Product details
P21 (also designated P021 or Peptide 6c in some publications) is a synthetic tetrapeptide derivative inspired by ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), specifically a capped hexapeptide (Ac-Asp-Gly-Gly-Leu-Ala-Gly-NH2, Ac-DGGLAG-NH2) whose Asp-Gly-Gly-Leu (DGGL) N-terminal segment is the active core pharmacophore, with an adamantane moiety carried on the molecule that provides oral bioavailability and blood-brain-barrier penetration. The molecule was developed at the New York State Institute for Basic Research as a small-molecule mimetic of CNTF's neurogenic and BDNF-upregulating effects without CNTF's known dose-limiting side-effect profile. P21 is studied in research contexts for adult hippocampal neurogenesis, BDNF expression, and Alzheimer's disease and aging-related cognitive decline models.
Peptuno supplies P21 as a lyophilized powder at ≥99.0% HPLC purity. The adamantane modification creates analytical challenges similar to other lipidated peptides, the modified molecule is substantially more hydrophobic than the unmodified DGGLAG hexapeptide and requires modified RP-HPLC conditions for adequate resolution. The release packet covers peak-integration HPLC under appropriate conditions, mass spec confirming the adamantane-modified mass, and water content. The 5 mg fill size matches typical neuroscience-research aliquot scales.
Regulatory note: Research peptide derivative; CAS is not consistently registered across suppliers. Sold for research use only.
FAQ
- Why does P21 need the adamantane modification?
- The unmodified DGGLAG peptide is too polar for both oral absorption and blood-brain-barrier penetration, properties that would make it useless for CNS research. The adamantane group provides three things: (1) increased overall hydrophobicity that supports passive membrane diffusion, (2) protection against aminopeptidase cleavage, and (3) sufficient blood-brain-barrier permeability that systemic administration produces meaningful CNS exposure. The adamantane is a delivery vehicle rather than a pharmacophore, the biological activity comes from the DGGL core sequence, but the modification is essential for the molecule to reach its target tissue at functional concentrations.
- What is CNTF and why is P21 derived from a CNTF-mimetic design?
- CNTF (Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor) is a 200-amino-acid cytokine in the IL-6 family with strong neurotrophic and neurogenic activity in CNS research models. Native CNTF advanced through clinical trials for ALS in the 1990s and was discontinued due to severe off-target side effects (weight loss, fever, antibody formation) that came from the cytokine's broad receptor-binding profile. The P21 design strategy isolated a short active core (DGGL, presented within the Ac-DGGLAG-NH2 hexapeptide) from a specific region of CNTF hypothesized to drive the neurogenic activity, then added the adamantane group for delivery, producing a small molecule that retains some of CNTF's neurogenic effects without the cytokine's full receptor-binding profile and associated side effects. P21 is therefore a research tool for studying CNTF-mimetic biology in isolation from the broader cytokine pharmacology.
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
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