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Selank Background And Peptide Chemistry — Reference Sheet

By Editorial Desk · published 2025-08-29 · last reviewed 2025-10-18 · Faq

If you have been reading about Pro-Gly-Pro and want a single page that covers the useful parts, this is it: definitions, context, how it is studied, and the questions that come up repeatedly.

Last reviewed on 2025-10-18. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.

Selank Background and Peptide Chemistry

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.

Background and Molecular Identity

Development took place at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where a series of short peptides were designed in the 1980s and 1990s. Selank was selected from variants of tuftsin that showed resistance to plasma peptidases. Russian regulatory approval covers it as an anxiolytic agent given intranasally. Outside that market the compound is normally handled as a research chemical rather than a medicine, and no widely recognised international pharmacopoeial monograph exists. The name Selank is a coined trade designation rather than a systematic chemical name.

Enzymatic stability motivates the extra three residues at the carboxyl end. Native tuftsin is cleaved quickly by circulating aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases, which limits its duration of action and its usefulness as a tool compound. Extending the chain with proline-rich segments is a common design tactic because proline constrains the backbone and slows proteolysis. The same Pro-Gly-Pro motif appears in other Russian-developed peptides of the era. Whether the full seven-residue chain is required for activity, or whether it acts mainly as a prodrug releasing tuftsin, remains unresolved.

Selank at a glance

PropertyValueNotes
Molecular formulaC33H57N11O9Derived from the seven-residue sequence
Molecular weightAbout 751.9 g/molAverage mass; the monoisotopic value is slightly lower
Residue countSeven amino acidsThr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro
Parent compoundTuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg)Selank extends tuftsin at the C-terminus
Compound classSynthetic short peptideStudied in a research setting; not a licensed drug in most markets

Origins and Proposed Mechanisms

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 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.

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Analytical Methods and Handling

Lyophilized Selank, the dry powder form, is generally stored frozen at minus 20 degrees Celsius or colder for long-term keeping. The solid is hygroscopic and should stay sealed, dry, and protected from light. Once dissolved, the peptide is less stable and is usually held refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius for short periods. Repeated freezing and thawing is avoided because it can promote aggregation and loss of activity. Buffers and pH choice also affect how long a solution remains usable.

Solubility behavior is a practical concern for handling. Selank dissolves readily in water and in common aqueous buffers, which simplifies preparation of working solutions. The choice of solvent, ionic strength, and pH can influence aggregation over time, particularly at higher concentrations. Aqueous solutions are typically sterile-filtered before use. Because stability depends on several variables, storage and handling notes should be treated as general guidance rather than fixed rules, and specific values are best confirmed against a certificate of analysis for each batch.

Notes from published material

=== Dekarangers === The eponymous Dekarangers are members of the S.P.D.'s Earth unit who protect Earth from intergalactic criminals called Alienizers. Each of the primary members possess an SP License (SPライセンス, Esu Pī Raisensu) device, which allows them to transform via Change Mode (チェンジモード, Chenji Mōdo); communicate with each other, analyze items pertaining to a case they are working on, and summon their Deka Machines to battle Kaijuki via Phone Mode (フォンモード, Fon Mōdo); and determine a criminal's innocence in a particular crime and whether or not they can be approved for deletion via Judgement Mode (ジャッジメントモード, Jajjimento Mōdo). While transformed, they each carry a varying pair of D-Arms (ディーアームズ, Dī Āmuzu) sidearms, which can combine to form a firearm-like weapon. They also ride varying Deka Vehicles (デカビークル, Deka Bīkuru) for transportation. After undergoing further training, the primary Dekarangers gain the ability to assume S.W.A.T. Mode (スワットモード, Suwatto Mōdo), which clads them in armor that grants heat-seeking, X-ray, and night vision capabilities. They also wield high-powered D-Revolver (ディーリボルバー, Dī Riborubā) machine guns.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and has been associated with the Scandinavian kingdoms of Denmark and Norway for more than a millennium, beginning in 986 AD when Norse settlers from what is now Norway and Iceland settled Greenland. The 13th century saw the arrival of the Inuit, the ancestors of today's majority population. After around 400 years, the Norse settlement in Greenland is believed to have died out in the late 15th century, but the legends of it persisted in Scandinavia. This prompted King Christian IV to send an expedition to Greenland in 1605 to locate the lost Eastern Norse Settlement and reassert sovereignty over Greenland. Norwegian priest Hans Egede reestablished a permanent Dano-Norwegian presence in 1721, founding the town of Godthaab (now Nuuk). Today's population is mainly Inuit, with a smaller Danish population, and many people are of mixed Inuit and Danish origin. Greenlanders often have close family, personal, and cultural ties to Denmark, with thousands living there. Greenland formally became part of the Kingdom of Norway in 1261, when the Norse inhabitants submitted to the King of Norway. Norway then entered a union with Denmark in 1380. Under the 1814 Treaty of Kiel, Greenland remained with the Danish Crown as part of the settlement with Sweden following the Napoleonic Wars. Denmark declared full sovereignty over all of Greenland, including the uninhabited parts, in 1921, in the aftermath of the Treaty of Versailles.

