Epithalon is a short peptide consisting of just four amino acids (Alanine-Glutamate-Asparagine-Glycine). In animal studies, epithalon has been shown to affect melatonin secretion as well as telomerase activity. The molecule is sometimes referred to as epithalone, epitalon, LS-72251, and CID2192042. Epithalon was developed in Russia (isolated from the bovine (cow) pineal gland) and has received attention for its anti-aging and anti-carcinogenic properties as well as for its ability to regulate melatonin secretion.

The Anti-Cancer Effects of Epithalon

A 2002 study on transgenic mice prone to cancer produced surprising results. Epithalon prolonged the average lifetime of the cancer-prone her2/neu mice by 13.5% when administered subcutaneously 5 times per week. The molecule appeared to suppress the development of cancer and reduce metastasis (spread) of existing cancers. Overall, cancer rates in mice that were provided epithalon were 3.7 times lower than in mice who did not receive the peptide. The mice that did develop cancer lived 1.7 times longer if they received epithalon compared to mice that did not. Epithalon also extended the life of mice without cancer substantially1 .

The Anti-Aging Effects of Epithalon

The anti-aging effects of epithalon appear to be a result of its ability to activate telomerase. Telomerase is an enzyme, found in all cells, that maintains the length of telomeres. Telomeres are specialized sequences of the DNA that protect chromosomes from damage, but shorten over time as an organism ages. Maintenance of telomere length has been associated with … [Read the rest]

TB-500 is a synthetic analog of the active region of thymosin beta-4 (TB4). TB4 is a protein that is active in the sequestration of actin and thus plays a role in actin polymerization. Actin is a globular protein that, when polymerized, forms microfilaments. Microfilaments are fundamental components of cell structure and make up a number of different proteins. These filaments play active roles in cell growth, cell division, cell proliferation, muscle function, and cell longevity.

The Genetics of TB4

TB4 is an interesting protein because the gene that encodes it is found in two variations. The main variation is found on the X chromosome, which is found in both males and females. A variant, known as thymosin beta-4 Y-chromosomal, is found on the male-specific region of the Y chromosome and thus is only found in males. This means that males have an additional thymosin beta gene that is not found in females and which escapes X inactivation1. Though the significance of this additional TB4-like gene has not yet been elucidated, it does appear to play a role in the increased muscle growth seen in male as opposed to female mammals.

TB-500 and Sarcomere Function

The primary components of muscle sarcomeres, the proteins responsible for muscle contraction and thus strength, are actin and myosin. Myosin provides the active component of contraction while active provides the structural component against which myosin acts. Sarcomeres are found primarily in skeletal and cardiac … [Read the rest]