PROSTAMAX

Description

Prostamax is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Lys-Glu-Asp-Pro, abbreviated KEDP, and a molecular weight of 487.5 g/mol. It belongs to the family of short peptide bioregulators developed within the Russian gerontology research programme, and is the prostate-directed member of that series.

Origin

Prostamax comes from the same lineage as Epitalon and Pinealon, both also in this catalogue: the peptide bioregulator programme associated with Vladimir Khavinson at the St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. That programme worked from the premise that short defined peptide sequences could act as tissue-selective regulatory signals, and produced a family of synthetic di-, tri- and tetrapeptides each associated with a particular tissue.

As with Epitalon, the synthetic tetrapeptide was developed as a defined-composition counterpart to an earlier tissue extract preparation. A single defined molecule is substantially more suitable for controlled laboratory work than an extract of variable composition.

Structure

The sequence is strongly charged. Lysine carries a positive side chain at physiological pH while glutamate and aspartate both carry negative ones, giving the peptide a highly polar character and ready aqueous solubility. Proline at the C-terminus introduces a conformational constraint, since its ring structure restricts backbone flexibility.

The molecular formula follows directly from the sequence: the four residues condensed with loss of three water molecules give C₂₀H₃₃N₅O₉ at 487.5 g/mol. The peptide contains no cysteine and no aromatic residues.

The absence of aromatic residues has a practical analytical consequence. With no tryptophan, tyrosine or phenylalanine, the peptide absorbs poorly in the near-UV range used for routine peptide detection, so quantification typically relies on detection at lower wavelengths.

A caution on the name

The name Prostamax is applied in the marketplace to more than one kind of material. Alongside the synthetic tetrapeptide described here, the same name is used for a peptide complex obtained by ultrafiltration from bovine prostate tissue, which is a mixture rather than a defined molecule, and for botanical supplement blends containing saw palmetto, lycopene and similar ingredients, which contain no peptide at all.

The identity given on this page describes the synthetic KEDP tetrapeptide. Confirm from the certificate of analysis for your lot that the material you receive is the defined peptide rather than a tissue extract, since the two require different experimental controls and a tissue extract cannot be expressed in molar terms.

Research background

Published work on KEDP is concentrated within the bioregulator programme and its associated groups, appearing largely in Russian and Georgian language journals, with limited independent replication relative to publication volume.

The most frequently cited area concerns chromatin structure. Published work has examined the peptide in relation to heterochromatin in human lymphocytes in situ, and separately in relation to chromatin decondensation in aged cell populations.

A second area concerns prostate tissue models, with rodent work addressing inflammatory and histological endpoints in experimentally induced prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia models.

No regulatory authority outside its country of origin has approved Prostamax for any use. Given the concentration of the literature in a small number of sources, treat independent verification as a priority rather than an afterthought.

Storage and handling

Store the lyophilized powder at −4 °F (−20 °C), desiccated and protected from light. Allow the vial to reach room temperature before opening.

Use 487.5 g/mol for molar calculations. At this low mass a given weight yields a large molar quantity relative to most products in this catalogue.

Purity and verification

Each lot is analysed by an independent laboratory, with identity confirmed by mass spectrometry and purity by HPLC. Test scope varies by lot; consult the certificate for the lot you receive.

Compound Identity

CAS Number

473578-47-1

Molecular Formula

C₂₀H₃₃N₅O₉

Molecular Weight

487.5 g/mol

PubChem CID

9848296

Chain Length

4 amino acids (tetrapeptide)

Sequence

L-Lysyl-L-glutamyl-L-aspartyl-L-proline
KEDP

Compound Class

Khavinson short peptide bioregulator

Also Known As

KEDP peptide, Lys-Glu-Asp-Pro

Physical Form

Lyophilized white powder

Storage

−4 °F (−20 °C), desiccated and protected from light

Chemical Structure