== Gland atrophy == The adrenal glands atrophy during prolonged use of exogenous glucocorticoids like prednisone. Atrophy of the breasts can occur with prolonged estrogen reduction, as with anorexia nervosa or menopause. Testicular atrophy can occur with prolonged use of enough exogenous sex steroids (either androgen or estrogen) to reduce gonadotropin secretion.

=== Sports performance === Stronger muscles improve performance in a variety of sports. Sport-specific training routines are used by many competitors. These often specify that the speed of muscle contraction during weight training should be the same as that of the particular sport. Strength training can substantially prevent sports injuries, increase jump height and improve change of direction. Strength training, such as weight lifting, is helpful but not a perfect predictor of sports performance, as playing a sport requires more skills than simple strength alone.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Background from the literature

%) is also used as aquarium plants fertilizer. The more soluble form of iron, Fe(II), is a micronutrient needed by aquatic plants. By binding to Fe2+ ions DTPA prevents their precipitation as Fe(OH)3, or Fe2O3·nH2O poorly soluble oxy-hydroxides after their oxidation by dissolved oxygen. It increases the solubility of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in water, and therefore the bioavailability of iron for aquatic plants. It contributes so to maintain iron under a dissolved form (probably a mix of Fe(II) and Fe(III) DTPA complexes) in the water column. It is unclear to what extent does DTPA really contribute to protect dissolved Fe2+ against air oxidation and if the Fe(III)-DTPA complex cannot also be directly assimilated by aquatic plants simply because of its enhanced solubility. Under natural conditions, that is, in the absence of complexing DTPA, Fe2+ is more easily assimilated by most organisms, because of its 100-fold higher solubility than that of Fe3+. In pulp and paper mills DTPA is also used to remove dissolved ferrous and ferric ions (and other redox-active metal ions, such as Mn or Cu) that otherwise would accelerate the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 reduction by Fe2+ ions according to the Fenton reaction mechanism). This helps preserving the oxidation capacity of the hydrogen peroxide stock which is used as oxidizing agent to bleach pulp in the chlorine-free process of paper making. Several thousand tons of DTPA are produced annually for this purpose in order to limit the non-negligible losses of H2O2 by this mechanism.

=== Sanctions === After the declaration of independence, and indeed for the entire duration of its existence, Rhodesia did not receive official recognition from any state, although it did maintain diplomatic relations with South Africa, which was then under apartheid. South Africa did not recognise Rhodesia to preserve its fragile positions with other nations, but frequently assisted the Rhodesian state. Portugal maintained informal relations until the Carnation Revolution of 1974. The day following the declaration of independence, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution (S/RES/216) calling upon all states not to accord Rhodesia recognition, and to refrain from any assistance. The Security Council also imposed selective mandatory economic sanctions, which were later made comprehensive. The US, despite voting in favour of the sanctions at the UNSC, violated them to buy chromium ore from Rhodesia. Kenneth Kaunda, president of Zambia, also accused western oil companies of violating the sanctions and selling oil to Rhodesia.

