Who discovered exendin 4?
Exendin-4 was uncovered in 1990 by endocrinologist Dr. John Eng at the Veterans Administration Center in the Bronx, NY.
What is exendin?
About Exendin: Exedin, or Exedin-4, is a peptide-1 receptor agonist protein. It is typically found and produced in the gut of a specific type of reptile found in desert surroundings. This peptide has commonly been used in many Diabetes Type 2 treatment discoveries as a way of facilitating glucose control.
Where was the Gila monster discovered?
Gila River basin
Easily identified by their black bodies marked with dramatic patterns of pink, orange, or yellow, Gilas are found in the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts of the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico. They take their name from Arizona’s Gila River basin, where they were first discovered.
Who discovered the Gila monster?
The suspectum because the man who named it—paleontologist E.D. Cope, in 1869—at first only suspected that the lizard was venomous. It took another half-century to confirm it. With their studs they’re well armored, but a determined coyote can still rip one apart, and free-ranging cats often kill immature Gila monsters.
How does a Gila monster help diabetes?
The lizard hormone remains effective much longer than the human hormone, and thus its synthetic form helps diabetics keep their blood sugar levels from getting too high. Exenatide also slows the emptying of the stomach and causes a decrease in appetite, which is how it leads to weight loss.
Is Exenatide the same as exendin-4?
Exendin-4, subsequently renamed exenatide, was the first FDA approved “incretin mimetic”; liraglutide, a long-acting DPP-4-resistant GLP-1 receptor agonist, was the second.
What is exendin based therapies?
Exendin-based therapies: Exendin-4 is a naturally occurring peptide of 39-amino acids obtained from the venom of “Heloderma lizard venom,” bearing a 53% homology to human GLP-1. It is resistant to DPP-IV-mediated inactivation.
How many Gila monsters are left in the world?
The total population size is unknown, but the most recent information available indicates that there are probably at least several thousand adult Gila monsters rangewide and possibly 450-800 individuals in Utah. The current population trend is suspected to be declining throughout the U.S., including Utah.
How fast can a Gila monster run?
about 1 mph
This lizard does use its venom to kill its prey. Gila monsters can only run about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
What kind of venom does the Gila monster have?
The component of the Gila monster’s venom of greatest scientific interest is a peptide known as exendin-4. With the help of researchers in the NIA Intramural Research Program, investigators developed a synthetic form of the component—exenantide—which is now used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Is there a diabetes drug from the Gila monster?
The venom of the Gila monster, pictured here in Saguaro National Park in Arizona, was the source for a diabetes drug discovered by VA researchers. (Photo: ©iStock/Jay Pierstorff) VA researchers discovered a new diabetes drug from an unusual source.
Are there any living relatives of the Gila monster?
The Gila monster has one close living relative, the beaded lizard (H. horridum), as well as many extinct relatives in the Helodermatidae, the evolutionary history of which may be traced back to the Cretaceous period.
When was exendin 4 approved for human use?
Dr. Egan and her collaborators later found that exendin-4 increased insulin production and protected the insulin-producing cells against damage in humans, and that its effects lasted for hours. After further clinical testing, it was deemed to be safe and effective, and it received FDA approval in 2005. But the story doesn’t end there.