Everything below concerns Neurotrophic factor. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Last reviewed on 2025-08-31. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Once dissolved, the peptide is markedly less stable than the dry powder. Aqueous solutions are subject to backbone hydrolysis and to microbial growth when they are handled without sterile technique. Buffered solutions near neutral pH are common for short-term laboratory work, while acidic conditions are sometimes used to improve solubility. Analytical laboratories generally prepare working solutions fresh rather than storing them, and a residual water film left in a reopened vial can seed degradation even when the container appears dry.
Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is the standard technique for estimating peptide purity. The result is a peak-area percentage, which describes how much of the detected material elutes as the main peak in one run. Mass spectrometry confirms the molecular mass and can reveal truncated, adducted, or otherwise modified species. Amino acid analysis or tandem mass spectrometry can address sequence fidelity when identity is in doubt. None of these measurements, taken alone, establishes that a sample is fit for any specific purpose.
Lyophilized selank is normally supplied as a dry powder and is considered stable for extended periods when kept cold and dry. Moisture uptake is the main practical threat, because absorbed water promotes both hydrolysis and aggregation in the solid state. Vials are usually warmed to room temperature before opening so that condensation does not form on the powder. Supplier documentation commonly specifies -20 °C for routine storage, with -80 °C used for material intended to be archived for years.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro. Its four N-terminal residues reproduce tuftsin, a tetrapeptide fragment of the immunoglobulin heavy chain, while the C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension is a synthetic addition. The peptide has a molecular mass near 752 daltons and carries a net positive charge at physiological pH because of the arginine and lysine side chains. Published indexes list it under the name Selank and the sequence abbreviation TKPRPGP. Solid-phase peptide synthesis is the standard production route for research quantities.
Development took place at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where a series of short peptides were designed in the 1980s and 1990s. Selank was selected from variants of tuftsin that showed resistance to plasma peptidases. Russian regulatory approval covers it as an anxiolytic agent given intranasally. Outside that market the compound is normally handled as a research chemical rather than a medicine, and no widely recognised international pharmacopoeial monograph exists. The name Selank is a coined trade designation rather than a systematic chemical name.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical purity specification | 95 percent or higher by RP-HPLC | Area percentage of the main peak |
| Identity confirmation | Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry | Observed mass compared with the theoretical value near 751.9 Da |
| Recommended dry storage | -20 °C, desiccated | -80 °C for multi-year archival material |
| Solution handling | Prepare fresh; avoid long storage | Sterile filtration reduces microbial load |
| Common synonyms | TKPRPGP; TP-7 | Sequence code and laboratory designation used interchangeably |
Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection near 214 nanometres is the standard purity method. Mass spectrometry, typically electrospray ionisation, confirms identity through the expected mass-to-charge pattern. Amino acid analysis can verify composition independently. Chiral purity requires separate techniques such as derivatisation followed by chromatographic separation, and such data are rarely reported for research-grade material.
Quantification in biological matrices relies on liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry with stable-isotope internal standards. Low plasma concentrations and adsorption to container surfaces both complicate measurement. Solid-phase extraction is often needed to reduce matrix interference before injection. Reported limits of quantification differ widely between laboratories, which makes direct comparison of pharmacokinetic results difficult and limits meta-analysis.
Peptide bonds are vulnerable to protease attack, and Selank is no exception. Measured half-life in serum is short, on the order of minutes in several reports, which explains why intranasal administration is the common route described in the literature. Absorption across the nasal mucosa partially bypasses first-pass hepatic metabolism. Quantitative data on human bioavailability remain limited and are difficult to compare across studies.
Published work on this peptide almost always uses intranasal delivery, with drops or a spray applied to the nasal mucosa. Some animal experiments have used subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection, and a smaller number have compared routes directly. Oral administration is not a focus of the literature, because short peptides of this size are broken down by digestive enzymes and cross intestinal barriers poorly. How much of an intranasal dose reaches the bloodstream intact in humans remains an open question.
Animal studies have examined behaviour in tests of anxiety, memory retention and stress response, and several report changes in neurotrophic or neurotransmitter-related markers. The human evidence base is much smaller, consisting mainly of short trials conducted in Russia with limited reporting in English-language journals. Sample sizes are modest and outcome measures vary between studies, so the findings are best described as preliminary. Independent replication under modern trial standards has not been widely reported.
