A glucagon receptor is present on the plasma membrane of a cell to which the glucagon molecules bind and control the blood glucose level.
Further Explanation:
The secretion of glucagon occurs through the alpha cells present in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. It has an important role in regulating the homeostasis of glucose in the body. Therefore, in contrast to insulin which lowers the glucose concentration in blood, glucagon increases the glucose levels by various pathways.
Glucagon is a peptide hormone containing 29 amino acids and is derived from a precursor molecule of proglucagon. The enzymes involved in the formation of glucagon from proglucagon are prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) in the brain and intestine and PC 2 in the pancreas.
Glucagon is secreted in response to hypoglycemia and its effect is mediated through its binding to the glucagon receptor which is mostly expressed in the liver but sometimes found in the heart, kidney, pancreas, and adrenal glands. This receptor is a G-protein coupled receptor that traverses the membrane seven times. As glucagon binds to its receptor, the receptor gets activated and further stimulates adenylyl cyclase. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is produced through adenylyl cyclase which activates protein kinase A (PKA). The PKA moves into the nucleus and stimulates CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein). On phosphorylation, CREB binds to the target gene at the response element site and enables gene expression which results in the increased production of glucose through glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, or glycolysis.
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Answer Details:
Grade: College Biology
Chapter: Glucagon Physiology
Subject: Biology
Keywords:
Glucagon, a peptide hormone, blood glucose level, pancreas, islets of Langerhans, alpha cells, glucagon receptor, adenylyl cyclase, cAMP, PKA, CREB, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis.