Amylin Peptide

Amylin is a pancreatic islet peptide with a role in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. It is predominantly found in the beta cells of the pancreas and to a lesser extent in the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. Amylin appears to work with insulin to regulate plasma/glucose concentrations in the bloodstream, suppressing the secretion of glucagon after eating and restraining the rate of gastric emptying. Patients with diabetes mellitus have a deficiency in the secretion of glucagon that parallels the deficiency of insulin secretion. The administration of amylin to diabetics restores function in a dose-dependent way. Two fragments of human amylin have been identified in vivo. One fragment contains residues 17 to 37 of amylin and the other contains residues 24 to 37. Amylin (24-37) peptide fragment forms amyloid deposits, however, smaller fragments eg residues 20 to 29, are also capable of generating amyloid.