SS-31
Elamipretide (D-Arg-2',6'-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2)
Mitochondria-targeted cardiolipin peptide.
Half-life
~ short (peptide), mitochondria-retained
Mol. weight
639.7 g/mol
Sequence
D-Arg-2',6'-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2
Discussions
0 threads
Overview
A mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide (elamipretide) that concentrates inside the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it binds cardiolipin — a phospholipid unique to mitochondria — to stabilize the membrane and restore electron-transport-chain function. It has advanced to clinical trials for mitochondrial and energy-related conditions, making it one of the more clinically developed longevity-pathway peptides.
Mechanism of action
SS-31 (elamipretide) is a cell-permeable tetrapeptide that selectively accumulates in the inner mitochondrial membrane and binds cardiolipin, a phospholipid found only in mitochondria. Cardiolipin is essential for the organization of the electron transport chain and for stabilizing respiratory supercomplexes; oxidative damage to cardiolipin impairs ATP production. By restoring cardiolipin's interaction with cytochrome c and stabilizing the respiratory complexes, SS-31 improves mitochondrial energetics, reduces reactive-oxygen-species production, and protects against ischemia-reperfusion and metabolic stress. Its mitochondrial selectivity comes from the cardiolipin target, not from a delivery tag.
Researched benefits
- Selectively targets mitochondria via cardiolipin binding
- Restores electron-transport-chain function
- Advanced to human clinical trials
- Reduces mitochondrial ROS production
Considerations
- Clinical success in humans remains mixed/incomplete
- Injection-administered in trials
- Research/clinical context
Key Academic Literature & Studies
Search more in PubMedPeer-reviewed citations and clinical trials evaluating SS-31 in scientific literature.
Query PubMed for recent peer-reviewed preclinical and clinical publications on SS-31:
View SS-31 index on PubMed (NCBI)