Pharmacokinetic data are limited. Like most short peptides, Selank is vulnerable to plasma and tissue peptidases, and its measured half-life in circulation is short, on a minutes scale. The Pro-Gly-Pro tail slows this degradation but does not eliminate it. Intranasal administration is the route described in most reports, with absorption through the nasal mucosa and a hypothesized path into the central nervous system that avoids the blood-brain barrier. Direct measurements of human brain exposure are unavailable, so distribution claims rest on inference from animal work.
Clinical evidence comes mainly from small studies conducted in Russia, several of which were open-label or lacked robust blinding. Reported outcomes include lower anxiety scores, changes in attention measures, and effects on asthenic states following illness. Sample sizes are typically in the tens of participants, and independent replication outside the region is scarce. Reviews published in English generally note the limited methodological quality of the underlying trials. Whether the compound produces clinically meaningful effects under rigorous conditions remains unresolved.
Selank is studied chiefly as an animal-model anxiolytic with proposed secondary effects on memory and immune signaling. Reported mechanisms include modulation of the GABA-A receptor complex, inhibition of enkephalin-degrading enzymes, and shifts in monoamine turnover within limbic structures. Some experiments describe increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus after repeated dosing. No single molecular target has been confirmed, and the peptide does not bind any receptor with the selectivity typical of a conventional small-molecule drug. Mechanism therefore remains a set of hypotheses rather than an established pathway.
Laboratory work relies on standard behavioral paradigms. Rodents are tested in the elevated plus maze, open field, and passive avoidance tasks, with outcomes compared against diazepam or vehicle controls. Intranasal dosing is used most often because it bypasses first-pass metabolism, though intraperitoneal and intravenous routes also appear in published protocols. Biochemical endpoints include tissue BDNF concentrations, cytokine levels, and monoamine metabolites. Human data are limited to small Russian trials reporting reduced anxiety scores; most were not prospectively registered, and few employed independent outcome assessment.
Measuring peptide exposure inside the brain is technically difficult. Selank is degraded rapidly in plasma, and assays must separate intact peptide from fragments, which favors targeted mass spectrometry over immunoassays alone. Reported half-lives are short, on the order of minutes, so effects observed hours later are attributed to downstream signaling rather than to the parent compound. Blood-brain barrier permeability is debated and rarely quantified directly. Gaps include absent dose-response characterization, inconsistent reporting of purity, and almost no pharmacokinetic data from human participants.
=== Bioplastics === Various polymers can be created from algae, which can be especially useful in the creation of bioplastics. These include hybrid plastics, cellulose-based plastics, poly-lactic acid, and bio-polyethylene. Several companies have begun to produce algae polymers commercially, including for use in flip-flops and in surf boards. Even algae is also used to prepare various polymeric resins suitable for coating applications.
Human chorionic gonadotropin injection is extensively used for final maturation induction in lieu of luteinizing hormone. In the presence of one or more mature ovarian follicles, ovulation can be triggered by the administration of HCG. As ovulation will happen between 38 and 40 hours after a single HCG injection, procedures can be scheduled to take advantage of this time sequence, such as intrauterine insemination or sexual intercourse. Also, patients that undergo IVF, in general, receive HCG to trigger the ovulation process, but have an oocyte retrieval performed at about 34 to 36 hours after injection, a few hours before the eggs actually would be released from the ovary. As hCG supports the corpus luteum, administration of hCG is used in certain circumstances to enhance the production of progesterone. Several vaccines against human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for the prevention of pregnancy are currently in clinical trials.
