Research Overview
Epithalon, also written Epitalon, is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG), molecular weight 390.35 g/mol, CAS 307297-39-8. It was originally derived from the bovine pineal extract Epithalamin during work led by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.
AEDG is now produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis and is supplied as a lyophilised white powder. Each Origin Research vial contains 10 mg of Epithalon at 99.3% HPLC purity, validated by mass spectrometry. The peptide is intended strictly for in vitro and preclinical laboratory research, including cell-culture work, model-organism studies and analytical assays.
It is not a medicine, dietary supplement or cosmetic and is not intended for human or veterinary use. Epithalon has been used as a reference tool compound across multiple Russian and international research programmes investigating pineal regulation, telomere biology, circadian-rhythm modelling and senescent cell behaviour.
Mechanism Studied in Research
Mechanistic research on Epithalon focuses on several converging pathways within longevity-related and pineal-axis biology. The most cited line of investigation concerns telomerase.
In study using human somatic cells, Khavinson and colleagues reported that exposure to AEDG was associated with induction of telomerase catalytic subunit expression and elongation of telomeric DNA under laboratory conditions.
Additional studies have explored modulation of transcription factors involved in neuroendocrine and circadian gene programmes, pineal signaling pathways, oxidative-stress response systems, and age-associated cellular processes.
Researchers continue to investigate Epithalon as a comparative model compound for studying peptide-mediated regulation of cellular aging pathways.
Research Applications
Telomere biology and replicative senescence. Epithalon has been used in primary human fibroblast and somatic cell models to investigate the relationship between short-peptide signaling, telomerase expression and telomere-length dynamics across serial passages.
Researchers typically pair AEDG exposure with TRF Southern blot, qPCR-based telomere length assays and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining to map dose-response curves and identify thresholds associated with cellular lifespan extension under laboratory conditions.
Researchers have also explored Epithalon in circadian-rhythm models, pineal regulation studies, oxidative-stress research, and neuroendocrine investigations involving melatonin-associated pathways.
Reconstitution Reference
Epithalon 10 mg is supplied as a sterile lyophilised powder under vacuum seal. Bacteriostatic water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol is the most common reconstitution solvent for research stocks, although sterile water for injection is also used when benzyl alcohol could interfere with downstream assays.
Researchers add 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to a 10 mg vial to prepare a stock concentration of 5 mg per mL. The diluent should be introduced slowly down the inner wall of the vial rather than directly onto the lyophilised cake.
The vial should be gently swirled until dissolved and never vigorously shaken. After reconstitution, researchers should record the reconstitution date, diluent type, concentration and batch number.
Storage and Handling
Lyophilised Epithalon is most stable when stored at minus 20 degrees Celsius in the original vial, protected from light and moisture.
Short transit at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius is acceptable, and Origin Research ships vials vacuum sealed with appropriate thermal protection worldwide for hot-temperature research zones.
Once reconstituted, working solutions should be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and used within approximately 28 days for stable assay performance. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles should be avoided.
References
[2] ()... PMID 20305273
[3] ()... PMID 12198578
[4] ()... PMID 21743767
[5] ()... PMID 27021085