KPV
KPV is a tiny peptide of three amino acids, the last three building blocks of the natural hormone alpha-MSH.
Where it came from
KPV is the last three building blocks of alpha-MSH, a hormone 13 amino acids long made by the pituitary gland. Researchers in the United States, including James Lipton's group, began studying this short piece on its own in the late 1980s.
Worth knowing
- The name is its three building blocks in one-letter shorthand: K for lysine, P for proline, V for valine.
- At three amino acids and about 342 units of weight, it is one of the smallest pieces of a hormone studied on its own.
- In the natural hormone, the last building block carries a small extra cap. KPV is usually made without it.
- Alpha-MSH is also the starting point for PT-141, so the two compounds are distant chemical cousins.
At a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Chain length | 3 amino acids |
| Chemical formula | C16H30N4O4 |
| Weight of one molecule | 342.4 g/mol |
| Form | Freeze-dried powder |
| Storage | Sealed in a freezer at -20 °C, away from light |
Weight is shown in grams per mole (g/mol), the standard unit chemists use. It's the number a lab checks a sample against to confirm it's the right compound.
Lab reports
Every batch (called a lot) of KPV is tested by an independent lab. The report shows the lab, the test date, the lot number, how pure the sample is and how much is in the vial. Find them on the Certificates of Analysis page. New to lab reports? Start with How to read a peptide lab report.
The weight above is for the compound on its own. A report may show a slightly higher figure, because the powder also carries a little salt left from manufacturing. Peptide salt forms explains why.
Storage
Keep the vial sealed in a freezer at -20 °C, away from light, and let it warm to room temperature before opening so moisture doesn't get in. More in Storing lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptides in the lab and the Research handling guidelines.
For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.