Epithalon (Epitalon / AEDG): History and Chemistry of a Tetrapeptide
By NF7 Research Editorial Team ·
Names and sequence
Epithalon is also written as Epitalon or Epithalone, and AEDG is a sequence abbreviation for Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly. The sequence consists of four amino-acid residues, making the molecule a tetrapeptide. Writing the full residue names alongside AEDG is useful when comparing a label with a technical record, because abbreviated sequences can be copied incorrectly or interpreted without context. Use one spelling consistently in a given record while retaining the other catalog synonyms as searchable terms.
The stated molecular formula is C14H22N4O9, and the molecular weight is 390.35 g/mol. These values correspond to the defined tetrapeptide specification. Sequence, formula, and mass offer complementary ways to describe the same chemical identity: the sequence gives residue order, the formula counts atoms, and molecular weight summarizes mass. They should be presented together with the exact product name and lot identifier where practical.
Residue notation
In the three-letter sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, Ala denotes alanine, Glu denotes glutamic acid, Asp denotes aspartic acid, and Gly denotes glycine. The compact one-letter version AEDG preserves the same order. As with any sequence representation, order matters; a rearrangement would denote a different sequence. When transferring the sequence into a database or certificate, retain the original source text and verify that each residue appears in the intended position.
The “Ala” and “Gly” entries refer to specific amino-acid residues, while Glu and Asp distinguish two acidic side-chain types. Here these terms are strictly nomenclature for the defined molecular structure. The tetrapeptide’s sequence is short enough to write in full in catalog specifications, labels, and receiving records, reducing reliance on an abbreviation when a document is reviewed outside its original context.
Formula and molecular weight
The formula C14H22N4O9 specifies the counts of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms in the stated structure. The molecular weight of 390.35 g/mol supplies a mass value at the precision provided in the catalog facts. Consistent units and decimal precision matter when comparing labels, calculations, and analytical files. Do not present more decimal places than the source supports, and keep the formula and mass attached to Epithalon rather than to a vial amount.
A vial amount is a product specification; molecular weight is a property of the defined molecule. They answer different questions and should occupy distinct fields in a product record. The catalog item is 10 mg, while 390.35 g/mol is the stated molecular weight. Separating those values avoids confusing material quantity with molecular identity and supports more readable technical documentation.
Historical naming
Epithalon was synthesized in the 1980s by Vladimir Khavinson’s laboratory as a defined tetrapeptide related to the pineal extract fraction epithalamin. This is historical context for the name and research history, not a claim that the peptide and the extract fraction are identical. The distinction between a defined sequence and a complex fraction is important in chemical writing: one has a specific residue sequence and formula, while a fraction is described by its source and composition.
The names Epithalon, Epitalon, and Epithalone appear as synonyms in research usage. AEDG, by comparison, refers directly to the four-residue sequence. Technical databases may index all of these terms, but a vial label and its COA should be used to establish the product identity of a particular lot. Synonym mapping improves discoverability; it does not replace a sequence-level description or lot-specific verification.
Synthesis and analytical characterization
Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) is a general method for assembling peptide chains through sequential residue additions on a solid support. For a four-residue chain, the defined sequence can be compared against synthesis records and analytical characterization. Manufacturing documentation may separately describe assembly, purification, and preparation of the final lyophilized material. General descriptions of SPPS are contextual and do not certify a specific lot; that requires the lot’s own records and reported analytical data.
HPLC is used for chromatographic separation and can provide a profile relevant to a reported purity assessment. LC-MS supplies mass-based data that can support identity assessment. Read each COA for the stated method, result, specification, and lot number. A method name without its result is incomplete information, and a result should not be detached from the sample and lot it describes. The site’s Verify a lot page supports checking the lot-matched COA.
Sequence record quality
Sequence transcription is more reliable with a deliberate residue-by-residue check rather than visual familiarity with a short code. Compare AEDG against Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly from left to right, confirming that every abbreviation maps to one residue and that none has been omitted or duplicated. Store the compact and expanded forms in separate fields when a database permits, so searches remain flexible while the canonical sequence stays readable.
Document provenance is also useful: note whether a sequence came from a product specification, a label, or a lot-specific analytical record. Those sources have different purposes and should not be collapsed into one unattributed entry. When an amendment corrects a transcription, preserve the earlier text and record the correction date and source; this keeps the history transparent without implying a change to the defined sequence.
Vial presentation and traceability
Epithalon is supplied as a 10 mg lyophilized material in a sealed glass vial. Keep the product label and lot number associated with the vial, and retain the matching COA in the same inventory record. At receipt, documenting package condition, lot identifier, and verification details creates a traceable connection between catalog terminology, physical presentation, and analytical records. The name synonyms can be included as search terms, while the primary specification remains the defined AEDG tetrapeptide.
Store sealed lyophilized vials at 2–8 °C, protect from light, and keep dry. Shipping is US-only with cold-chain handling. These specifications should be carried into receiving and storage documentation without adding assumptions that are not stated on the product record. If the lot documentation presents a spelling variation, retain its exact wording and link it to the same lot identifier rather than treating the variation as a separate structure.
Related products and collection
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