This is a working overview of Mass spectrometry, written for readers who want more than a one-paragraph summary but less than a textbook.
Reviewed 2025-11-05. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
Animal and clinical reports appear mainly in Russian-language journals from the 1990s and 2000s, covering endpoints such as melatonin rhythm, lifespan in aged rodents, and retinal function. Many of these papers involve small groups, lack blinding or placebo comparison, and are difficult to retrieve through indexed databases. Review articles published in English generally summarise the claims without reanalysing the underlying data. Because no large randomised trial exists, the clinical importance of these reported effects stays unresolved and is properly described as an open question.
No national medicines regulator has approved epitalon as a therapeutic product. It is generally distributed as a research chemical, and in some jurisdictions selling peptides for human consumption without approval is restricted or prohibited. Certificates of analysis accompanying commercial material vary in which tests are performed, and independent verification of identity and purity is uncommon. Statements about anti-ageing or disease-prevention benefits on vendor pages are marketing claims rather than regulatory findings, a distinction that shapes how the compound is discussed in scientific and popular sources alike.
The most frequently cited laboratory finding is that AEDG increased telomerase activity and extended telomere length in cultured human somatic cells. That work used fetal fibroblast strains and reported changes in enzyme activity alongside altered division counts. Replication by unrelated groups has been limited, and the published record is largely a single-laboratory series rather than a multi-centre programme. The result supports a hypothesis about peptide influence on gene expression in cell culture; it does not by itself establish an effect on telomere length in living animals or in people.
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide whose sequence is alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine, written in single-letter code as AEDG. The four residues are joined by three peptide bonds, giving a linear backbone with no branching and no disulfide bridges. Its calculated molecular mass for the free form is approximately 390.3 daltons, a figure that rises when the compound is supplied as an acetate or trifluoroacetate salt. Because the chain is short, the molecule is defined entirely by its residue order rather than by any folded three-dimensional structure.
The compound is described in the literature as a derivative of epithalamin, a preparation obtained from bovine pineal tissue. Work on this peptide family was carried out mainly by a research group in Saint Petersburg beginning in the 1980s, and the substance was later registered for clinical use in Russia under the name Epitalon. Outside that region it is generally treated as a research chemical rather than an approved medicine. Statements about its biological activity rest on a relatively small number of studies, and independent replication remains limited.
In its supplied form epitalon is a white to off-white powder, usually lyophilized and often hygroscopic. It dissolves readily in water and in aqueous buffers, and it is commonly handled as the acetate or trifluoroacetate salt to improve stability during purification and drying. The amide backbone is labile in aqueous media, so solutions are less durable than the dry solid. Handling notes in the chemical literature therefore emphasize keeping the powder dry, cool and shielded from light until it is dissolved.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory status | Not an approved drug | Marketed in most countries as a research chemical |
| Main literature language | Russian and English | Early reports concentrated in Russian journals |
| Typical stated purity | ≥95% by HPLC | Supplier declaration, seldom independently verified |
| Principal studied endpoint | Telomerase activity in vitro | Measured in cultured human cells |
| Reported administration routes | Subcutaneous, intranasal | Described in exploratory use reports |
Material sold for research use varies widely in documented quality. A useful verification package includes a certificate of analysis that states peptide content rather than only net weight, the chromatographic method and column used, and a mass spectrum consistent with the expected mass. Independent testing by a third-party laboratory is occasionally reported. Statements of identity resting only on a supplier label provide little assurance, and the gap between nominal mass and actual peptide content can be substantial once counterions and residual water are counted.
Peptides of this size are generally stable as dry solids but degrade in solution over time. The principal routes are hydrolysis of the peptide backbone and oxidation, with hydrolysis favoured by elevated temperature and extreme pH. Aqueous solutions held at room temperature can show measurable loss of purity within days, while frozen aliquots are considerably more durable. Because the sequence contains neither cysteine nor methionine, oxidation is less of a concern than for many other peptides, but pH control during handling still matters.
Typical storage for the lyophilized powder is −20 °C or lower, in a sealed container protected from light and moisture. Hygroscopic material should be allowed to equilibrate to room temperature before the vial is opened, which limits condensation on the contents. Working solutions are commonly divided into single-use aliquots and frozen to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Dilute solutions are more prone to adsorption onto plastic surfaces and to loss during filtration, so procedures that minimize transfers and use low-binding labware are preferable.
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence alanine-glutamate-aspartate-glycine, abbreviated AEDG. Its molecular formula is C14H22N4O9 and its calculated monoisotopic mass is approximately 390.35 daltons. The compound does not occur naturally as a free peptide; it is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Because it contains two acidic residues and no basic residues, the neutral form carries a net negative charge at physiological pH. This charge profile influences how the peptide behaves in solution and during chromatographic analysis.
