Glycine-extended gastrin (G-Gly or G17-Gly)

Glycine-extended gastrin is a posttranslational processing intermediate of progastrin characterized by an additional C-terminal glycine residue, which is later amidated in the process that creates mature, active gastrin. While mature (amidated) gastrin stimulates gastric acid secretion via the CCK2 (gastrin) receptor, glycine-extended gastrin exhibits distinct biological activities—including cell proliferation and possibly tumor promotion—sometimes acting through a unique, non-classical receptor not blocked by CCK2 antagonists. It is overexpressed in certain cancers, particularly of the colon, and can stimulate proliferation through pathways such as MAPK and NF-κB. Its precise molecular receptor is not fully characterized, and it is mainly studied in the context of cancer biology and the regulation of gastric mucosal growth.

Other names

progastrin-processing intermediateG17-Glyglycine-extended G17G-Glygastrin-Gly

Promotes cell proliferation by activating intracellular signaling pathways (e.g., MAPK, JNK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB), sometimes via a receptor distinct from CCK2R. Stimulates cell growth by engaging non-classical gastrin receptors, independent of the fully amidated (active) gastrin mechanism. May potentiate the effect of regular, amidated gastrin.