Semax
Semax is a lab-made peptide of seven amino acids, built from a short piece of the pituitary hormone ACTH plus a protective tail.
Where it came from
Semax was developed in the 1980s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, and appeared in published research by 1991.
The design takes a four-amino-acid piece of ACTH, a hormone made by the pituitary gland, and adds a short tail to slow its breakdown.
Worth knowing
- It is a chain of seven amino acids: four taken from ACTH, plus the same three-piece protective tail used in Selank.
- The name is reported to come from the Russian phrase for "seven amino acids".
At a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Chain length | 7 amino acids |
| Chemical formula | C37H51N9O10S |
| Weight of one molecule | 813.9 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 Semax 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.