tuftsin comes up often in conversation and rarely with the context attached. Here we lay out the basics in order, then work through the practical considerations.
Updated 2025-11-29. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was designed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a structural analogue of tuftsin, a naturally occurring tetrapeptide fragment of the immunoglobulin heavy chain. The added Pro-Gly-Pro tail was intended to slow enzymatic degradation and extend biological activity. In Russia it is registered as an anxiolytic nasal preparation, while regulators elsewhere have not approved it for clinical use.
Proposed mechanisms centre on modulation of the GABAergic system, with reports of altered expression of genes related to GABA-A receptor subunits and changed monoamine turnover. Some studies describe inhibition of enkephalinase, the enzyme that degrades endogenous enkephalins, which may prolong opioid peptide signalling. Effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and on cytokine expression have also been reported. These findings come largely from animal models and small human studies, and the precise primary target remains unresolved.
Published clinical evidence is limited. Most controlled trials were conducted in Russia, enrolled modest numbers of participants, and appeared in Russian-language journals, which restricts independent verification. Reported outcomes include lower anxiety scores, improved attention and memory measures, and changes in fatigue ratings. Reviews written in English note methodological limitations such as small samples and inconsistent endpoints. Whether the compound produces clinically meaningful benefit relative to established anxiolytics is therefore an open question rather than an established finding.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was designed as a stabilized analogue of tuftsin, a naturally occurring tetrapeptide fragment derived from the immunoglobulin heavy chain. The additional Pro-Gly-Pro segment at the carboxyl terminus is intended to slow enzymatic cleavage. The compound is usually described in the literature as a synthetic peptide with anxiolytic and cognitive-related activity, a label that reflects a research context rather than an approved therapeutic category.
Most published work on selank originates from a small number of research groups in the Russian Federation. A large share of that record appears in Russian-language journals, which limits access for readers who rely on English-indexed databases. Independent replication by laboratories outside the original research network is sparse in publicly available sources. This concentration of origin and language is a frequently noted feature when the compound is summarized in broader reviews of synthetic peptides.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C33H57N11O9 | Free peptide form |
| Molecular mass | About 751.9 Da | Calculated average mass |
| Amino acid sequence | Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro | Single-letter form TKPRPGP |
| Structural basis | Tuftsin analogue | Extended version of a natural tetrapeptide |
| Development origin | Russian Academy of Sciences | Work carried out from the 1980s onward |
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in Russia as a structural analogue of tuftsin, a naturally occurring immunomodulatory tetrapeptide. Its sequence, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, keeps the tuftsin core at the N-terminus and appends a Pro-Gly-Pro tail. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow synthesized the compound during the 1990s while searching for peptides with combined anxiolytic and immunomodulatory activity. The added tail was intended to resist enzymatic cleavage and prolong the molecule's presence in circulation.
The compound has a calculated molecular weight near 751.9 daltons and carries a net positive charge at physiological pH because of its arginine residue. It dissolves freely in water and in common aqueous buffers, and typically appears as a white or off-white lyophilized powder. The amide backbone makes the molecule susceptible to peptidases, which limits oral use and favors intranasal or parenteral routes. Nomenclature in the literature varies: the substance is also described by the sequence abbreviation TP-7 and by a Russian trade designation.
Proposed mechanisms center on modulation of the GABA system, but no single molecular target has been confirmed. Rodent studies report changes in GABA-A receptor expression and in the turnover of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in several brain regions. Increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor have also been described after repeated administration. These findings come largely from animal models, and the degree to which they describe human neurochemistry remains an open question. The mechanism is best characterized as multi-system and not fully resolved.
Pharmacokinetic data are limited. Like most short peptides, Selank is vulnerable to plasma and tissue peptidases, and its measured half-life in circulation is short, on a minutes scale. The Pro-Gly-Pro tail slows this degradation but does not eliminate it. Intranasal administration is the route described in most reports, with absorption through the nasal mucosa and a hypothesized path into the central nervous system that avoids the blood-brain barrier. Direct measurements of human brain exposure are unavailable, so distribution claims rest on inference from animal work.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in Russia. Its sequence is Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, a seven-residue chain built around the natural tetrapeptide tuftsin. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences first described the compound in the mid-1990s. The design combined the tuftsin core with an added Pro-Gly-Pro tail, a modification intended to extend the molecule's stability in biological fluids. Published work on the peptide has appeared mainly in Russian-language journals.
