Epitalon vs Epithalon: One Peptide, Two Spellings

Epitalon and Epithalon are the same molecule: the synthetic tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, with the formula C14H22N4O9, a molecular weight of about 390.35 Da and the CAS number 307297-39-8. The two spellings are alternative transliterations of the original Russian name. Epithalone and Epitalone also appear in catalogs and refer to the same peptide.

Where does the name come from?

Epitalon was developed by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues in St. Petersburg as a synthetic counterpart to epithalamin, a polypeptide extract of the pineal gland. The name refers to the epithalamus, the brain region that contains the pineal gland. Because the peptide was first described in Russian-language publications, English texts adopted more than one spelling.

What does the published literature report?

The most cited study reported that the tetrapeptide induced telomerase activity and telomere elongation in human somatic cells in culture [1]. A related paper from the same group reported that treated cells continued dividing beyond their usual limit in vitro [2]. Most of the literature on Epitalon originates from a single research group, and independent replication is limited. These are cell and animal findings; they do not describe any use in humans.

Is N-acetyl Epitalon amidate the same compound?

No. Some suppliers list N-acetyl Epitalon amidate, which carries an acetyl group at the N-terminus and an amide at the C-terminus. Its calculated molecular weight is about 431.4 Da, roughly 41 Da heavier than Epitalon, and it should be treated as a separate compound with its own data.

How is Epitalon identified in the laboratory?

As a four-residue peptide with three acidic side chains, Epitalon is small and highly polar. Its identity is confirmed by mass spectrometry against the theoretical mass of 390.35 Da, and its purity by HPLC. Because the molecule is so small, a single residue deletion changes the mass by a large fraction of the total and is easy to detect.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CAS number of Epitalon?

307297-39-8.

Is Epitalon a natural peptide?

No. It is a synthetic tetrapeptide designed on the basis of research on the pineal extract epithalamin.

Does FLASK list Epitalon?

FLASK lists it as Epithalon, 10 mg, with the sequence, formula and CAS number on the product page.