Top 10 Research Peptides: A Laboratory Overview

All ten are supplied as lyophilized solids and share a common analytical core: identity by mass spectrometry, purity by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), appearance, fill amount and lot number.

BPC-157 is a 15-residue linear peptide, GEPPPGKPADDAGLV (C62H98N16O22, approximately 1419.5 g/mol), corresponding to part of a protein originally described in gastric juice. With no dedicated receptor identified, it is studied through pathways: VEGFR2 and the Akt–eNOS axis in endothelial cells, nitric oxide signaling, and FAK-paxillin signaling in fibroblasts. Lab characterization: MS identity at the expected mass, RP-HPLC purity. See BPC-157.

Thymosin beta-4 is a 43-residue, N-terminally acetylated peptide (approximately 4.96 kDa) and a major G-actin-sequestering protein. Its central LKKTETQ motif forms part of the actin-binding region; some TB-500 material is the Ac-LKKTETQ fragment rather than the full sequence, so the COA should state which. It is used to study actin polymerization, cell migration in vitro, and ILK/Akt and Tie2 signaling. See TB-500.

CJC-1295 is a GHRH(1-29) analog with four substitutions (D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15, Leu27) that increase resistance to enzymatic cleavage. The "with DAC" form adds a C-terminal lysine bearing a maleimidopropionyl group that binds serum albumin; the "no DAC" form (modified GRF(1-29)) lacks it. It is a GHRH receptor agonist, used to study class B GPCR signaling through Gs, cAMP and protein kinase A. See the CJC-1295 (no DAC) / Ipamorelin blend.

Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide, Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 (approximately 711.9 g/mol), and an agonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR-1a), the ghrelin receptor. GHSR-1a is a class A GPCR coupling mainly to Gq/11 and intracellular calcium release. Ipamorelin was characterized in early pharmacology as a selective GHSR agonist. See Ipamorelin.

Sermorelin is GHRH(1-29)-NH2, the shortest fragment of growth hormone-releasing hormone that retains full receptor activity. As the unmodified reference fragment, it is a natural baseline in structure–activity studies at the GHRH receptor alongside CJC-1295 and Tesamorelin. See Sermorelin.

Tesamorelin is the full 44-residue GHRH sequence with a trans-3-hexenoyl group attached to the N-terminal tyrosine, which stabilizes it against N-terminal enzymatic cleavage. It acts at the GHRH receptor and is used in GHRH receptor pharmacology alongside shorter analogs. See Tesamorelin.

IGF-1 LR3 (Long R3 IGF-1) is an 83-amino-acid analog of insulin-like growth factor 1 (approximately 9.1 kDa), comprising the 70-residue IGF-1 sequence with arginine substituted for glutamate at position 3 and a 13-residue N-terminal extension. These changes greatly reduce binding to IGF-binding proteins. It activates the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), a receptor tyrosine kinase signaling through IRS-1, PI3K–Akt–mTOR and Ras–MAPK, and is widely used in cell culture. It is produced recombinantly; a COA typically includes SDS-PAGE or HPLC purity and MS identity. See IGF-1 LR3.

Mechano growth factor (MGF) refers to the E-domain peptide of the IGF-1Ec splice variant of the IGF-1 gene. PEG-MGF is a synthetic version of this C-terminal E-domain peptide conjugated to polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is used to study IGF-1 splice-variant biology and E-domain peptide signaling in cell culture. Because PEG is polydisperse, mass spectra of PEGylated peptides show a distribution of masses rather than a single peak, which should be reflected on the certificate of analysis.

Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid, N-terminally acetylated peptide (Ac-SDAAVDTSSEITTKDLKEKKEVVEEAEN, approximately 3.1 kDa) derived from the precursor prothymosin alpha. It is studied in immunology research in relation to Toll-like receptor signaling, notably TLR2 and TLR9, in dendritic cells and other antigen-presenting cells. Despite the shared name, it is structurally unrelated to thymosin beta-4. See Thymosin Alpha-1.

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide, MRWQEMGYIFYPRKLR (approximately 2.17 kDa), encoded by a short open reading frame within the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene (MT-RNR1). It is used to study mitochondrial-nuclear communication, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and the folate-methionine pathway in cultured cells. See MOTS-c.

For every peptide on this list, a certificate of analysis should report lot number, identity by mass spectrometry, purity by RP-HPLC, appearance and fill amount. Laboratories running cell-based assays may also ask for peptide content and endotoxin data. Lyophilized material is stored sealed, dry and protected from light at −20 °C; vials are equilibrated to room temperature before opening, and dissolved peptide is aliquoted to avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Browse the full catalogue in our shop.

Purity and identity data for each lot are published on our Certificates of Analysis page, and our research-only disclaimer sets out terms of sale. NuRev supplies these peptides for laboratory research use only; it is not for human or veterinary use.