Description
Structure & Identity
Selank is a heptapeptide, built from seven amino acids in a single chain: Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro. The first four of those (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) are tuftsin itself; the added Pro-Gly-Pro tail is what slows the body’s enzymes from breaking it down. That small design change is the whole point of the molecule, and it is why Selank behaves more steadily in an experiment than raw tuftsin would.
Research Background
Most Selank research sits in the preclinical stage, using cell and animal models to map how the peptide touches several signaling systems at once.
- Tuftsin analog. Selank is a stabilized analog of the immune peptide tuftsin, with a Pro-Gly-Pro tail added for durability [PMID: 30255741].
- Signaling mechanism. Molecular work maps how it shifts GABA and monoamine activity [PMID: 30255741].
- Behavioral modeling. Early mechanistic reports studied it in CNS behavioral-assay models [PMID: 18454096].
- BDNF and memory. Rat studies linked it to BDNF changes in the hippocampus and cortex [PMID: 31625062].
- Drug interaction. It has been studied alongside diazepam under chronic stress [PMID: 28280289].
None of this points to an approved use. It is a picture of an active research subject, and the material lets a lab reproduce and extend that picture reliably.
Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
| Chemical name | Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) |
| Also Known As | TP-7 |
| Sequence | Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro |
| CAS number | 129954-34-3 |
| Molecular formula | C33H57N11O9 |
| Molecular weight | 751.9 g/mol |
| Purity | ≥99% by reverse-phase HPLC |
| Length | 7 amino acids |
| Identity | Confirmed by ESI mass spectrometry |
| Physical form | Lyophilized powder |
| Appearance | White to off-white solid |
| Quantity | 10 mg per vial |
| Storage | -20°C, protected from light |
| Solubility | Soluble in bacteriostatic or sterile water |
| Classification | Research use only |
Storage & Handling
Keep the sealed vial at -20°C and away from light until you are ready to use it. Once reconstituted, store the solution at 2-8°C and use it within a couple of weeks, since peptides in solution are less stable than the dry powder. Let a cold vial reach room temperature before opening it to limit condensation, and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Quality Assurance
Selank is produced under research-grade manufacturing controls and released only after independent analysis. Purity is quantified by reverse-phase HPLC and identity is confirmed by mass spectrometry, and that testing is carried out by third-party laboratories, including Janoshik Analytical and domestic US labs, rather than in-house alone. Every lot ships with its own certificate of analysis, so the reported numbers trace back to the exact vial you receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Selank?
Selank is a synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide based on the natural immune peptide tuftsin, with a short tail added to make it more stable. It is studied in research on stress-signaling and neurotrophic pathways, and it is supplied for laboratory use only.
How does Selank work in research models?
Studies describe Selank acting on more than one system at once, chiefly GABA signaling and monoamines such as serotonin, and it has also been connected to BDNF levels. These are mechanisms observed in cell and animal research, not human effects.
How is Selank different from tuftsin?
Tuftsin is the first four amino acids (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg). Selank keeps that core and adds Pro-Gly-Pro, which helps the molecule resist being broken down quickly.
What is the difference between Selank and Semax?
Both are short Russian-developed research peptides. Selank research centers on GABA/monoamine signaling; Semax research leans toward BDNF/NGF signaling. Their molecular targets differ accordingly.
Is Selank FDA approved?
No, Selank is approved as a medicine in Russia but has no FDA approval in the US, where it is handled as a research-use-only material, not a drug or supplement.
What is Selank’s molecular weight and sequence?
Its sequence is Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, its formula is C33H57N11O9, and its molecular weight is about 751.9 g/mol.
What is Selank’s half-life?
Selank’s measured half-life in plasma is very short, on the order of minutes, which is one reason researchers study its stabilized structure. This is stated as a scientific property, with no dosing implied.
How should Selank be stored?
Store the dry powder frozen at -20°C, protected from light. For research use, prepare working solutions in water or DMSO appropriate to the assay, keep cold, and use within about two weeks.
References
- Peptide-based Anxiolytics: The Molecular Aspects of Heptapeptide Selank Biological Activity. 2018. PMID: 30255741.
- Selank GABA/monoamine signaling in a CNS behavioral model. 2008. PMID: 18454096.
- Selank, Peptide Analogue of Tuftsin, Protects Against Ethanol-Induced Memory Impairment by Regulating BDNF Content. 2019. PMID: 31625062.