Reported activity for Selank centers on anxiolytic and nootropic effects. Russian clinical reports describe use in anxiety and in cognitive or attention-related complaints. Most of this evidence comes from studies conducted by the same research groups that developed the peptide. Independent replication in other countries remains limited, and no major Western regulatory agency has approved the compound for any indication. The gap between local reports and external verification is a recurring point in discussions of the peptide.
==== Nach Farbe ==== Rote Muskeln (entspricht SO) Weiße Muskeln (entspricht FG) Haben in vielen Tieren (nicht aber beim Menschen) wegen des niedrigen Myoglobingehalts eine helle Farbe. Das Verhältnis der Zusammensetzung eines Skelettmuskels aus verschiedenen Muskelfasertypen ist weitestgehend genetisch bestimmt und ist durch ein gezieltes Ausdauer- beziehungsweise Krafttraining begrenzt veränderbar. Dieses verändert nicht das Verhältnis zwischen Typ-I- und Typ-II-Fasern, aber wohl das zwischen Typ-II-A und Typ-II-X. Aus vielen II-X-Fasern werden II-A-Fasern gebildet (z. B. im Musculus trapezius bei Krafttraining Gehalt an II-A von 27 % auf bis zu 44 % aller Fasern). Die Verteilung der verschiedenen Muskelfasern in einem Muskel ist nicht homogen, sondern unterschiedlich an Ursprung, Ansatz bzw. im Inneren und an der Oberfläche des Muskels.
=== Beschreibung === Die Kontraktion ist ein mechanischer Vorgang, der durch einen Nervenimpuls ausgelöst wird. Dabei schieben sich Proteine (Aktin und Myosin) ineinander. Dieses wird durch schnell aufeinanderfolgende Konformationsänderungen der chemischen Struktur möglich, wodurch die Fortsätze der Myosinfilamente – vergleichbar mit schnellen Ruderbewegungen – die Myosinfilamente in die Aktinfilamente hineinziehen. Hört der Nerv auf, den Muskel mit Impulsen zu versorgen, erschlafft der Muskel, man spricht dann von Muskelrelaxation.
isotonisch („gleichgespannt“): Der Muskel verkürzt sich ohne Kraftänderung. isometrisch („gleichen Maßes“): Die Kraft erhöht sich bei gleichbleibender Länge des Muskels (haltend-statisch). Im physikalischen Sinne wird keine Arbeit geleistet, da der zurückgelegte Weg gleich null ist. auxotonisch („verschiedengespannt“): Sowohl Kraft als auch Länge ändern sich. Das ist der häufigste Kontraktionstyp bei Alltagsbewegungen. Aus diesen elementaren Arten der Kontraktion lassen sich komplexere Kontraktionsformen zusammensetzen. Sie werden im alltäglichen Leben am häufigsten benutzt. Das sind z. B.
Sources: de.wikipedia.org
die Unterstützungszuckung: erst isometrische, dann isotonische Kontraktion. Beispiel: Anheben eines Gewichtes vom Boden und anschließendes Anwinkeln des Unterarms. die Anschlagszuckung: erst isotonische, dann isometrische Kontraktion. Beispiel: Kaubewegung, Ohrfeige. Hinsichtlich der resultierenden Längenänderung des Muskels und der Geschwindigkeit, mit der diese erfolgt, lassen sich Kontraktionen z. B. folgendermaßen charakterisieren:
Sources: de.wikipedia.org
It is a seven-amino-acid peptide, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, produced by chemical synthesis rather than extracted from biological tissue. Its design is based on tuftsin, a natural immunomodulatory tetrapeptide. The C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro segment is a common stabilising motif in short regulatory peptides.
The core four residues correspond to tuftsin, which occurs naturally as part of immunoglobulin G. The full seven-residue sequence, however, is not a known endogenous peptide. It is a laboratory-designed analogue intended to combine tuftsin-like activity with greater resistance to breakdown.
No single receptor has been confirmed as the primary target. Reports describe involvement of the GABAergic system, interference with enkephalin degradation, and shifts in neurotrophic factor expression. Because these observations come from different models and assays, they have not yet been integrated into one accepted mechanism.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, designed as a metabolically stabilized analogue of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin. It has been studied mainly against anxiety-related and cognitive endpoints rather than as an approved medicine in most jurisdictions.