Epithalon vs MOTS-c

At a glance

Epithalon

A synthetic tetrapeptide modelled on the pineal peptide epithalamin. A staple of telomere and circadian-regulation research.

Epithalon is a 4-residue peptide with the molecular formula C14H22N4O9 and a molecular weight of 390.35 g/mol, CAS registry number 307297-39-8. The vial is sealed and lot-numbered, holds lyophilised powder, and is kept at −20°C protected from light until it ships.

Epithalon is the tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly. It was developed by the group of Vladimir Khavinson at the St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. It holds no regulatory approval outside Russia.

The 2 papers cited below are 1 animal study and 1 cell-culture study. None is a controlled study of Epithalon in humans, and this page does not claim otherwise.

Cited on the Epithalon page

1. Khavinson VKh et al. (2003). Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells. Bull Exp Biol Med. PubMed 12937682 · SummaryHuman fetal fibroblast cultures: the tetrapeptide induced telomerase activity and telomere elongation.
2. Anisimov VN et al. (2003). Effect of Epitalon on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female Swiss-derived SHR mice. Biogerontology. PubMed 14501183 · SummaryFemale SHR mice: slowed several biomarkers of ageing and reduced spontaneous tumour incidence over the lifespan study.

MOTS-c

A 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA. Studied for its role as a signalling molecule between the mitochondria and the nucleus.

MOTS-c is a 16-residue peptide with the molecular formula C101H152N28O22S2 and a molecular weight of 2174.6 g/mol, CAS registry number 1627580-64-6. The vial is sealed and lot-numbered, holds lyophilised powder, and is kept at −20°C protected from light until it ships.

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA rather than the nuclear genome, which makes it unusual among research peptides. It was first described in 2015.

The 1 paper cited below is 1 animal study. None is a controlled study of MOTS-c in humans, and this page does not claim otherwise.

Cited on the MOTS-c page

1. Lee C et al. (2015). The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metab. PubMed 25738459 · SummaryMOTS-c, encoded in mitochondrial DNA, acted on skeletal muscle via AMPK and prevented diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice.

Handling the two side by side

Epithalon

• Lyophilised powder is stable for years at −20°C in the dark and tolerates days at ambient temperature in transit.

MOTS-c

• The sequence contains methionine, which oxidises in solution. Keep reconstituted material out of light and recap the vial promptly.
• The sequence contains tryptophan, which is light-sensitive. Store solutions in the dark.
• The sequence contains asparagine or glutamine, which deamidate slowly in neutral-to-alkaline solution. Refrigerate solutions and use them within the window on the storage guide.
• Lyophilised powder is stable for years at −20°C in the dark and tolerates days at ambient temperature in transit.

Where to go next

• Epithalon and MOTS-c: full specifications, stability notes, references and the certificate for the lot in stock.
• Cognitive and longevity peptide comparison: how the whole group compares.
• How to read a certificate of analysis and the certificates page.