↳ Research overview
What Is Epitalon (Epithalon)?
Epitalon, also spelled Epithalon, is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG). It emerged from Russian gerontology research and has been investigated in gene-expression, telomere / telomerase-associated and circadian experimental research contexts.
This guide covers Epitalon's identity, the reason both spellings appear in the literature and the shape of the published evidence.
For laboratory research context only. PepDirect supplies Epithalon as a research material, not for human or veterinary use.
§ Identity
What is Epitalon?
Epitalon is a short synthetic tetrapeptide originally developed at the St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology (Khavinson et al.). It carries the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG).
- Compound: Epitalon / Epithalon (synthetic AEDG tetrapeptide)
- Sequence: Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG)
- Length: 4 amino acids
- CAS number: 307297-39-8
- Molecular formula: C14H22N4O9
- Molecular weight: ~390.35 g/mol
- PubChem CID: 219042
Lot-specific identity and purity should be verified against the printed lot number and its corresponding Certificate of Analysis.
§ Naming
Is Epitalon the same as Epithalon?
Yes. Both spellings, 'Epitalon' and 'Epithalon', appear interchangeably in the research literature and in chemical databases for the same AEDG tetrapeptide identity.
'Epitalon' has materially higher public search demand; 'Epithalon' is the spelling more commonly used in the Russian-origin gerontology literature. PepDirect's product remains labelled Epithalon; the two names refer to the same compound.
§ Sequence
What does AEDG mean?
AEDG is the one-letter amino-acid code for the tetrapeptide sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly: alanine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine. All four are canonical L-amino acids.
§ Research
What research has investigated Epitalon?
- Telomerase-associated laboratory research, cell-model experiments involving telomerase activity and telomere-length measurements.
- Gene-expression studies, reported effects on the transcription of genes involved in cell-cycle regulation, DNA repair and ageing-associated pathways in cellular and animal research.
- Peptide / DNA interaction research, physicochemical studies examining short-peptide interactions with double-stranded DNA sequences.
- Circadian-linked experimental research, historical animal studies involving pineal-gland and circadian endpoints.
The published literature is dominated by cellular and animal experimental research, much of it originating from a small number of research groups. Findings should be interpreted according to model type and study design, not treated as demonstrated anti-ageing or lifespan-extension outcomes.
§ Evidence
What does the evidence actually show?
Epitalon has a long research history but the underlying evidence base has meaningful limitations. Most of the strongest mechanistic and outcome data comes from cellular and animal experiments. Human research is comparatively limited, includes older observational and small-sample studies, and does not establish anti-ageing, lifespan or age-reversal outcomes in humans.
- Laboratory research, the majority of the mechanistic evidence base.
- Animal / preclinical research, historical animal experiments, primarily in the Russian gerontology literature.
- Human research, limited in scale, methodology and independent replication.
PepDirect does not represent Epitalon as an anti-ageing, longevity or lifespan-extension product. Any research narrative referencing telomerase should not be interpreted as evidence of an established biological outcome in humans.
§ vs NAD+
Epitalon and NAD+
Epitalon and NAD+ occasionally appear in overlapping ageing-and-metabolism research discussions, but they are entirely different biochemical materials. Epitalon is a four-amino-acid peptide. NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a small-molecule coenzyme. Findings for one should not be applied to the other.
§ Research product
View the Epithalon research product
Epithalon is supplied by PepDirect as a lyophilised research material with lot-specific documentation.
§ References
Selected research references
- Epitalon / Epithalon (AEDG) · PubChem CID 219042PubChem (NCBI)
- Effect of AEDG peptide on gene expression (preclinical)PubMed · Khavinson et al.
- Peptide regulation of telomerase, experimental research reviewPubMed · Khavinson & Anisimov
- Peptide bioregulation in gerontology research, reviewPubMed · Khavinson
§ FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What is Epitalon?
- Epitalon is a synthetic four-amino-acid peptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG), investigated in cellular telomerase-associated, gene-expression and circadian experimental research.
- Is Epitalon the same as Epithalon?
- Yes. Both spellings refer to the same AEDG tetrapeptide. 'Epitalon' has higher search demand; 'Epithalon' is more commonly used in the Russian gerontology literature.
- What is the AEDG sequence?
- Alanine-Glutamic acid-Aspartic acid-Glycine (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), a four-residue peptide sequence.
- How many amino acids are in Epitalon?
- Four, hence its description as a tetrapeptide.
- What research areas involve Epitalon?
- Cellular telomerase-associated research, gene-expression studies, peptide–DNA interaction studies and historical circadian / pineal animal experiments, largely preclinical.
- Does telomerase research prove anti-ageing effects?
- No. Telomerase-related findings in cell and animal models do not establish anti-ageing, longevity or lifespan-extension outcomes in humans. PepDirect does not represent Epithalon as an anti-ageing product.
- Is PepDirect Epithalon intended for human use?
- No. Epithalon is supplied strictly as a laboratory research material. It is not marketed as a medicine, food supplement or product for human or veterinary use.
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