Humanin
Mitochondrial-derived peptide (24 aa)
Cytoprotective mitochondrial peptide.
Half-life
~ short
Mol. weight
2662.1 g/mol
Sequence
MAPRGFSCLLLLTSEIDLPVKRRA
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Overview
A 24-amino-acid mitochondrial-derived peptide (like MOTS-c, encoded in the mitochondrial genome) that protects cells against stress and apoptosis, with research interest in neuroprotection, cardiovascular protection, and metabolic disease. It is one of the founding members of the mitochondrial-derived-peptide class, revealing that mitochondria actively signal to the rest of the cell — not just produce energy.
Mechanism of action
Humanin is encoded in the mitochondrial genome and exerts cytoprotective, anti-apoptotic effects by interacting with multiple partners: it binds FPRL1 (formyl peptide receptor-like 1) and the cytokine receptor gp130/IL6ST, and it interacts with IGFBP3 to block apoptosis. Through these pathways it suppresses cell death signaling in neurons and other tissues under stress, reduces ischemic and metabolic injury, and is studied in models of Alzheimer's (where it was first identified from a survival screen) and cardiovascular disease. Like MOTS-c, it represents mitochondria-to-nucleus retrograde signaling.
Researched benefits
- Cytoprotective / anti-apoptotic across neuronal and metabolic tissues
- Studied for neuroprotection and cardiovascular protection
- First-discovered mitochondrial-derived peptide
Considerations
- Early-stage research
- Human interventional data limited
- Sourcing varies
Key Academic Literature & Studies
Search more in PubMedPeer-reviewed citations and clinical trials evaluating Humanin in scientific literature.
Query PubMed for recent peer-reviewed preclinical and clinical publications on Humanin:
View Humanin index on PubMed (NCBI)