To better understand how the proglucagon system functions in birds, we utilized a molecular cloning strategy to sequence and characterize the chicken proglucagon gene that encodes glucagon, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2. This gene has seven exons and six introns with evidence for an additional (alternate) first exon and two promoter regions. We identified two distinct classes of proglucagon mRNA transcripts (PGA and PGB) produced by alternative splicing at their 3'-ends. These were co-expressed in all tissues examined with pancreas and proventriculus showing the highest levels of each. Although both mRNA classes contained coding sequence for glucagon and GLP-1, class A mRNA lacked that portion of the coding region (CDS) containing GLP-2; whereas, class B mRNA had a larger CDS that included GLP-2. Both classes of mRNA transcripts exhibited two variants, each with a different 5'-end arising from alternate promoter and alternate first exon usage. Fasting and refeeding had no effect on proglucagon mRNA expression despite significant changes in plasma glucagon levels. To investigate potential differences in proglucagon precursor processing among tissues, mRNA expression for two prohormone convertase (PC) genes was analyzed. PC2 mRNA was predominantly expressed in pancreas and proventriculus, whereas PC1/3 mRNA was more highly expressed in duodenum and brain. We also determined mRNA expression of the specific receptor genes for glucagon, GLP-1 and GLP-2 to help define major sites of hormone action. Glucagon receptor mRNA was most highly expressed in liver and abdominal fat, whereas GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptor genes were highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, brain, pancreas and abdominal fat. These results offer new insights into structure and function of the chicken proglucagon gene, processing of the precursor proteins produced from it and potential activity sites for proglucagon-derived peptide hormones mediated by their cognate receptors.

The mammalian proglucagon gene (Gcg) encodes three glucagon like sequences, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucagon-like peptide-2 that are of similar length and share sequence similarity, with these hormones having cell surface receptors, glucagon receptor (Gcgr), GLP-1 receptor (Glp1r), and GLP-2 receptor (Glp2r), respectively. Gcgr, Glp1r, and Glp2r are all class B1 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Despite their sequence and structural similarity, analyses of sequences from rodents have found differences in patterns of sequence conservation and evolution. To determine whether these were rodent-specific traits or general features of these genes in mammals I analyzed coding and protein sequences for proglucagon and the receptors for proglucagon-derived peptides from the genomes of 168 mammalian species. Single copy genes for each gene were found in almost all genomes. In addition to glucagon sequences within Hystricognath rodents (e.g., guinea pig), glucagon sequences from a few other groups (e.g., pangolins and some bats) as well as changes in the proteolytic processing of GLP-1 in some bats are suggested to have functional effects. GLP-2 sequences display increased variability but accepted few substitutions that are predicted to have functional consequences. In parallel, Glp2r sequences display the most rapid protein sequence evolution, and show greater variability in amino acids at sites involved in ligand interaction, however most were not predicted to have a functional consequence. These observations suggest that a greater diversity in biological functions for proglucagon-derived peptides might exist in mammals.

The rat and human proglucagon gene immediate promoter regions have differing transcriptional activities in islet cell lines. It is unclear upon which lineage the expression changes have occurred, or which base changes and transcription factors explain the changes in promoter activity. We have studied the expression of the chicken proglucagon gene to better understand changes in mammalian proglucagon gene promoter activity. The chicken proglucagon gene is composed of seven exons, and contains an additional exon that contains much of intervening peptide 1 that has not been seen in any other proglucagon gene. Despite very limited sequence identity between chicken and rat proglucagon promoters, the chicken proglucagon promoter supports reporter gene expression in rodent glucagon-expressing cell lines. These results suggest that the immediate proglucagon promoter region likely has retained ability to be expressed in islet cells, but a few changes to this sequence on the human lineage have extinguished expression of the immediate promoter region. Our work also demonstrate that in contrast to the conserved human proglucagon promoter region which has lost promoter activity that significant changes in proglucagon promoter sequence can occur yet retain expression potential.

