DOCUMENTED BY BATCHCompound identity and nomenclature
Epithalon (also written Epitalon, and abbreviated AEDG after its residue order) is a synthetic tetrapeptide first described in the peptide research literature by Vladimir Khavinson. It is catalogued under CAS Registry Number 307297-39-8 and PubChem CID 219042. In the peptide literature it is referred to interchangeably as Epithalon, Epitalon, and the AEDG tetrapeptide, all of which describe the same four-residue sequence.
As a defined synthetic compound rather than an extract, Epithalon has a single, unambiguous primary structure that can be confirmed by mass spectrometry, which is what makes it suitable as a research reference material.
Molecular structure and physical description
The primary sequence is Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly: an N-terminal alanine (Ala), followed by glutamic acid (Glu), aspartic acid (Asp), and a C-terminal Gly residue. This linear tetrapeptide carries the molecular formula C14H22N4O9 with an average molecular weight of 390.35 g/mol (monoisotopic mass near 390.14 Da), values confirmed against the PubChem record for CID 219042.
In its typical lyophilized (freeze-dried) form the material presents as a white to off-white powder that is readily soluble in water. Because it is a small, unmodified peptide with several acidic side chains, it is handled in the laboratory as a hygroscopic solid and kept cold and dry; stock solutions for analytical work are prepared by dissolving the powder in sterile water, and repeated freezing and thawing of the resulting solution is minimized to preserve sequence integrity.
Analytical identity and purity testing
Confirming that a vial labeled Epithalon actually contains the Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly tetrapeptide, and nothing else at a meaningful level, is an analytical chemistry problem, not a marketing claim. Two complementary techniques do most of the work.
Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), establish identity. The measured mass of the intact molecule is compared against the theoretical mass derived from C14H22N4O9, and fragmentation can be read against the expected Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly backbone. High-resolution instruments resolve the exact mass closely enough to distinguish the target peptide from near-isobaric impurities. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) then addresses purity: the sample is separated on a column and each component is quantified as a percentage of the total peak area, so that a single dominant peak indicates a homogeneous material. Column separation performance and gradient conditions determine how well closely related peptides are resolved.
At livvmore, identity and purity are characterized per batch at the USC Alfred E. Mann Multi-Omics Mass Spectrometry Core, a university laboratory, using LC-MS and HRMS. The Epithalon reference batch B10001 was documented at approximately 99.08% by this workflow, with the full Certificate of Analysis published in the quality and testing library alongside the certificates for other catalogued compounds.
How to read a Certificate of Analysis
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is the document that ties a physical vial to its test data. For a peptide such as Epithalon, a complete COA identifies the compound name and sequence, the batch or lot number, the analytical methods run (for example LC-MS, HRMS, and HPLC), the measured purity as a percentage, and the identity confirmation statement. The batch number on the certificate should match the batch number on the vial, and the reported molecular weight should match the published value of 390.35 g/mol for C14H22N4O9. A certificate that names the testing laboratory and the method, rather than only a percentage, is more informative because it lets a reader trace how the number was produced.
Research and literature context
Epithalon is discussed in the published literature primarily as a synthetic short peptide studied in cell-biology and peptide chemistry research; indexed records and background chemistry are available through PubChem (CID 219042) and the biomedical literature indexed on PMC. Within a research setting it is handled strictly as a characterized reference compound. This profile describes only its chemistry, its analytical characterization, and how its testing documentation is structured; it does not describe outcomes and makes no claims of any biological result.
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.
Frequently asked questions
What is Epithalon (Epitalon)?
Epithalon, also written Epitalon, is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (abbreviated AEDG). It is catalogued under CAS 307297-39-8 and PubChem CID 219042 and is supplied as a characterized reference compound for laboratory research use only.
What is the molecular formula and weight of Epithalon?
Epithalon has the molecular formula C14H22N4O9 and an average molecular weight of 390.35 g/mol (monoisotopic mass near 390.14 Da), as recorded on PubChem for CID 219042.
What is the amino acid sequence of Epithalon?
Epithalon is a linear tetrapeptide with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly: an N-terminal alanine, then glutamic acid, then aspartic acid, and a C-terminal Gly residue. This four-residue order is the basis of its AEDG abbreviation.
How is the identity and purity of an Epithalon batch confirmed?
Identity is confirmed by LC-MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), which compare the measured mass against the theoretical mass of C14H22N4O9, while purity is measured by HPLC as a percentage of total peak area. At livvmore this testing is performed per batch at the USC Alfred E. Mann Multi-Omics Mass Spectrometry Core; batch B10001 was documented at approximately 99.08%.
What should a Certificate of Analysis for Epithalon include?
A complete COA lists the compound name and Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly sequence, the batch or lot number, the analytical methods run (LC-MS, HRMS, HPLC), the measured purity percentage, and an identity confirmation statement. The batch number and the 390.35 g/mol molecular weight on the certificate should match the vial and the published PubChem value.