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Molecular Weight
Purity
Storage
Appearance
Solubility
01
Epitalon (also spelled Epithalon; sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, AEDG) is a synthetic tetrapeptide developed by the Khavinson group at the St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. It was designed as a synthetic counterpart to Epithalamin, a polypeptide extract of the pineal gland, and is the best-known peptide of the group’s short-peptide bioregulator series.
Published research, mostly from this research network, has examined Epitalon in cell models of telomerase gene expression, in pineal cell cultures and in long-term animal studies. Independent replication of many findings is limited. It is supplied as a lyophilized reference material for in vitro and analytical research only.
02
Epitalon is a short, acidic tetrapeptide.
Sequence
Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, with a free N-terminal amine and a free C-terminal acid.
Charge
The glutamate and aspartate side chains plus the C-terminus give three negative charges at neutral pH, against one positive charge at the N-terminus, so the net charge is about −2. It is highly polar and freely water-soluble.
Asp-Gly bond
The Asp3-Gly4 bond is the sequence most prone to succinimide (aspartimide) formation, which leads to isoaspartate variants. It is Epitalon’s main chemical weak point.
Family pattern
Epitalon shares its Ala-Glu-Asp start with Cardiogen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg) and Cortagen (Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro), differing only in the last residue.
No sensitive side chains
There is no aromatic residue, cysteine or methionine, so oxidation is not a concern.
03
Published research on Epitalon falls into several areas, mostly from one research network.
Telomerase expression
Studies in cultured human cells reported increased expression of the telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) and telomerase activity after Epitalon treatment, with reported effects on telomere length.
Pineal cell studies
Work in pinealocyte cultures examined effects on melatonin-related signalling and gene expression.
Peptide–DNA interactions
The group has reported Epitalon binding to DNA in vitro and proposes that short peptides regulate gene expression through direct chromatin interactions. This mechanism has not been independently established.
Animal studies
Long-term rodent studies from associated groups examined lifespan and tumour incidence; these are cited only as background.
These findings are cited as research context only; no effects are claimed for this material.
04
Telomerase expression assays
A test compound in cell-culture experiments measuring hTERT mRNA by RT-qPCR and telomerase activity by TRAP assay.
Bioregulator comparisons
A reference compound in studies comparing the short peptides of the Khavinson series.
Asp-Gly isomerisation
A minimal model for studying succinimide and isoaspartate formation at an Asp-Gly bond.
Polar peptide analytics
A test compound for HILIC and ion-pairing methods for short acidic peptides, and a convenient negative-mode MS standard.
05
Storage
Store the lyophilized powder at −20 °C, sealed and desiccated.
Asp-Gly isomerisation
Succinimide formation and conversion to isoaspartate at the Asp-Gly bond are fastest in the mildly acidic range (around pH 4–6) and at higher temperatures; strongly acidic conditions also cause backbone cleavage. Keep solutions near neutral pH (about 7.0–7.5), cold, and use them promptly.
Reconstitution
Dissolves readily in water and aqueous buffers.
Solutions
Divide into single-use aliquots in low-binding polypropylene tubes and freeze; avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
06
Epitalon needs methods suited to short, very polar, acidic peptides.
HPLC
Standard reversed-phase C18 gives little retention; start at very low organic content, or use HILIC or an aqueous-compatible C18. Detect at about 205–214 nm, since there are no aromatic residues.
Mass spectrometry
Positive-mode ESI gives [M+H]⁺ at m/z 391.1; negative mode, often more sensitive for this acidic peptide, gives [M−H]⁻ at m/z 389.1 (monoisotopic 390.14 Da). MS/MS shows b₂ (Ala-Glu) at m/z 201.1, b₃ at m/z 316.1 and the glutamate immonium ion at m/z 102.1.
Isoaspartate
IsoAsp variants have the same mass and often elute very close to Epitalon, so purity methods must be shown to resolve them, ideally using an isoAsp reference standard.
Impurity profile
Typical checks include isoAsp variants, the succinimide intermediate (−18 Da), Asp-related cleavage products, truncated sequences and counter-ion content.
07
Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG), a tetrapeptide with a free N-terminal amine and a free C-terminal acid; C₁₄H₂₂N₄O₉, 390.4 g/mol.
Mainly cell-culture assays of telomerase expression (hTERT RT-qPCR and TRAP telomerase activity assays), comparative studies of short bioregulator peptides, and analytical method development for short acidic peptides.
Asp followed by Gly is the sequence most prone to forming a succinimide ring, which converts to isoaspartate. This reaction is fastest at mildly acidic pH (around 4–6) and higher temperatures, so solutions are best kept near neutral pH and cold.
HILIC or reversed-phase HPLC adapted for polar peptides, with detection at 205–214 nm, combined with LC-MS identity confirmation. The method must be shown to separate isoAsp and succinimide variants from the main peak.
Common approaches are HPLC with an isoAsp reference standard, enzymatic assays using protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT), and LC-MS/MS with fragmentation methods such as ETD that give isoAsp-specific fragment ions.
Most studies come from one research network and associated groups, with limited independent replication. Results should be interpreted with that in mind.
No. It is supplied strictly as a reference compound for laboratory and analytical research and is not for human or animal use.
Epitalon Research Reference. (2026). Pure Peptides Labs Research Catalogue. Retrieved from https://purepeptideslabs.net/research-catalogue/cellular-research-peptides/epitalon/
Materials listed on this platform are supported by independent testing and published documentation for laboratory research contexts.
