Bombesin

Bombesin is a 14-amino acid peptide, originally from frog skin, that strongly activates bombesin receptors to study gut hormones and cell signaling.

Length: 14 amino acids
Half-life: Rapidly cleared from plasma, with a half-life of a few minutes.
Mechanism: It is a potent agonist of bombesin receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors, particularly the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR/BB2).
Studied in: Used in physiological and oncological research to study gastrin release, smooth muscle contraction, and the role of its receptors in certain cell proliferation models.

About Bombesin

Bombesin is a tetradecapeptide originally isolated from the skin of the frog Bombina bombina. It is the amphibian homolog of mammalian gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B (NMB), sharing a conserved C-terminal sequence that is crucial for receptor activation. This peptide is a reference compound with a clinical history.

In research, bombesin serves as a powerful pharmacological tool for studying the bombesin receptor family (BB1, BB2, BB3). It is widely used to investigate physiological processes such as gastrointestinal hormone secretion, pancreatic enzyme release, and smooth muscle contraction in ex vivo tissue preparations. Its ability to stimulate specific receptors also makes it a valuable reagent in cellular proliferation and oncological studies where these receptors are overexpressed.

Laboratory notes

The amidated C-terminal portion of the peptide is essential for its receptor-binding and biological activity.
Reconstitute in sterile water or a weak acidic buffer (e.g., 0.1% acetic acid) to improve solubility and stability.
Bombesin receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract of mammals.

Storage and reconstitution basics: storage guide.

Questions about Bombesin

What are the mammalian equivalents of bombesin?

The main mammalian counterparts are gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin B (NMB), which bind to the same family of G protein-coupled receptors.

Which receptor is most strongly activated by bombesin?

Bombesin is a high-affinity agonist for the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), also known as the BB2 receptor.

Why is bombesin used in some cancer research models?

Certain types of tumor cells overexpress bombesin receptors, and bombesin is used as a tool to study receptor signaling pathways and their role in cell proliferation in these laboratory models.

Is Bombesin for human use?

No. It is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and is not for human or animal consumption.

Related research peptides

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