Strong efforts have been placed on understanding the physiological roles and therapeutic potential of the proglucagon peptide hormones including glucagon, GLP-1 and GLP-2. However, little is known about the extent and magnitude of variability in the amino acid composition of the proglucagon precursor and its mature peptides. Here, we identified 184 unique missense variants in the human proglucagon gene GCG obtained from exome and whole-genome sequencing of more than 450,000 individuals across diverse sub-populations. This provides an unprecedented source of population-wide genetic variation data on missense mutations and insights into the evolutionary constraint spectrum of proglucagon-derived peptides. We show that the stereotypical peptides glucagon, GLP-1 and GLP-2 display fewer evolutionary alterations and are more likely to be functionally affected by genetic variation compared to the rest of the gene products. Elucidating the spectrum of genetic variations and estimating the impact of how a peptide variant may influence human physiology and pathophysiology through changes in ligand binding and/or receptor signalling, are vital and serve as the first important step in understanding variability in glucose homeostasis, amino acid metabolism, intestinal epithelial growth, bone strength, appetite regulation, and other key physiological parameters controlled by these hormones.

Animal models with defective glucagon action show hyperplasia of islet α-cells, however, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the proliferation of islet endocrine cells remain largely to be elucidated. The Gcggfp/gfp mice, which are homozygous for glucagon/green fluorescent protein knock-in allele (GCGKO), lack all proglucagon-derived peptides including glucagon and GLP-1. The present study was aimed to characterize pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs), which develop in the GCGKO mice. At 15 months of age, macroscopic GFP-positive tumors were identified in the pancreas of all the GCGKO mice, but not in that of the control heterozygous mice. The tumor manifested several features that were consistent with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs), such as organoid structures with trabecular and cribriform patterns, and the expression of chromogranin A and synaptophysin. Dissemination of GFP-positive cells was observed in the liver and lungs in 100% and 95%, respectively, of 15-month-old GCGKO mice. To elucidate the regulatory mechanism for tumor growth, PanNET grafts were transplanted into subrenal capsules in GCGKO and control mice. Ki-67 positive cells were identified in panNET grafts transplanted to GCGKO mice 1 month after transplantation, but not in those to control mice. These results suggest that humoral factors or conditions specific to GCGKO mice, are involved in the proliferation of panNETs. Taken together, GCGKO mice are novel animal model for studying the development, pathogenesis, and metastasis panNETs.

Glicentin is a proglucagon-derived peptide mainly produced in the L-intestinal cells. While the roles of other members of the proglucagon family including glucagon-like peptide 1, glucagon-like peptide 2 and oxyntomodulin has been well studied, the functions and variation of glicentin in human are not fully understood. Experimental and clinical studies have highlighted its role in both intestinal physiology and glucose metabolism, pointing to its potential interest in a wide range of pathological states including gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders. Due to its structure presenting many similarities with the other proglucagon-derived peptides, its measurement is technically challenging. The recent commercialization of specific detection methods has offered new opportunities to go further in the understanding of glicentin physiology. Here we summarize the current knowledge on glicentin biogenesis and physiological roles. In the limelight of clinical studies investigating glicentin variation in human, we discuss future directions for potential applications in clinical practice.

Rat insulinoma INS-1 cells are widely used to study insulin secretory mechanisms. Studies have shown that a population of INS-1 cells are bi-hormonal, co-expressing insulin, and proglucagon proteins. They coined this population as immature cells since they co-secrete proglucagon-derived peptides from the same secretory vesicles similar to that of insulin. Since proglucagon encodes multiple peptides including glucagon, glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1), GLP-2, oxyntomodulin, and glicentin, their specific expression and secretion are technically challenging. In this study, we aimed to focus on glucagon expression which shares the same amino acid sequence with glicentin and proglucagon. Validation of the anti-glucagon antibody (Abcam) by Western blotting techniques revealed that the antibody detects proglucagon (≈ 20 kDa), glicentin (≈ 9 kDa), and glucagon (≈ 3 kDa) in INS-1 cells and primary islets, all of which were absent in the kidney cell line (HEK293). Using the validated anti-glucagon antibody, we showed by immunofluorescence imaging that a population of INS-1 cells co-express insulin and proglucagon-derived proteins. Furthermore, we found that chronic treatment of INS-1 cells with high-glucose decreases insulin and glucagon content, and also reduces the percentage of bi-hormonal cells. In line with insulin secretion, we found glucagon and glicentin secretion to be induced in a glucose-dependent manner. We conclude that INS-1 cells are a useful model to study glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, but not that of glucagon or glicentin. Our study suggests Western blotting technique as an important tool for researchers to study proglucagon-derived peptides expression and regulation in primary islets in response to various metabolic stimuli.