==== MeSH D12.776.377.715.548 – immunoglobulins ==== MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114 – antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.071 – antibodies, anti-idiotypic MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.107 – antibodies, archaeal MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.125 – antibodies, bacterial MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.125.288 – antistreptolysin MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.134 – antibodies, bispecific MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.143 – antibodies, blocking MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.167 – antibodies, catalytic MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.179 – antibodies, fungal MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.185 – antibodies, helminth MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.191 – antibodies, heterophile MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.224 – antibodies, monoclonal MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.224.570 – muromonab-cd3 MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.240 – antibodies, neoplasm MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.248 – antibodies, phospho-specific MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.252 – antibodies, protozoan MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254 – antibodies, viral MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254.150 – deltaretrovirus antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254.150.440 – hiv antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254.150.500 – htlv-i antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254.150.510 – htlv-ii antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254.450 – hepatitis antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254.450.251 – hepatitis a antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254.450.504 – hepatitis b antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.254.450.510 – hepatitis c antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.257 – antigen-antibody complex MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.301 – antitoxins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.301.138 – antivenins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.301.268 – botulinum antitoxin MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.301.438 – diphtheria antitoxin MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.301.849 – tetanus antitoxin MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323 – autoantibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.190 – antibodies, antineutrophil cytoplasmic MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.204 – antibodies, antinuclear MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.210 – antibodies, antiphospholipid MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.210.100 – antibodies, anticardiolipin MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.210.600 – lupus coagulation inhibitor MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.300 – complement c3 nephritic factor MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.390 – immunoconglutinins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.480 – immunoglobulins, thyroid-stimulating MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.480.500 – long-acting thyroid stimulator MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.323.732 – rheumatoid factor MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.345 – binding sites, antibody MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.345.180 – complementarity determining regions MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.525 – hemolysins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.573 – immune sera MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.573.203 – antilymphocyte serum MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.580 – immunoconjugates MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.580.450 – immunotoxins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.606 – immunoglobulin allotypes MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.606.586 – immunoglobulin gm allotypes MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.606.587 – immunoglobulin km allotypes MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619 – immunoglobulin isotypes MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.026 – immunoglobulin a MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.026.030 – immunoglobulin a, secretory MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.026.030.500 – secretory component MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.026.515 – immunoglobulin alpha-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.251 – immunoglobulin d MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.251.500 – immunoglobulin delta-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.312 – immunoglobulin e MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.312.500 – immunoglobulin epsilon-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.393 – immunoglobulin g MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.393.522 – immunoglobulin gamma-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.393.522.400 – immunoglobulin gm allotypes MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.393.550 – long-acting thyroid stimulator MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.393.570 – muromonab-cd3 MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.393.700 – rho(d) immune globulin MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.574 – immunoglobulin m MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.619.574.500 – immunoglobulin mu-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.632 – immunoglobulins, intravenous MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.648 – immunoglobulins, thyroid-stimulating MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.656 – insulin antibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.664 – isoantibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.715 – oligoclonal bands MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.767 – opsonin proteins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.820 – plantibodies MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.837 – precipitins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.114.890 – reagins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.397 – gamma-globulins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.397.500 – tuftsin MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.538 – immunoglobulin constant regions MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.538.249 – immunoglobulin fab fragments MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.538.500 – immunoglobulin fc fragments MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.538.500.249 – cd4 immunoadhesins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680 – immunoglobulin fragments MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.650 – immunoglobulin fab fragments MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.650.500 – immunoglobulin variable region MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.650.500.180 – complementarity determining regions MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.650.500.590 – immunoglobulin joining region MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.650.750 – tuftsin MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.660 – immunoglobulin fc fragments MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.660.249 – cd4 immunoadhesins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.660.500 – immunoglobulin constant regions MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.680.745 – immunoglobulin idiotypes MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705 – immunoglobulin subunits MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.500 – immunoglobulin heavy chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.500.350 – immunoglobulin alpha-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.500.360 – immunoglobulin delta-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.500.370 – immunoglobulin epsilon-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.500.380 – immunoglobulin gamma-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.500.380.500 – immunoglobulin gm allotypes MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.500.500 – immunoglobulin mu-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.625 – immunoglobulin j-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.750 – immunoglobulin light chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.750.530 – immunoglobulin kappa-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.750.530.500 – immunoglobulin km allotypes MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.750.550 – immunoglobulin lambda-chains MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.705.875 – secretory component MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.797 – immunoglobulin variable region MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.797.180 – complementarity determining regions MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.797.570 – immunoglobulin fab fragments MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.797.590 – immunoglobulin joining region MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.900 – paraproteins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.900.120 – bence jones protein MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.900.225 – cryoglobulins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.900.500 – myeloma proteins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.900.700 – pyroglobulins MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.950 – receptors, antigen, b-cell MeSH D12.776.377.715.548.950.500 – antigens, cd79

substantial increases in drug overdose deaths across the United States, primarily driven by rapid increases in overdose deaths involving ... illicitly manufactured fentanyl; a concerning acceleration of the increase in drug overdose deaths, with the largest increase recorded from March 2020 to May 2020, coinciding with the implementation of widespread mitigation measures for the COVID-19 pandemic; significant increases in overdose deaths involving methamphetamine.

== End groups in polymer synthesis == End groups are seen on all polymers and the functionality of those end groups can be important in determining the application of polymers. Each type of polymerization (free radical, condensation or etc.) has end groups that are typical for the polymerization, and knowledge of these can help to identify the type of polymerization method used to form the polymer.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Frequently asked questions

What is selank?

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.

How does selank differ from tuftsin?

Tuftsin contains four residues, while selank carries an additional Pro-Gly-Pro segment at the carboxyl end. That extension is intended to reduce enzymatic cleavage. Comparative pharmacokinetic data in humans remain limited.

Is the mechanism of action established?

No single receptor target is widely accepted as the definitive mediator of the reported effects. Proposed contributors include GABAergic modulation, shifts in monoamine turnover, and altered neuropeptide degradation. The mechanism is treated in the literature as unresolved.

What is Selank chemically?

Selank is a seven-amino-acid peptide built from the tuftsin sequence plus a Pro-Gly-Pro tail. It is produced by chemical synthesis rather than extracted from a natural source. The free peptide is usually supplied as a lyophilised powder or in an aqueous formulation.

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