Gastrin-releasing peptideGRP, is a neuropeptide, a regulatory molecule encoded in the human by the GRPgene. GRP has been implicated in a number of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Most notably, GRP stimulates the release of gastrin from the G cells of the stomach.
GRP encodes a number of bombesin-like peptides.[5][6][7][8] Its 148-amino acidpreproprotein, following cleavage of a signal peptide, is further processed to produce either the 27-amino acid gastrin-releasing peptide or the 10-amino acid neuromedin C.[9] These smaller peptides regulate numerous functions of the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems, including release of gastrointestinal hormones, smooth muscle cell contraction, and epithelial cell proliferation.[5]