GCG glucagon [Homo sapiens (human)] - Gene

Summary

Official Symbol: GCGprovided by HGNC
Official Full Name: glucagonprovided by HGNC
Primary source: HGNC:HGNC:4191
See related: Ensembl:ENSG00000115263 MIM:138030; AllianceGenome:HGNC:4191
Gene type: protein coding
RefSeq status: REVIEWED
Organism: Homo sapiens
Lineage: Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo
Also known as: GLP1; GLP2; GRPP; GLP-1
Summary: The protein encoded by this gene is a proglucagon precursor that is cleaved into four distinct mature peptides. One of these, glucagon, is a pancreatic hormone that counteracts the glucose-lowering action of insulin by stimulating glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in the liver. In addition, glucagon promotes lipolysis and ketone body formation during prolonged fasting or stress. Glucagon secretion is stimulated by low blood glucose and inhibited by high glucose or insulin. Glucagon is a ligand for a specific G-protein linked receptor called glucagon receptor, which activates the Gs protein-adenylate cyclase-cAMP-protein kinase A signaling pathway to regulate carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Two of the other peptides, glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon-like peptide-2, are produced by the intestinal L-cells and secreted in response to nutrient ingestion, where they function as important regulators of glucose metabolism and intestinal physiology. Glucagon-like peptide-1 enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, and promotes satiety, making it a key incretin hormone for maintaining postprandial glucose levels. Glucagon-like peptide-2 primarily acts on the gut, promoting intestinal growth, enhancing nutrient absorption, and supporting mucosal integrity. Both peptides exert their effects through specific G-protein-coupled receptors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor and glucagon-like peptide-2 receptor, respectively, and analogs of glucagon-like peptide-1 are used clinically for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The fourth peptide is similar to glicentin, an active enteroglucagon produced in the intestinal L-cells. This peptide is thought to have multiple roles in gastrointestinal physiology, including stimulating intestinal growth, modulating gut motility, and influencing the secretion of other gut hormones. Although its precise functions are less well-characterized than those of glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1, or glucagon-like peptide-2, glicentin-like peptides may contribute to postprandial digestive processes and the coordination of nutrient absorption. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2026]
Expression: Biased expression in pancreas (RPKM 204.8), small intestine (RPKM 57.7) and 2 other tissues See more
Orthologs: all
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Genomic context

Location:: 2q24.2

Exon count:: 6

Annotation release	Status	Assembly	Chr	Location
RS_2025_08	current	GRCh38.p14 (GCF_000001405.40)	2	NC_000002.12 (162142882..162152247, complement)
RS_2025_08	current	T2T-CHM13v2.0 (GCF_009914755.1)	2	NC_060926.1 (162599534..162608895, complement)
RS_2024_09	previous assembly	GRCh37.p13 (GCF_000001405.25)	2	NC_000002.11 (162999392..163008757, complement)

Chromosome 2 - NC_000002.12 Genomic Context describing neighboring genes

Genomic regions, transcripts, and products

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Go to reference sequence details

Genomic Sequence:

Go to nucleotide: Graphics FASTA GenBank

Expression

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See details

Project title: Tissue-specific circular RNA induction during human fetal development
Description: 35 human fetal samples from 6 tissues (3 - 7 replicates per tissue) collected between 10 and 20 weeks gestational time were sequenced using Illumina TruSeq Stranded Total RNA
BioProject: PRJNA270632
Publication: PMID 26076956
Analysis date: Mon Apr 2 22:54:59 2018

Bibliography

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GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?

GLP-1 programs the neurovascular landscape.
Title: GLP-1 programs the neurovascular landscape.
The Possible Involvement of Glucagon-like Peptide-2 in the Regulation of Food Intake through the Gut-Brain Axis.
Title: The Possible Involvement of Glucagon-like Peptide-2 in the Regulation of Food Intake through the Gut-Brain Axis.
Beyond insulin: The Intriguing role of GLP-1 in Parkinson's disease.
Title: Beyond insulin: The Intriguing role of GLP-1 in Parkinson's disease.
IUPHAR review - Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and substance use disorders: An emerging pharmacotherapeutic target.
Title: IUPHAR review - Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and substance use disorders: An emerging pharmacotherapeutic target.
Evaluating glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon as key regulators of insulin secretion in the pancreatic islet.
Title: Evaluating glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon as key regulators of insulin secretion in the pancreatic islet.
Glucagon-Like Peptide 1: An Introduction and Possible Implications for Neuropsychiatry.
Title: Glucagon-Like Peptide 1: An Introduction and Possible Implications for Neuropsychiatry.
Crosstalk between glucagon-like peptide 1 and gut microbiota in metabolic diseases.
Title: Crosstalk between glucagon-like peptide 1 and gut microbiota in metabolic diseases.
Association of GLP-1 secretion with parameters of glycemic control in women after gestational diabetes mellitus.
Title: Association of GLP-1 secretion with parameters of glycemic control in women after gestational diabetes mellitus.
Colonic L-cell impairment in aged subjects with type 2 diabetes leads to diminished GLP-1 production.
Title: Colonic L-cell impairment in aged subjects with type 2 diabetes leads to diminished GLP-1 production.
Postprandial plasma GLP-1 levels are elevated in individuals with postprandial hypoglycaemia following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass - a systematic review.
Title: Postprandial plasma GLP-1 levels are elevated in individuals with postprandial hypoglycaemia following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass - a systematic review.

