133832Potential Side Effects
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Quick Facts
- Administration
- Reference compound
- Typical Dose
- N/A — reference compound. See MK-677 or Hexarelin for ghrelin receptor agonists
- Frequency
- N/A
- References
- 0 curated + 47 from PubMed
- Clinical Trials
- 48 registered
- Evidence Score
- 80.0 / 100