Proglucagon, which is encoded by the glucagon gene (Gcg), is the precursor of several peptide hormones, including glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Whereas glucagon stimulates hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion to lower blood glucose and also supports ß-cell proliferation and protection from apoptotic stimuli. Pregnancy is a strong inducer of change in islet function, however the roles of proglucagon-derived peptides in pregnancy are only partially understood. In the present study, we analyzed fertility and pregnancy-associated changes in homozygous glucagon-green fluorescent protein (gfp) knock-in mice (Gcg(gfp/gfp)), which lack all the peptides derived from proglucagon. Female Gcg(gfp/gfp) mice could deliver and raise Gcg(gfp/gfp) pups to weaning and Gcg(gfp/gfp) pups from Gcg(gfp/gfp) dams were viable and fertile. Pregnancy induced ß-cell proliferation in Gcg(gfp/gfp) mice as well as in control mice. However, serum insulin levels in pregnant Gcg(gfp/gfp) females were lower than those in control pregnant females under ad libitum feeding, and blood glucose levels in pregnant Gcg(gfp/gfp) females were higher after gestational day 12. Gcg(gfp/gfp) females showed a decreased pregnancy rate and smaller litter size. The rate of successful breeding was significantly lower in Gcg(gfp/gfp) females and was not improved by experience of breeding. Taken together, proglucagon-derived peptides are not required for pregnancy-associated ß-cell proliferation, however, are required for regulation of blood glucose levels and normal reproductive capacity. Gcg(gfp/gfp) mice may serve as a novel model to analyze the effect of mild hyperglycemia during late gestational periods.

The importance of pancreatic versus intestinal-derived GLP-1 for glucose homeostasis is controversial. We detected active GLP-1 in the mouse and human pancreas, albeit at extremely low levels relative to glucagon. Accordingly, to elucidate the metabolic importance of intestinal proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs), we generated mice with reduction of Gcg expression within the distal (GcgDistalGut-/-) or entire (GcgGut-/-) gut. Substantial reduction of gut Gcg expression markedly reduced circulating levels of GLP-1, and impaired glucose homeostasis, associated with increased levels of GIP, and accelerated gastric emptying. GcgDistalGut-/- mice similarly exhibited lower circulating GLP-1 and impaired oral glucose tolerance. Nevertheless, plasma levels of insulin remained normal following glucose administration in the absence of gut-derived GLP-1. Collectively, our findings identify the essential importance of gut-derived PGDPs for maintaining levels of circulating GLP-1, control of gastric emptying, and glucose homeostasis.

The teleost fish-specific genome duplication gave rise to a great number of species inhabiting diverse environments with different access to nutrients and life histories. This event produced duplicated gcg genes, gcga and gcgb, for proglucagon-derived peptides, glucagon and GLP-1 and duplicated gcgr receptor genes, gcgra and gcgrb, which play key roles connecting the consumption of nutrients with glucose metabolism. We conducted a systematic survey of the genomes from 28 species of fish (24 bony (Superclass Osteichthyes), 1 lobe-finned (Class Sarcoperygii), 1 cartilaginous (Superclass Chondrichthyes), and 2 jawless (Superclass Agnatha)) and find that almost all surveyed ray-finned fish contain gcga and gcgb genes with different coding potential and duplicated gcgr genes, gcgra and gcgrb that form two separate clades in the phylogenetic tree consistent with the accepted species phylogeny. All gcgb genes encoded only glucagon and GLP-1 and gcga genes encoded glucagon, GLP-1, and GLP-2, indicating that gcga was subfunctionalized to produce GLP-2. We find a single glp2r, but no glp1r suggesting that duplicated gcgrb was neofunctionalized to bind GLP-1, as demonstrated for the zebrafish gcgrb (Oren et al., 2016). In functional experiments with zebrafish gcgrb and GLP-1 from diverse fish we find that anglerfish GLP-1a, encoded by gcga, is less biologically active than the gcgb anglerfish GLP-1b paralog. But some other fish (zebrafish, salmon, and catfish) gcga GLP-1a display similar biological activities, indicating that the regulation of glucose metabolism by GLP-1 in ray-finned fish is species-specific. Searches of genomes in cartilaginous fish identified a proglucagon gene that encodes a novel GLP-3 peptide in addition to glucagon, GLP-1, and GLP-2, as well as a single gcgr, glp2r, and a new glucagon receptor-like receptor whose identity still needs to be confirmed. The sequence of the shark GLP-1 contained an N-terminal mammalian-like extension that in mammals undergoes a proteolytic cleavage to release biologically active GLP-1. Our results indicate that early in vertebrate evolution diverse regulatory mechanisms emerged for the control of glucose metabolism by proglucagon-derived peptides and their receptors and that in ray-finned fish they included subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization of these genes.

