This is a working overview of AEDG, written for readers who want more than a one-paragraph summary but less than a textbook.
This page was last updated on 2026-08-01 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
Laboratory-grade epitalon is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder. Purity is commonly assessed with reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, often paired with mass spectrometry to confirm molecular identity. Amino acid analysis and peptide mapping can provide additional confirmation of sequence. Certificates of analysis for research materials frequently report purity above 95 percent, although the methods behind such figures vary between suppliers. The absence of a pharmacopeial monograph means that no single standardized assay defines the compound, so reported results depend on the analytical protocol chosen.
Storage recommendations center on limiting moisture, heat, and light. The dry powder is generally kept at minus 20 degrees Celsius, and some suppliers recommend minus 80 degrees for long-term archival. Once dissolved, solutions are usually aliquoted and frozen to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which can promote aggregation or degradation. Aqueous stability depends on pH and concentration, and buffered saline is often preferred over plain water for biological work. Stability data specific to epitalon remain limited, so general peptide-handling practices are applied by analogy rather than from product-specific validation.
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine, abbreviated AEDG. Its molecular formula is C14H22N4O9 and its calculated monoisotopic mass is approximately 390.35 daltons. The compound does not occur naturally as a free peptide; it is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Because it contains two acidic residues and no basic residues, the neutral form carries a net negative charge at physiological pH. This charge profile influences how the peptide behaves in solution and during chromatographic analysis.
Storage practice centres on limiting moisture, oxygen, and repeated temperature cycling. Freeze-dried powder is generally held desiccated at minus twenty degrees Celsius or colder and protected from light. Reconstituted solutions are markedly less stable, and the aspartate-glycine junction is prone to succinimide formation at neutral to mildly alkaline pH. Portioning material into single-use aliquots reduces degradation compared with repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Stability data specific to this tetrapeptide remain scarce, so most handling guidance is extrapolated from general peptide chemistry rather than measured directly.
Documentation accompanying research peptides usually includes a certificate of analysis listing the batch number, purity figure, and test methods applied. Buyers comparing suppliers should check whether the reported purity refers to chromatographic area or to a mass-balance calculation, because the two are not equivalent. Counter-ion content, residual solvents, and water content are sometimes omitted from such certificates even though they affect the actual peptide mass present. Independent verification through a second laboratory is the most direct way to confirm that a supplied material matches its label.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C14H22N4O9 | Free acid form of the tetrapeptide |
| Molecular mass | About 390.35 Da | Calculated monoisotopic value |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Typical lyophilized presentation |
| Solubility | Soluble in water | Also dissolves in buffered saline |
| Storage temperature | Minus 20 degrees Celsius | Dry, dark conditions; avoid repeated thawing |
Epitalon is the common name for a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine, usually abbreviated AEDG. All four residues are proteinogenic amino acids, and the free peptide has a calculated mass near 390 grams per mole. Because the chain is short and carries no modifications, it is assembled readily by solid-phase synthesis and is distributed mainly as a freeze-dried solid for laboratory work. Catalogue listings use the spellings epitalon, epithalone, and simply AEDG, and the three refer to the same sequence.
The compound is generally presented as a synthetic fragment of epithalamin, a pineal gland extract investigated in the former Soviet Union from the 1970s onward. Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues in Saint Petersburg developed short peptides modelled on such extracts, and epitalon became the most widely cited of those sequences. Most primary reports appeared in Russian-language journals or in proceedings with limited international circulation. Independent replication in laboratories outside that network remains sparse, and much repeated secondary material traces back to a small number of originating groups.
Laboratory work has examined effects on telomerase activity in cultured cells, on melatonin rhythms in animals, and on markers of oxidative stress. Some experiments report measurable changes while others show none, and the reported findings rest largely on small studies. The absence of large independent trials means the generality of these results is unresolved rather than settled. Review articles occasionally apply the label geroprotector, a term that reflects a research hypothesis about ageing rather than an established clinical finding.
