Epithalon¶

Identification¶

Property	Value
CAS Number	307297-39-8
Molecular Formula	C₁₄H₂₂N₄O₉
Molecular Weight	~390.4 Da
Sequence	Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly-OH
Amino Acid Count	4
Appearance	White to off-white lyophilized powder
Purity Standard	≥99% by HPLC
Solubility	Soluble in sterile water or PBS
Storage	2–8°C, desiccated, protect from light

Category: Nootropic & Anti-Aging

Catalog SKU: PSH-EPITH-10MG

Research Background¶

Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is a synthetic tetrapeptide designed by Prof. Vladimir Khavinson at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Derived from epithalamin — a polypeptide complex extracted from bovine pineal glands — through structure-activity optimization to identify the minimal active sequence. The resulting tetrapeptide has become one of the most studied peptide bioregulators in longevity research, with published data demonstrating telomerase activation via hTERT gene expression and telomere length preservation.

Key Mechanisms¶

Mechanism	Details
hTERT Activation	Upregulation of telomerase catalytic subunit gene expression → telomere maintenance
Pineal Peptide Activity	Epithalamin-derived → pinealocyte function preservation → circadian melatonin rhythm
Gene Expression Modulation	Chromatin remodeling at senescence-associated gene loci
Anti-Oxidative	Reduced ROS; increased antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, catalase)

Research Focus Areas¶

Telomerase Activation¶

hTERT gene expression → telomere length maintenance in somatic cells

Replicative Lifespan¶

Cellular senescence delay; population doubling increase

Pineal Regulation¶

Pineal peptide extract-derived → circadian and neuroendocrine modulation

Aging Biomarkers¶

Melatonin rhythm preservation; oxidative stress marker reduction

Available Configurations¶

Configuration	Content	Best For
Standard Kit	10 mg × 10 vials	Longevity research; evaluation
Bulk Kit	30 mg × 10 vials	Chronic aging models; repeat orders
Custom	Custom mg × custom vials	OEM; private-label

Tiered Wholesale Pricing¶

Volume	Discount	For
1 kit	List price	Evaluation; competitive analysis
5+ kits	10% off	Initial portfolio expansion
20+ kits	20% off	Mid-size distributors
50+ kits	30% off	Regional distributors

Quality Specifications¶

Parameter	Method	Criterion
Purity	HPLC at 214 nm, C18 column	≥99.0% peak area
Identity (MW)	ESI-MS	~390.4 ± 0.5 Da
Appearance	Visual inspection	White to off-white powder
Peptide Content	Amino acid analysis	≥80% net peptide
Residual Moisture	Karl Fischer	≤3%

Frequently Asked Questions¶

Q1: What is the evidence for Epithalon's effect on telomeres?¶

Khavinson et al. demonstrated that Epithalon activates hTERT gene expression in human somatic cell cultures, leading to telomere length maintenance and extended replicative lifespan. The proposed mechanism involves chromatin remodeling at the hTERT promoter region.

Q2: How does Epithalon relate to epithalamin?¶

Epithalamin is a crude polypeptide complex from bovine pineal glands. Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is the synthetic tetrapeptide capturing the active sequence identified through systematic fragmentation of epithalamin.

Q3: Is Epithalon the same as Epitalon?¶

Yes. 'Epithalon,' 'Epitalon,' and 'AEDG peptide' all refer to the same Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly tetrapeptide. Name variations arise from transliteration differences from Russian (Эпиталон).

Q4: What is the pineal peptide hypothesis of aging?¶

The hypothesis proposes that the pineal gland produces peptide bioregulators coordinating circadian rhythms, neuroendocrine function, and cellular maintenance. Age-related pineal decline → reduced signaling → accelerated aging. Epithalon is proposed to restore this signaling deficiency.

Q5: What purity specification applies to Epithalon?¶

≥99% by HPLC at 214 nm. As a simple tetrapeptide, synthesis is straightforward but the C-terminal glycine requires careful handling to avoid racemization. ESI-MS and amino acid analysis in every COA.

Key Research References¶

Reference	PMID	Key Finding
Khavinson VKh et al. "Effect of epitalon on the lifespan increase in Drosophila melanogaster." Mech Ageing Dev. 2000;120(1-3):141–149.	11087911	Epithalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) extended lifespan in Drosophila via telomerase activation; established the pineal peptide-lifespan connection
Khavinson VKh et al. "Induction of telomerase activity by peptide bioregulators in human somatic cells." Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003;135(6):605–608.	12937682	Epithalon activates hTERT gene expression in human somatic cells, promoting telomere length maintenance and extended replicative lifespan

Stability & Storage¶

Condition	Degradation Profile
Lyophilized Storage	Stable; standard storage conditions. 24 months at 2–8°C in desiccated environment, protect from light
Neutral pH (6.0–7.5)	Stable; recommended for reconstitution in sterile water or PBS
Racemization Risk	C-terminal glycine susceptible to racemization during synthesis; HPLC confirms correct stereochemistry in every batch
Reconstituted Solution	24 h at 2–8°C; aliquot and freeze at −20°C for extended use. Small tetrapeptide — no special handling beyond standard peptide storage

Source & Purchase¶

For research-grade EPITHALON and related compounds in this category, visit the PeptideSourceHub category page for bulk pricing and available specifications.

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