The human and rat proglucagon gene proximal promoter regions have differing transcriptional activities in pancreatic islet cell lines, with 300 bases of rat proglucagon 5' flanking sequence being sufficient to support expression in rodent islet cell lines, while the homologous human sequences are transcriptionally silent. To better understand the changes in promoter activity between human and rat we have used a comparative approach and cloned promoters from diverse mammalian species and tested their transcriptional activities. Proglucagon gene proximal promoter regions from species representing three orders of mammals (rodents, artiodactyls, and carnivores) support transcription in rodent islet cell lines, while promoters from primates (human and rhesus monkey), despite significant sequence conservation, failed to drive reporter gene expression. These results suggest that nucleotide changes have occurred to the sequence of the proximal promoter region of the proglucagon gene during the evolution of primates that prevent them from supporting expression in rodent islet cell lines. Using hybrid human-rat proglucagon promoters and site-directed mutagenesis we identified a novel regulatory element in the human proglucagon proximal promoter, located between the G2 and G3 enhancer elements that is responsible for most of the difference in transcriptional activity between the human and rat proximal proglucagon promoters.

(1) Background: Protein stimulates the secretion of glucagon (GCG), which can affect glucose metabolism. This study aimed to analyze the metabolic effect of a high-protein diet (HPD) in the presence or absence of proglucagon-derived peptides, including GCG and GLP-1. (2) Methods: The response to HPD feeding for 7 days was analyzed in mice deficient in proglucagon-derived peptides (GCGKO). (3) Results: In both control and GCGKO mice, food intake and body weight decreased with HPD and intestinal expression of Pepck increased. HPD also decreased plasma FGF21 levels, regardless of the presence of proglucagon-derived peptides. In control mice, HPD increased the hepatic expression of enzymes involved in amino acid metabolism without the elevation of plasma amino acid levels, except branched-chain amino acids. On the other hand, HPD-induced changes in the hepatic gene expression were attenuated in GCGKO mice, resulting in marked hyperaminoacidemia with lower blood glucose levels; the plasma concentration of glutamine exceeded that of glucose in HPD-fed GCGKO mice. (4) Conclusions: Increased plasma amino acid levels are a common feature in animal models with blocked GCG activity, and our results underscore that GCG plays essential roles in the homeostasis of amino acid metabolism in response to altered protein intake.

The adipose tissue-derived hormone leptin plays an important role in the maintenance of body weight and glucose homeostasis. Leptin mediates its effects by interaction with leptin receptors (LepRb), which are highly expressed in the hypothalamus and other brain centres, and at lower levels in the periphery. Previous studies have used relatively promiscuous or inefficient Cre deleter strains, respectively, to explore the roles of LepR in pancreatic β and α cells. Here, we use two newly-developed Cre lines to explore the role of leptin signalling in insulin and proglucagon-expressing cells.

Recent studies demonstrate that α cells contribute to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists potently potentiate GSIS, making these drugs useful for diabetes treatment. However, the role of α and β cell paracrine interactions in the effects of GLP-1R agonists is undefined. We previously found that increased β cell GLP-1R signaling activates α cell GLP-1 expression. Here, we characterized the bidirectional paracrine cross-talk by which α and β cells communicate to mediate the effects of the GLP-1R agonist, liraglutide. We find that the effect of liraglutide to enhance GSIS is blunted by α cell ablation in male mice. Furthermore, the effect of β cell GLP-1R signaling to activate α cell GLP-1 is mediated by a secreted protein factor that is regulated by the signaling protein, 14-3-3-zeta, in mouse and human islets. These data refine our understanding of GLP-1 pharmacology and identify 14-3-3-zeta as a potential target to enhance α cell GLP-1 production.

