SELANK

Description

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, abbreviated TKPRPGP, with a molecular weight of 751.87 g/mol as the free base. Like Semax it originates from the Russian peptide research programme and is registered for clinical use there, though it holds no approval in the United States or Europe.

Structural basis

Selank is built on tuftsin, a naturally occurring tetrapeptide of sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg that derives from the heavy chain of immunoglobulin G. Tuftsin is best characterised as an immunomodulatory fragment with described activity on phagocytes.

To that parent sequence Selank appends Pro-Gly-Pro at the C-terminus. This is the same stabilising extension used in Semax, and it serves the same purpose: tuftsin alone is degraded rapidly, while the extended form is substantially more stable. If you sell or study both compounds it is worth recognising that they share a design strategy applied to two entirely different parent sequences, one immunological and one derived from ACTH.

Research background

As with Semax, the literature is concentrated in Russian institutions and journals, and independent replication outside that setting is limited relative to the volume of publication.

The most frequently cited area concerns GABAergic signalling. Published work has examined the peptide in relation to GABA receptor expression and binding in rodent brain tissue, which is the mechanism most often proposed for observations in anxiety-related behavioural paradigms.

A second area concerns serotonergic metabolism, with studies reporting changes in serotonin turnover in animal models.

A third area reflects the tuftsin parentage and concerns immunomodulatory observations, including effects on interleukin expression in cell systems.

A fourth area concerns enkephalin degradation, where published work has examined the peptide’s relationship to the enzymatic breakdown of endogenous opioid peptides.

Registration in Russia does not equate to the evidence standard required by other regulators, and no authority in the United States or European Union has approved Selank. The literature should be weighted with its geographic concentration in mind.

Storage and handling

Store the lyophilized powder at 36 to 46 °F (2 to 8 °C), desiccated and protected from light. Allow the vial to reach room temperature before opening.

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

129954-34-3 (free base)

Molecular Formula

C₃₃H₅₇N₁₁O₉

Molecular Weight

751.87 g/mol

PubChem CID

11765600

Chain Length

7 amino acids (heptapeptide)

Sequence

Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro
TKPRPGP

Structural Basis

Tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) extended with Pro-Gly-Pro

Also Known As

TP-7, Selanc

Physical Form

Lyophilized white powder

Storage

36–46 °F (2–8 °C), desiccated and protected from light

Chemical Structure