Motilin
Also known as: motilin peptide, MTL
Motilin is a 22 amino acid gut peptide derived from the human promotilin precursor, cataloged in UniProt under accession P12872. It is well known for regulating the fasting pattern of gut movement, the wave-like contractions that pass through the stomach and intestines between meals. Its chemical formula is C120H188N34O35S, with a mass of about 2699.09 daltons.
Quick Reference
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Overview
Hormone found in humans
Motilin is a 22-amino acid peptide hormone that in humans is encoded by the MLN gene.
Mechanism of Action
Motilin influences the gut indirectly, prompting rhythmic contractions in duodenal and colonic smooth muscle that maintain the pattern of movement between meals. Because of this timing role, it is often evaluated alongside other regulatory peptides like serotonin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and endothelin-1 in digestion studies.
Research History
Motilin is named after its link to motility, the movement of the digestive tract. Research on it focuses on the upper gastrointestinal tract, where it coordinates the rhythmic contractions of the duodenum and colon during the interdigestive phase, the quiet period between meals.
What Researchers Are Saying
Community Reports - Not Medical Advice
The following is aggregated from public forums, Reddit, and research communities. These are anecdotal reports from researchers only - not verified clinical data and not a recommendation of any kind.
Motilin (also known as motilin peptide, MTL) is studied within the peptide research community. Gastrointestinal peptide that regulates gastric motility and interdigestive migrating contractions studied in gastroparesis models.
Last updated October 28, 2026
Research status: active. Motilin appears across peptide research forums and academic literature. Researchers note this compound falls in the other category.
Last updated October 28, 2026
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