Laboratory-grade epitalon is typically supplied as a lyophilized powder. Purity is commonly assessed with reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, often paired with mass spectrometry to confirm molecular identity. Amino acid analysis and peptide mapping can provide additional confirmation of sequence. Certificates of analysis for research materials frequently report purity above 95 percent, although the methods behind such figures vary between suppliers. The absence of a pharmacopeial monograph means that no single standardized assay defines the compound, so reported results depend on the analytical protocol chosen.
Storage recommendations center on limiting moisture, heat, and light. The dry powder is generally kept at minus 20 degrees Celsius, and some suppliers recommend minus 80 degrees for long-term archival. Once dissolved, solutions are usually aliquoted and frozen to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which can promote aggregation or degradation. Aqueous stability depends on pH and concentration, and buffered saline is often preferred over plain water for biological work. Stability data specific to epitalon remain limited, so general peptide-handling practices are applied by analogy rather than from product-specific validation.
Stability of the tetrapeptide follows ordinary peptide chemistry rather than any unusual structural feature. The aspartate-glycine pair is prone to aspartimide formation under mildly basic or neutral conditions, and deamidation can follow, altering both mass and chromatographic retention. Dry lyophilised powder kept at or below minus twenty degrees Celsius is the usual handling recommendation, with repeated freeze-thaw cycles avoided. Once dissolved in neutral aqueous buffer, degradation proceeds over days to weeks depending on pH and temperature, while acidic conditions generally slow the aspartimide route. A formal stability-indicating study has not been published in the indexed literature.
Because epitalon has no pharmacopoeial monograph, quality assessment depends on supplier documentation and independent testing. Certificates of analysis typically report a purity figure from a single chromatographic run, a measured mass and sometimes an appearance description, but methods and acceptance criteria are not harmonised across vendors. Third-party laboratories can repeat identity and purity measurements, and mismatches between labelled and measured peptide content have been described for research peptides generally. What constitutes adequate identity confirmation for a molecule of this size stays an open question, since mass agreement alone does not separate closely related sequences.
Identity testing for epitalon relies on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography for purity and mass spectrometry for mass confirmation. Because the sequence contains no tryptophan or tyrosine, ultraviolet detection at 280 nanometres is insensitive, so chromatographic methods usually monitor absorbance near 214 nanometres, where the peptide backbone absorbs. Electrospray ionisation or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation then checks the intact mass against the expected value near 390 daltons. Peptide mapping or amino acid analysis after acid hydrolysis can supplement these measurements, although such confirmatory work is seldom reported on commercial certificates of analysis.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) is a protein, also known as CRF1, with the latter (CRF1) now being the IUPHAR-recommended name. In humans, CRF1 is encoded by the CRHR1 gene at region 17q21.31, beside micrototubule-associated protein tau MAPT.
NOS Journaal, a radio news bulletin that is broadcast every hour on the public broadcasting channels NPO Radio 1, NPO Radio 2, NPO Radio 4 and NPO Radio 5. NOS Headlines, a radio news bulletin especially made for a younger audience (like Newsbeat on BBC Radio 1), broadcast on NPO 3FM and NPO FunX. Since 2011 NOS op 3. NOS Radio 1 Journaal, a news and current affairs programme that is broadcast mornings and afternoons on NPO Radio 1. NOS Langs de lijn (Along the sideline), a sports programme on NPO Radio 1, featuring live sports coverage and results from the Eredivisie and other major sports. NOS Met het Oog op Morgen (With a view to tomorrow), a late-night current affairs programme on NPO Radio 1.
==== Autonomous republics ==== All sixteen republics under the Russian SFSR Crimean ASSR under Ukraine Karakalpak ASSR under Uzbekistan Abkhaz SSR (former ASSR under Georgia, which had declared independence)
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Trim weights in aircraft === Aircraft that contain depleted uranium trim weights for stabilizing wings and control surfaces (such as the Boeing 747–100) may contain between 652 and 1,059 pounds (296 and 480 kg) of DU. This application is controversial because the DU might enter the environment if the aircraft crashes. The metal can also oxidize to a fine powder in a fire. Its use has been phased out in many newer aircraft. Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas discontinued using DU counterweights in the 1980s. Depleted uranium was released during the crash of El Al Flight 1862 on 4 October 1992, in which 152 kilograms (335 lb) was lost, but a case study concluded that there was no evidence to link depleted uranium from the plane to any health problems. DU counterweights manufactured with cadmium plating are considered non-hazardous as long as the plating is intact.
