Epithalon

A short synthetic tetrapeptide studied in telomere biology, chromatin research, and pineal neuroendocrine models.

Molecular Profile

Type
Synthetic linear tetrapeptide
Molecular formula
C14H22N4O9
Molecular weight
390.35 g/mol
CAS number
307297-39-8
Amino acids
4
Sequence
Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG)
Modification
Free termini.

Mechanism & Target Class

Epithalon (AEDG) is a four-residue peptide sufficiently small to enter the nucleus directly. Biophysical and molecular-docking work has examined interactions of the AEDG sequence with the DNA double helix and with linker histones H1/3 and H1/6, characterizing binding geometry and measuring chromatin-condensation state and nucleolar-organizer-region gene transcript levels as assay endpoints. The telomere biology literature has assayed hTERT gene expression and telomerase enzymatic activity in cell-culture models exposed to Epithalon; cancer-cell-line studies have additionally measured telomere dynamics through the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. A separate body of work examines the peptide in neuroendocrine models, measuring melatonin synthesis and cortisol circadian-rhythm parameters in primate and human study designs.

Storage & Handling

Lyophilized
−20°C desiccated and light-protected; −80°C for long-term storage.
Handling
Hygroscopic short peptide; protect from light and moisture.

Primary Database

PubChem CID 219042 ↗

References (28)

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