Compound monograph
Liraglutide
Liraglutide is an acylated peptide analog of glucagon-like peptide-1, characterized against the GLP-1 receptor.
01
Identity & nomenclature
Liraglutide is an acylated peptide analog of glucagon-like peptide-1, characterized against the GLP-1 receptor.
PubChem lists NN2211 as a development identifier for the liraglutide molecular record.
Declared aliases and development codes: NN2211.
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Molecular properties
| Molecular formula | C172H265N43O51 |
|---|---|
| Molecular mass | 3751 Da |
| CAS Registry Number | 204656-20-2 |
| PubChem CID | 16134956 |
| UNII | 839I73S42A |
| One-letter sequence | HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAKEFIAWLVRGRG |
| Three-letter sequence | His–Ala–Glu–Gly–Thr–Phe–Thr–Ser–Asp–Val–Ser–Ser–Tyr–Leu–Glu–Gly–Gln–Ala–Ala–Lys–Glu–Phe–Ile–Ala–Trp–Leu–Val–Arg–Gly–Arg–Gly |
| Terminal groups | Free N-terminus; Free C-terminal carboxyl |
Thirty-one main-chain residues numbered 1-31, which are GLP-1 residues 7-37: a GLP-1 position number is the array index plus six. Arg28 is the Lys34Arg substitution. The Lys20 side chain (Lys26 in GLP-1 numbering) carries an N-alpha-palmitoyl-L-glutamyl group joined through the glutamate gamma-carboxyl; that glutamate belongs to the side chain, not the main chain, and the one-letter string cannot show it. PubChem CID 16134956 encodes this structure with a free N-terminus and a free C-terminal carboxyl. Summing the thirty-one residues and removing thirty waters, then adding the glutamyl unit and the palmitoyl group less the two waters of their amide bonds, gives C172H265N43O51 and 3751.26 Da, reproducing the recorded formula.
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Structural characteristics
Built on the GLP-1(7-37) scaffold by a different strategy from semaglutide. Using native GLP-1 numbering, alanine 8 is retained, lysine 34 becomes arginine, and the lysine 26 side chain carries a C16 palmitoyl group through a single gamma-glutamyl spacer. PubChem CID 16134956 specifies free His1 and Gly31 termini and a Lys20 N-epsilon linkage to the gamma-carboxyl of N-alpha-palmitoyl-L-glutamate, corresponding to His7, Lys26 and Gly37 in GLP-1 numbering. Semaglutide's position-8 substitution and its longer diacid and spacer are not features of liraglutide. The related GLP-1(7-37) entry identifies the native structural parent. Receptor-dependence work using fluorescently labeled liraglutide reported binding within circumventricular organs and uptake into arcuate nucleus neurons expressing proopiomelanocortin and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript. Binding was not observed in GLP-1 receptor knockout mice, establishing that brain uptake in that model was receptor-dependent.
- K28R (Lys34Arg in GLP-1 numbering)
- Lys20 side chain N-epsilon-acylated with N-alpha-palmitoyl-L-glutamyl through the glutamate gamma-carboxyl (Lys26 in GLP-1 numbering)
Terminal features: Free N-terminus, Free C-terminal carboxyl.
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Molecular targets & mechanisms
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Analytical considerations
Identity assessment must account for both the peptide backbone and the acyl modification represented in the PubChem molecular record, as for other acylated GLP-1 analogs in this library.
What the studies reported
Each finding describes one cited study in its stated model. These observations are specific to that study and do not establish effects in other settings.
Animal studies
Rats in neural GLP-1 receptor experiments
Secher et al. found that liraglutide-associated body-weight reduction in rats did not depend on GLP-1 receptors in the vagus nerve, area postrema or paraventricular nucleus.
Reference [1]Mice in fluorescent-liraglutide brain-localization experiments
Secher et al. detected fluorescently labeled liraglutide in circumventricular organs and bound to arcuate-nucleus neurons and other discrete hypothalamic sites in mice.
Reference [1]Glp1r-knockout mice
Secher et al. observed no brain binding of labeled liraglutide in Glp1r-knockout mice.
Reference [1]Mouse arcuate-nucleus POMC/CART neurons
Secher et al. found that liraglutide was internalized in arcuate-nucleus neurons expressing POMC and CART in mice.
Reference [1]
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Verified bibliography
Cited studies by type
The 5 papers this record cites, counted by the kind of work each reports. A count is the size of this record's selection, not of the research that exists, and says nothing about results, safety, effectiveness or approval.
A paper can report more than one kind of work. Each count opens those papers in the bibliography. Compare every record on the Evidence Map.
Reference 1
The arcuate nucleus mediates GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide-dependent weight loss.Secher A, Jelsing J, Baquero AF, Hecksher-Sørensen J, Cowley MA, Dalbøge LS, Hansen G, Grove KL, Pyke C, Raun K, Schäffer L, Tang-Christensen M, Verma S, Witgen BM, Vrang N, Bjerre Knudsen L
The Journal of clinical investigation · 2014-09-09 · Journal Article
currentReference 2
Pharmacology, physiology, and mechanisms of incretin hormone action.Campbell JE, Drucker DJ
Cell metabolism · 2013-05-16 · Review
currentReference 3
Cryo-EM structure of the activated GLP-1 receptor in complex with a G protein.Zhang Y, Sun B, Feng D, Hu H, Chu M, Qu Q, Tarrasch JT, Li S, Sun Kobilka T, Kobilka BK, Skiniotis G
Nature · 2017-05-24 · Journal Article
currentReference 4
Structural basis for GLP-1 receptor activation by LY3502970, an orally active nonpeptide agonist.Kawai T, Sun B, Yoshino H, Feng D, Suzuki Y, Fukazawa M, Nagao S, Wainscott DB, Showalter AD, Droz BA, Kobilka TS, Coghlan MP, Willard FS, Kawabe Y, Kobilka BK, Sloop KW
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2020-11-11 · Journal Article
currentReference 5
Structural basis for ligand recognition of incretin receptors.Underwood CR, Parthier C, Reedtz-Runge S
Vitamins and hormones · 2010 · Review
current
Study models of these references
What kind of experiment each cited paper reports, taken from its abstract unless marked. Not a summary of results.
| Reference | Study models |
|---|---|
| Secher A et al. 2014 | Study models reported: in vitro; animal (rat, mouse) · from the abstract |
| Campbell JE et al. 2013 | Review article |
| Zhang Y et al. 2017 | Study models reported: in vitro · from the abstract |
| Kawai T et al. 2020 | Study models reported: in vitro; animal (mouse, rat, cynomolgus monkey) · from the full text |
| Underwood CR et al. 2010 | Review article |
Compare
Record history
Published 2026-09-04.
- : Sequence and structure
- : Sequence and structure
- : References
Each entry names the parts of this record that changed on that date. Changes to links between records and to catalogue links are not listed. This history covers the tracked record fields; study findings are not listed here.
Cite this record: Purely Peptides Research Library. Liraglutide. Published 2026-09-04; updated 2026-10-14. https://purelypeptides.org/research/compounds/liraglutide/
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Methodology & citation verification
Reference identity is checked against official PubMed metadata. Local deterministic receipts bind each normalized title and canonical metadata record to its verification date. Scientific values remain absent when an authoritative source has not been verified.
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