What Are Peptides?
A peptide is a short chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds, smaller than a protein (generally 2 to 50 amino acids). In research, peptides act as biological signals that modulate specific receptors and cellular pathways; studied examples include BPC-157, TB-500 and GLP-1 analogs such as semaglutide.
How does a peptide differ from a protein?
The difference is one of size: peptides have a few dozen amino acids, while proteins are much longer, folded chains. Peptides usually act as messengers or modulators, binding to receptors to trigger a cellular response.
What types of peptides exist?
They are grouped by their area of study: metabolic (retatrutide, tirzepatide, AOD-9604), regenerative (BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu), cognitive/nootropic (Semax, Selank), longevity (Epithalon, MOTS-c, NAD+) and growth hormone secretagogues (CJC-1295, Ipamorelin).
How are they handled in research?
Peptides are distributed lyophilized and reconstituted with bacteriostatic water (or 0.6% acetic acid for those that require an acidic pH, such as IGF-1 LR3). All handling is for research use only (RUO).
FAQ
What are peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids (2-50) joined by peptide bonds. They are distinguished from proteins by their smaller size and are fundamental in cell signaling, hormonal regulation and immune response.
What are peptides for?
Biologically, peptides serve as messengers between cells. Their main functions are cell signaling, hormonal regulation, immune response, extracellular matrix synthesis, neuromodulation and energy metabolism. In the laboratory they are studied precisely for those functions.
What is the difference between a peptide and a protein?
It is a difference of size. A peptide has between 2 and 50 amino acids; a protein has 50 or more and folds into complex three-dimensional structures. Both use the same building blocks and the same peptide bond. The peptide's short chain gives it greater diffusion in tissue and more selective binding to its receptor.
What types of peptides exist by their use?
They are grouped into three categories by field: therapeutic, which are administered as a drug to treat or modulate a specific condition; cosmetic, formulated at low concentration for topical use on the skin; and endogenous hormonal, those the body itself produces as messengers of the endocrine system. No category is mutually exclusive: the same peptide can be documented in more than one depending on the context.
What is a peptide bond?
It is the covalent CO–NH bond that forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of the next, releasing a molecule of water. That chain of bonds forms the backbone of the peptide, and the order of the residues it joins determines its biological function.
What are peptides used for in research?
In scientific research, peptides are used to study mechanisms of cell signaling, tissue regeneration, immune modulation, neuroprotection and metabolism.
What does the purity percentage of a peptide measure?
It is the fraction of the main peak area in a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis: what proportion of the content corresponds to the declared compound versus its related impurities. By sector convention, from 99% onward it is referred to as research grade. EXOMA publishes the actual figure for each batch in its certificate of analysis, including when it falls below that threshold.
How are peptides stored correctly?
Lyophilized peptides (in powder form) are stored at -20°C and maintain stability for 24+ months. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, they are refrigerated at 2-8°C and last 21-30 days depending on the compound.
What is a COA in peptides?
The COA (Certificate of Analysis) is a document that details the results of the quality tests performed on each batch: purity by HPLC, identity by mass spectrometry, endotoxin content and sterility.