Stability depends strongly on pH, temperature and the presence of oxygen and trace metals. Cleavage of the backbone proceeds faster under neutral to alkaline conditions, whereas acidic solutions tend to slow that reaction. The aspartate and glutamate side chains can undergo deamidation or imide formation over time, generating closely related impurities. Published stability data specific to epitalon are sparse, so the usable life of a given solution is best regarded as an open question that depends on buffer composition, concentration and storage temperature.
Identity and purity are usually assessed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection, frequently near 214 nanometers where the peptide bond absorbs. Mass spectrometry, most often with electrospray ionization, confirms the observed molecular mass and helps separate the intact peptide from truncated or modified forms. Amino acid analysis or tandem mass spectrometry can establish residue order. Purity is commonly quoted as an area percentage, yet such values are method-dependent, and comparisons between laboratories require matching column, gradient and detection wavelength.
Material supplied for laboratory use is normally a lyophilised white to off-white powder that dissolves readily in water and in isotonic saline. Lyophilised cakes are hygroscopic and should be equilibrated to room temperature before opening to limit condensation on the solid. Solutions are typically prepared at milligram-per-millilitre concentrations and divided into single-use aliquots, because repeated freeze–thaw cycles degrade short peptides. Aqueous solutions are far less stable than the dry powder, and identity is usually verified by mass spectrometry alongside purity estimation from reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.
Epitalon is a synthetic linear tetrapeptide with the sequence alanine–glutamate–aspartate–glycine, abbreviated AEDG. Its molecular formula is C14H22N4O9 and the calculated mass is approximately 390.35 g/mol. The compound is made by solid-phase peptide synthesis rather than extracted from tissue, although early work described it as a short fragment of a peptide fraction obtained from bovine pineal extract. In the research literature the spelling epitalon and the variant epithalone both appear, while AEDG is the standard code used in peptide nomenclature.
Several names circulate for the same molecule, including epitalon, epithalone, epithalamin tetrapeptide, and the sequence code AEDG. A CAS registry number, 307297-39-8, is commonly cited for it, though catalogue entries should be checked against supplier documentation because mislabelled records occur. In its usual form the peptide carries free amino and carboxyl termini and is neither glycosylated nor lipidated. Researchers distinguish the defined tetrapeptide from epithalamin itself, a crude pineal preparation containing many peptides that is not chemically characterised.
Human data are limited to small studies, often without the randomization, blinding, or control groups expected in contemporary clinical research. Reported outcomes have included changes in melatonin levels, immune markers, and subjective measures, but sample sizes were generally too small to support firm conclusions. Some reviews treat the peptide as promising while noting methodological weaknesses; others question whether the observed effects are specific. The compound is frequently discussed in longevity-focused communities, where enthusiasm often outpaces the published evidence. Separating established findings from speculation is therefore important when reading summaries of this research.
Epitalon emerged from research conducted in Saint Petersburg by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues, who studied short peptides as potential regulators of aging. The work built on epithalamin, a pineal gland extract reported to influence neuroendocrine function. Epitalon was designed as a synthetic counterpart with a defined sequence, allowing reproducible experiments that extracts could not support. Early publications described effects on melatonin rhythms and lifespan in animal models. These findings circulated mainly in Russian-language journals during the 1990s, which limited their visibility among English-speaking researchers.
=== 2022–2023: Self-Harm & Me and The GC's Big Night Out === In February 2022, Collins fronted a documentary on Channel 4 titled Gemma Collins: Self-Harm & Me. The documentary followed Collins as she opened up for the first time about her personal relationship with self-harm and saw her speak to experts as they investigated what was behind the rise in cases of self-harm in the United Kingdom. It received positive reviews and Collins was credited for raising the subject of self-harm and for showing audiences a different side to her. It was subsequently nominated within the Authored Documentary category at the 27th National Television Awards. Collins said she was "blown away" by the nomination, reflecting that "it was the scariest thing to be so honest with [herself], however the response [she] got from the show was totally overwhelming. In March 2022, Collins visited her former school Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls, as part of BBC 100's Share Your Story in which various celebrities returned to their old schools to share their experiences and inspire pupils.
