Motilin was isolated from the duodenojejunal mucosa and
found to control the motor activity of the digestive tract. It is
a potential therapeutic drug target for improving digestive
dysmotility. Motilin was isolated from a side fraction produced
during the purification of secretin in 1971 and was
found to stimulate contractility in the fundus of the stomach. Complete porcine and human motilin were purified
and sequenced in 1973 and 1983 respectively.