Metformin - widely used in treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 Phenformin - withdrawn from the market in most countries due to toxic effects Buformin - withdrawn from the market due to toxic effects
== Works cited == Hudson, Rex A.; Hanratty, Dennis Michael, eds. (1991). Bolivia: a country study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
=== Notable alumni and faculty === John Shaw Billings - began process to organize world's medical literature, now PubMed Gerald Buckberg - an American physician whose research interests centered in the area of myocardial protection and led to the introduction of blood cardioplegia Tommy Casanova - American physician, football player and politician M. H. Cleary - American lawyer, physician and activist Robin T. Cotton - English physician who is well known for his work in pediatric otolaryngology William W. Ellsberry - U.S. Representative from Ohio Thomas J. Fogarty - an American surgeon and medical device inventor best known for the invention of the embolectomy catheter, or balloon catheter Alonzo Garcelon - the 36th Governor of Maine, and a surgeon general of Maine during the American Civil War Marilyn Gaston - expert on sickle-cell disease Bertha Lund Glaeser (1862–1939) – American physician Jack Horsley - American former competition swimmer and Olympic medalist Frank F. Ledford Jr. an American orthopedic surgeon who served as the 37th Surgeon General of the United States Army Jeanne Lusher - an American physician, pediatric hematologist/oncologist, and a researcher in the field of bleeding disorders of childhood Anna Ornstein - Auschwitz survivor, psychoanalyst and psychiatrist, author, speaker, and scholar Scott L. Pomeroy - the Bronson Crothers Professor of Neurology and Director of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center of Harvard Medical School James B.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Express, freight and cold chain === SF Holding focuses on the mid- to high-end express delivery market. The company entered the express freight market in 2013. On June 13, 2017, SF Cold Chain Logistics Co., Ltd. was officially established, becoming the first express logistics company in China to establish a nationwide cold chain logistics network.
The best-known practitioner in this genre was the English taxidermist Walter Potter, whose most famous work was The Death and Burial of Cock Robin. Among his other scenes were "a rat's den being raided by the local police rats ... [a] village school ... featuring 48 little rabbits busy writing on tiny slates, while the Kittens' Tea Party displayed feline etiquette and a game of croquet." Apart from the simulations of human situations, he had also added examples of bizarrely deformed animals such as two-headed lambs and four-legged chickens. Potter's museum was so popular that an extension was built to the platform at Bramber railway station. Other Victorian taxidermists known for their iconic anthropomorphic taxidermy work are William Hart and his son Edward Hart. They gained recognition with their famous series of dioramas featuring boxing squirrels. Both William and Edward created multiple sets of these dioramas. One 4-piece set of boxing squirrel dioramas (circa 1850) sold at auction in 2013 for record prices. The four dioramas were created as a set (with each diorama portraying the squirrels at a different stage during their boxing match); however, the set was broken up and each was sold separately at the same auction. The set was one of a number they created over the years featuring boxing squirrels.
Applications of this method include the analysis of fragile molecules and guest-host interactions that cannot be studied using regular electrospray ionization. Electrospray ionization has also been achieved at pressures as low as 25 torr and termed subambient pressure ionization with nanoelectrospray (SPIN) based upon a two-stage ion funnel interface developed by Richard D. Smith and coworkers. The SPIN implementation provided increased sensitivity due to the use of ion funnels that helped confine and transfer ions to the lower pressure region of the mass spectrometer. Nanoelectrospray emitter is made out of a fine capillary with a small aperture about 1–3 micrometer. For sufficient conductivity this capillary is usually sputter-coated with conductive material, e.g. gold. Nanoelectrospray ionization consumes only a few microliters of a sample and forms smaller droplets. Operation at low pressure was particularly effective for low flow rates where the smaller electrospray droplet size allowed effective desolvation and ion formation to be achieved. As a result, the researchers were later able to demonstrate achieving an excess of 50% overall ionization utilization efficiency for transfer of ions from the liquid phase, into the gas phase as ions, and through the dual ion funnel interface to the mass spectrometer.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Small studies with human participants have been reported, chiefly in Russian-language journals, but they are limited in size and design. No large randomised controlled trial with published results is available.
The most reproducible biochemical observation comes from cultured cells, where the peptide was reported to raise telomerase activity. Whether this translates into measurable health effects in animals or humans is not established.
It is offered as a research chemical for laboratory use, which places it outside the approval pathways applied to medicines. Buyers should expect documentation to differ between suppliers.
The peptide contains four residues in the order alanine, glutamate, aspartate and glycine, abbreviated AEDG. The chain is linear and held together by three peptide bonds. Its calculated mass for the uncharged free form is about 390.3 daltons.