Des-octanoyl (or Des-acyl) Ghrelin is the unacylated precursor peptide to Ghrelin. Des-octanoyl Ghrelin is converted to Ghrelin by the enzymic addition of an octanyl group. Studies indicate that the amount of Des-octanoyl Ghrelin in the circulation is approximately 20 fold higher than that of Ghrelin. Des-octanoyl Ghrelin is not an agonist of the Ghrelin growth hormone receptor 1a (GHSR1a).