Submit: New GeneRIF Correction See all GeneRIFs (304)

Phenotypes

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Find tests for this gene in the NIH Genetic Testing Registry (GTR)

Review eQTL and phenotype association data in this region using PheGenI

Variation

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See variants in ClinVar

See studies and variants in dbVar

See Variation Viewer (GRCh37.p13)

Interactions

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Products	Interactant	Other Gene	Complex	Source	Pubs	Description

General gene information

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Markers

RH68969 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:74769

Gcg (e-PCR), detects polymorphism
- UniSTS:507947

GDB:181269 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:155230

WI-18974 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:80063

GCG (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:105160

Gcg (e-PCR), detects polymorphism
- UniSTS:105160

D2S2553 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:39909

SHGC-89190 (e-PCR)
- UniSTS:170473

Gene Ontology Provided by GOA

Function	Evidence Code	Pubs
enables gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor binding	IPI Inferred from Physical Interaction more info	PubMed
enables glucagon receptor binding	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
enables hormone activity	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
enables hormone activity	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
enables hormone activity	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
enables identical protein binding	IPI Inferred from Physical Interaction more info	PubMed
enables protein binding	IPI Inferred from Physical Interaction more info	PubMed
enables receptor ligand activity	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
enables receptor ligand activity	TAS Traceable Author Statement more info
enables signaling receptor binding	TAS Traceable Author Statement more info	PubMed

Process	Evidence Code	Pubs
involved_in G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway	TAS Traceable Author Statement more info	PubMed
involved_in adenylate cyclase-activating G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in adenylate cyclase-modulating G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
involved_in cellular response to glucagon stimulus	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in feeding behavior	TAS Traceable Author Statement more info	PubMed
involved_in glucose homeostasis	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
involved_in glucose homeostasis	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in glucose homeostasis	ISS Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity more info
involved_in intracellular glucose homeostasis	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
involved_in intracellular glucose homeostasis	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
involved_in negative regulation of apoptotic process	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in positive regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in positive regulation of calcium ion import	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in positive regulation of gluconeogenesis	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
involved_in positive regulation of insulin secretion	TAS Traceable Author Statement more info
involved_in positive regulation of insulin secretion involved in cellular response to glucose stimulus	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
involved_in positive regulation of insulin secretion involved in cellular response to glucose stimulus	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in regulation of insulin secretion	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
involved_in regulation of insulin secretion	ISS Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity more info
involved_in response to activity	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
involved_in response to activity	ISS Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity more info
involved_in signal transduction	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info

Component	Evidence Code	Pubs
located_in cytoplasm	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
located_in endoplasmic reticulum lumen	TAS Traceable Author Statement more info
is_active_in extracellular region	IBA Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor more info
is_active_in extracellular region	IDA Inferred from Direct Assay more info	PubMed
located_in extracellular region	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
located_in extracellular region	ISS Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity more info
located_in extracellular region	TAS Traceable Author Statement more info
is_active_in plasma membrane	IEA Inferred from Electronic Annotation more info
located_in secretory granule lumen	TAS Traceable Author Statement more info

General protein information

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Preferred Names: pro-glucagon

Names: glicentin-related polypeptide; glucagon-like peptide 1; glucagon-like peptide 2; incretin; preproglucagon

NCBI Reference Sequences (RefSeq)

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RefSeqs maintained independently of Annotated Genomes

These reference sequences exist independently of genome builds. Explain

These reference sequences are curated independently of the genome annotation cycle, so their versions may not match the RefSeq versions in the current genome build. Identify version mismatches by comparing the version of the RefSeq in this section to the one reported in Genomic regions, transcripts, and products above.