==== Injectable fillers ==== Dermal fillers are injectable products frequently used to correct wrinkles, and other depressions in the skin. They are often a kind of soft tissue designed to enable injection into the skin for purposes of improving the appearance. The most common products are based on hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite.
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eyeball which covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Along with the anterior chamber and lens, the cornea refracts light, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is approximately 43 dioptres. The cornea can be reshaped by surgical procedures such as LASIK. While the cornea contributes most of the eye's focusing power, its focus is fixed. Accommodation (the refocusing of light to better view near objects) is accomplished by changing the geometry of the lens. Medical terms related to the cornea often start with the prefix "kerat-" from the Greek word κέρας, horn.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Production == The production methods for different isotopes vary, and only those for promethium-147 are given because it is the only isotope with industrial applications. Promethium-147 is produced in large quantities (compared to other isotopes) by bombarding uranium-235 with thermal neutrons. The output is relatively high, at 2.6% of the total product. Another way to produce promethium-147 is via neodymium-147, which decays to promethium-147 with a short half-life. Neodymium-147 can be obtained either by bombarding enriched neodymium-146 with thermal neutrons or by bombarding a uranium carbide target with energetic protons in a particle accelerator. Another method is to bombard uranium-238 with fast neutrons to cause fast fission, which, among multiple reaction products, creates promethium-147. As early as the 1960s, Oak Ridge National Laboratory could produce 650 grams of promethium per year and was the world's only large-volume synthesis facility. Gram-scale production of promethium was discontinued in the U.S. in the early 1980s, but will possibly be resumed after 2010 at the High Flux Isotope Reactor. In 2010, Russia was the only country producing promethium-147 on a relatively large scale.
Benfluorex, sold under the brand name Mediator, is an anorectic and hypolipidemic agent that is structurally related to fenfluramine (a substituted amphetamine). It acts mostly as a prodrug of norfenfluramine. It was fraudulently claimed to improve glycemic control and decrease insulin resistance in people with poorly controlled type-2 diabetes through norfenfluramine acting as a 5-HT2B receptor agonist It was on the market between 1976 and 2009, and is thought to have caused between 500 and 2,000 deaths. It was patented and manufactured by the French pharmaceutical company Servier. However, Servier has wittingly concealed the nature of Benfluorex, so that it would avoid the ban of Fenfluramine-related medications, which were mostly marketed by Servier (Racemic Fenfluramine/Ponderal, Dexfenfluramine/Isomeride) Servier has been found to be aware of the Fenfluramine-structure nature when starting marketing Benfluorex as an anti diabetic. The mechanism of action of Benfluorex was the anoretic property that is shared with the other Fenfluramine-related compounds. In fact, Benfluorex acts as a prodrug to norfenfluramine, a worldwide withdrawn anorectic because of its high incidence of cardiac fibrosis which is completely out of line for treating type 2 diabetes.
=== Increased synthesis of ATF4 === In homeostasis, eIF2 combines with guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to activate the mRNA which will start transcription and simultaneously lead to the hydrolysis of GTP so that the process can start again. However during an essential amino acid shortage, P-eIF2α is phosphorylated and binds tightly to eIF2B preventing GDP from turning back to GTP leading to fewer mRNAs being activated and fewer proteins being synthesized. This response causes translation to be increased for some mRNAs, including ATF4, which regulates the transcription of other genes.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide built from four amino acids: alanine, glutamate, aspartate, and glycine. It is not extracted from a natural source but made in the laboratory by chemical synthesis. Its short length makes it relatively straightforward to produce at high purity.
No naturally occurring free form of the peptide has been described. The four-amino-acid sequence can appear as a fragment within larger proteins, but that is not the same as the intact compound being present as a circulating molecule. Materials used in research are synthetic.
Purity is usually checked by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, which separates the target peptide from related impurities. Mass spectrometry is commonly used alongside it to confirm molecular mass. Some suppliers also provide amino acid analysis for additional sequence confirmation.
Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection at 214 nanometres is the usual approach. Peak area percentage provides a purity figure relative to other components in the sample. Mass spectrometry is then applied to confirm identity.