Epithalon
Epitalon (tetrapeptide AEDG)
Telomere and longevity peptide.
Half-life
~ short
Mol. weight
390.3 g/mol
Sequence
Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly
Discussions
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Overview
A synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) derived from the pineal-gland peptide epithalamin, researched for activating telomerase — the enzyme that lengthens telomeres, the protective caps on chromosomes that shorten with aging. Recent in-vitro work confirms it can elongate telomeres and increase telomerase activity in normal human cells, though the anti-aging translation to humans remains unproven and carries theoretical cancer-risk considerations.
Mechanism of action
Epitalon is proposed to activate telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression, enabling telomere elongation. Khavinson's original work (2003) showed it induces telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells; a recent study confirmed it increases telomere length in both normal and cancer cell lines, with normal cells showing a 4-fold (IBR.3) to 26-fold (HMEC) increase in telomerase enzyme activity. It also binds preferentially to methylated cytosine in DNA and interacts with histone proteins. Because telomerase is reactivated in ~90% of human cancers, telomerase activation carries a theoretical oncologic risk that researchers take seriously.
Researched benefits
- Activates telomerase and elongates telomeres in normal human cells (in vitro)
- Researched for cellular lifespan and longevity biology
- Derived from pineal epithalamin (biological origin)
Considerations
- Telomerase activation carries theoretical cancer risk (telomerase is upregulated in ~90% of cancers)
- Anti-aging claims in humans remain unvalidated
- Evidence mostly from one research lineage (Khavinson / St. Petersburg)
Key Academic Literature & Studies
Search more in PubMedPeer-reviewed citations and clinical trials evaluating Epithalon in scientific literature.
Query PubMed for recent peer-reviewed preclinical and clinical publications on Epithalon:
View Epithalon index on PubMed (NCBI)