BW-GLP-1

BW-GLP-1 (Black Widow GLP-1) is a preclinical hybrid peptide designed to act as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist. It is a chimeric peptide consisting of the N-terminal residues 1-16 of GLP-1(7-36)amide, flanked by residues 970-981 of alpha-latrotoxin (a presynaptic neurotoxin from the black widow spider *Latrodectus*), and capped at the C-terminus with G-R-amide. BW-GLP-1 was developed to investigate the structural homology and molecular mimicry between insect venom toxins and mammalian incretin hormones. In preclinical studies, BW-GLP-1 has been shown to stimulate cAMP production, induce calcium signaling, and potentiate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic beta-cells and human islets, making it a tool for studying type 2 diabetes therapeutics.

Other names

Black Widow GLP-1Black Widow spider GLP-1Black Widow spider glucagon-like peptide-1