In Hinduism, the Upanishads say that the nature of the higher self (Brahman), in essence, is bliss (ānanda), which the self in each being (Atman) experiences during dreamless deep sleep but remains unconscious of, consciously experiencing it during sensual activity. The Upanishads say that in humans, just as eyes correspond to the experience of sight, nose with smell, ears with sound, and tongue with taste, the genitals correspond to "bliss, delight and procreation". The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says that in humans, genitals are the "single locus of pleasure (ānanda)". In Sanskrit literature, the penis is called Upastha ("that which stands up") and is traditionally considered a "source of great power or vitality (ojas)." In Yoga physiology, the penis corresponds with svadhishthana chakra, and channels the flow of nadis, which enable higher sensations and consciousness. Consequently, circumcision, or even an interference with a tight foreskin, is strictly forbidden in Hindu traditions.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
===== MeSH D08.811.913.400 – glycosyltransferases (EC 2.4) ===== MeSH D08.811.913.400.100 – n-acetylhexosaminyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.100.200 – n-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.100.200.300 – fucosyl galactose alpha-n-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.100.250 – n-acetylglucosaminyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.450 – hexosyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.300 – fucosyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.400 – galactosyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.400.100 – n-acylsphingosine galactosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.400.450 – beta-n-acetylglucosaminylglycopeptide beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.400.475 – ganglioside galactosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.400.500 – lactose synthase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.400.500.100 – n-acetyllactosamine synthase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460 – glucosyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.100 – 1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.200 – chitin synthase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.350 – glycogen debranching enzyme system MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.375 – glycogen synthase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.400 – phosphorylases MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.400.186 – glycogen phosphorylase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.400.186.061 – glycogen phosphorylase, brain form MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.400.186.124 – glycogen phosphorylase, liver form MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.400.186.312 – glycogen phosphorylase, muscle form MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.400.280 – phosphorylase a MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.400.327 – phosphorylase b MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.400.374 – starch phosphorylase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.460.750 – starch synthase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.480 – glucuronosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.560 – mannosyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.450.780 – peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725 – pentosyltransferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.100 – adenine phosphoribosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115 – adp ribose transferases MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115.180 – cholera toxin MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115.220 – diphtheria toxin MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115.660 – nad+ nucleosidase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115.660.060 – adp-ribosyl cyclase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115.680 – pertussis toxin MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115.690 – poly(adp-ribose) polymerases MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115.690.840 – tankyrases MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.115.845 – sirtuins MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.130 – amidophosphoribosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.160 – anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.200 – ATP phosphoribosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.450 – hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.700 – orotate phosphoribosyltransferase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.800 – purine-nucleoside phosphorylase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.900 – thymidine phosphorylase MeSH D08.811.913.400.725.950 – uridine phosphorylase MeSH D08.811.913.400.800 – sialyltransferases
=== Advanced workshops/training === Courses are arranged by RCB periodically throughout the year, covering various frontier areas that could be broadly classified under biotechnology keeping in view the multi-disciplinary nature of the subject. During the week-long workshops, expert in-house and invited faculty deliver lectures and provide hands-on training to expose the participants to contemporary science/technology and explore their utility for addressing research problems in specific scientific areas.
Dinoflagellates are the primary source of dinosteral. Dinoflagellates are unicellular, aquatic organisms that live in both marine and inland environments and are a prominent constituent of phytoplankton. Dinoflagellates are often characterized by their uncommon sterol distribution, dominated by 4α-methyl sterols derived from lanosterol rather than cycloartenol. In many cases, the most abundant sterol in dinoflagellates is dinosterol. Dinosterol is often used a biomarker in geochemical research because it is produced almost exclusively by dinoflagellates and is found in many environments. In addition to several species of dinoflagellates, dinosterol has also been isolated from the diatom Nivicula sp. (CS-46c) collected from Port Hacking, New South Wales, Australia.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Sealed, desiccated storage at -20 °C or colder is the standard recommendation for research-grade material. Vials should reach room temperature before they are opened, which limits condensation. Repeated temperature cycling is discouraged.
A reported purity value reflects the share of the main peak in one chromatographic run and says nothing about identity. Confirming that the expected sequence is present requires a separate measurement such as mass spectrometry. Purity and identity are distinct questions.
A mass spectrum reports the molecular masses present in a sample and shows whether they match the value expected for selank, near 751.9 Da. It also flags common artifacts such as truncation or adduct formation. It does not establish correct stereochemistry or complete sequence order on its own.
Selank is a seven-amino-acid peptide built from the tuftsin sequence plus a Pro-Gly-Pro tail. It is produced by chemical synthesis rather than extracted from a natural source. The free peptide is usually supplied as a lyophilised powder or in an aqueous formulation.