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1; also known as STK11) is a serine/threonine kinase and tumour suppressor that is mutated in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), a premalignant syndrome associated with the development of gastrointestinal polyps. Proglucagon-expressing enteroendocrine cells are involved in the control of glucose homeostasis and the regulation of appetite through the secretion of gut hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY). To determine the role of LKB1 in these cells, we bred mice bearing floxed alleles of Lkb1 against animals carrying Cre recombinase under proglucagon promoter control. These mice (GluLKB1KO) were viable and displayed near-normal growth rates and glucose homeostasis. However, they developed large polyps at the gastro-duodenal junction, and displayed premature mortality (death from 120 days of age). Histological analysis of the polyps demonstrated that they had a PJS-like appearance with an arborising smooth-muscle core. Circulating GLP-1 levels were normal in GluLKB1KO mice and the polyps expressed low levels of the peptide, similar to levels in the neighbouring duodenum. Lineage tracing using a Rosa26tdRFP transgene revealed, unexpectedly, that enterocytes within the polyps were derived from non-proglucagon-expressing precursors, whereas connective tissue was largely derived from proglucagon-expressing precursors. Developmental studies in wild-type mice suggested that a subpopulation of proglucagon-expressing cells undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to become smooth-muscle-like cells. Thus, it is likely that polyps in the GluLKB1KO mice developed from a unique population of smooth-muscle-like cells derived from a proglucagon-expressing precursor. The loss of LKB1 within this subpopulation seems to be sufficient to drive tumorigenesis.

Enteroendocrine L-cells synthesise and release the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in response to food transit. Deletion of the tumour suppressor kinase LKB1 from proglucagon-expressing cells leads to the generation of intestinal polyps but no change in circulating GLP-1 levels. Here, we explore the role of the downstream kinase AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in these cells.

Hyperglucagonemia is a key pathophysiological driver of type 2 diabetes. Although Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a highly effective treatment for diabetes, it is presently unclear how surgery alters glucagon physiology. The aim of this study was to characterize the behavior of proglucagon-derived peptide (glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), oxyntomodulin, glicentin) secretion after RYGB surgery.

Homozygous glucagon-GFP knock-in mice (Gcggfp/gfp) lack proglucagon derived-peptides including glucagon and GLP-1, and are normoglycemic. We have previously shown that Gcggfp/gfp show improved glucose tolerance with enhanced insulin secretion. Here, we studied glucose and energy metabolism in Gcggfp/gfp mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Gcggfp/gfp and Gcggfp/+ mice were fed either a normal chow diet (NCD) or an HFD for 15-20 weeks. Regardless of the genotype, mice on an HFD showed glucose intolerance, and Gcggfp/gfp mice on HFD exhibited impaired insulin secretion whereas Gcggfp/+ mice on HFD exhibited increased insulin secretion. A compensatory increase in β-cell mass was observed in Gcggfp/+mice on HFD, but not in Gcggfp/gfp mice on the same diet. Weight gain was significantly lower in Gcggfp/gfp mice than in Gcggfp/+mice. Oxygen consumption was enhanced in Gcggfp/gfp mice compared to Gcggfp/+ mice on an HFD. HFD feeding significantly increased uncoupling protein 1 mRNA expression in brown adipose and inguinal white adipose tissues of Gcggfp/gfp mice, but not of Gcggfp/+mice. Treatment with the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide (200 mg/kg) improved glucose tolerance in Gcggfp/gfp mice and insulin content in Gcggfp/gfp and Gcggfp/+ mice was similar after liraglutide treatment. Our findings demonstrate that Gcggfp/gfp mice develop diabetes upon HFD-feeding in the absence of proglucagon-derived peptides, although they are resistant to diet-induced obesity.

Glucagon is secreted from pancreatic α-cells and plays an important role in amino acid metabolism in liver. Various animal models deficient in glucagon action show hyper-amino acidemia and α-cell hyperplasia, indicating that glucagon contributes to feedback regulation between the liver and the α-cells. In addition, both insulin and various amino acids, including branched-chain amino acids and alanine, participate in protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. However, the effect of hyperaminoacidemia on skeletal muscle has not been investigated. In the present study, we examined the effect of blockade of glucagon action on skeletal muscle using mice deficient in proglucagon-derived peptides (GCGKO mice).

To identify sub-populations of intestinal preproglucagon-expressing (PPG) cells producing Glucagon-like Peptide-1, and their associated expression profiles of sensory receptors, thereby enabling the discovery of therapeutic strategies that target these cell populations for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.