Everything below concerns melanocortin signalling. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Updated 2025-08-02. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It is described in the literature as an analogue of the ACTH(4–10) fragment, a short N-terminal portion of adrenocorticotropic hormone that retains some neurotropic activity without the full hormonal effects of the parent peptide. The molecule carries a methionine residue at the N-terminus and two proline residues near the C-terminus, features that shape both its interactions with receptor systems and its chemical stability. The free peptide corresponds to the formula C37H51N9O10S and a molecular mass near 813.9 Da.
The compound was developed in the 1980s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, where it emerged from research on short ACTH fragments and their effects on the central nervous system. Russian pharmaceutical listings describe it as a nootropic and neuroprotective agent, most often formulated as nasal drops. It is not a marketed medicine in the United States or the European Union, and no pharmacopoeial monograph covers it. Consequently, most published clinical experience with the substance originates from a small number of research centres, mainly in Russia and neighbouring countries.
Pharmacological accounts link semax to melanocortin signalling and to modulation of neurotrophic factor expression, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor. Much of this evidence comes from rodent studies using intranasal delivery, a route chosen because it allows peptides to reach the central nervous system with limited systemic exposure. Whether the same mechanisms operate in humans at comparable magnitude remains an open question. The precise receptor or receptors responsible for the reported behavioural and neuroprotective effects have not been conclusively identified.
Semax is normally supplied as a lyophilized powder, and that form is the most stable. Suppliers commonly recommend storage at -20 °C in a desiccated container protected from light, with short-term handling at room temperature limited to weighing and transfer. Powder that has absorbed moisture degrades faster, so vials should be warmed to ambient temperature before opening to prevent condensation on the contents. Hygroscopic behavior is typical of short hydrophilic peptides, and humidity control matters more than temperature alone for long-term retention.
Once dissolved, the peptide is considerably less stable than the solid. Aqueous solutions are usually prepared at neutral to slightly acidic pH, filtered, and divided into single-use aliquots before freezing. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are a common cause of avoidable loss and are best prevented by never refreezing a thawed aliquot. Adsorption to plastic and glass surfaces can lower the measured concentration of dilute solutions, particularly below roughly 0.1 mg/mL. Buffer choice, salt content, and container material all influence how much peptide remains detectable after storage.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C37H51N9O10S | Free acid form of the heptapeptide; depends on terminal groups |
| Molecular mass | About 813.9 g/mol | Average mass used for mass spectrometry confirmation |
| Appearance | White to off-white solid | Supplied as a lyophilised powder; hygroscopic |
| Solubility class | Freely soluble in aqueous media | Water, saline, and phosphate buffers; limited organic solubility |
| Typical storage temperature | -20 degrees Celsius | Long term and dry; short working periods may use 2 to 8 degrees Celsius |
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in the Soviet Union during the 1980s by researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow. It was designed as a truncated analog of adrenocorticotropic hormone, retaining only the fragment spanning residues four through ten. Investigators sought a peptide that would preserve the cognitive effects associated with ACTH while eliminating the hormonal stimulation of the adrenal cortex. The compound entered clinical use in Russia during the following decade.
Russian regulatory authorities approved the peptide for nasal administration, and it remains listed in the national pharmacopoeia under several trade names. Documented indications include acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks, traumatic brain injury, and certain ophthalmological and neurological conditions. Physicians also prescribe it for cognitive complaints in older patients, although the evidence base for that use is thinner. Outside Russia and a few neighboring states, the substance is not an approved medicine and is sold instead as a research chemical.
Identity and purity of Semax are established mainly by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The chromatographic trace gives a purity estimate as a percentage of total peak area, while electrospray or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization confirms the molecular mass against the calculated value. Amino acid analysis and sequence-specific fragmentation provide further confirmation when a supplier's chain of custody is unclear. Vendors frequently quote a purity figure without stating the detection wavelength or the integration method, which limits how far one number can be compared with another.
Stability depends heavily on physical state. Lyophilized powder held dry, cold and dark retains its content over long periods, whereas dissolved peptide begins to change within days at room temperature. The most cited degradation route is oxidation of the methionine residue, which converts the peptide to a sulfoxide form that elutes differently on chromatography. Hydrolysis of amide bonds and adsorption onto container walls contribute smaller losses. Buffers that exclude oxygen from the headspace slow the oxidation pathway, but no single condition prevents all change indefinitely.
当时的短肽研究普遍关注能否穿越血脑屏障、在低剂量下产生中枢效应，Semax 属于这一路线。鼻内给药是其主要使用方式，俄语文献报道的适应症涵盖缺血性卒中、短暂性脑缺血发作、认知功能减退以及视神经病变。这些研究大多发表在当地期刊上，样本规模与终点设置同西方试验惯例存在差异，国际同行对其临床证据的强度看法不一。
各国监管态度分化明显。俄罗斯按处方药管理，部分东欧国家留有使用记录；欧盟与美国未批准其作为药物上市，市面流通品通常标注为研究用化学品。身份差异意味着标示含量、纯度与无菌性缺少统一核查。体育领域还牵涉反兴奋剂名录，跨境携带则受目的地药品法规约束。
=== 2007–present: Software tools === In June 2007, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. unveiled a new online software tool called Protein Lounge which brought all of the vital and necessary databases to one place. The Protein Database contained all of the necessary information for proteins, such as datasheets, reviews, signaling pathway relation, disease relation, sequences, publications and reagent links. The database offered the most comprehensive gene/protein sequence pages which have all pertinent information needed to analyze any sequence.1 In January 2008, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. announced an exclusive scientific collaboration with Dr. Dante Marciani, a world-renowned expert in immune agonists. The collaboration was focused on proprietary novel glycosides that stimulate innate immunity while taking advantage of the synergistic effects between innate and adaptive immunity. In addition, the collaboration extended to proprietary compounds that down regulate The immunity, an area of significance in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions. 2 In May 2009, Bio-Synthesis, Inc. began Mitochondrial, or DNA, testing and offered it commercially. The DNA Identity Testing Laboratory at Bio-Synthesis, Inc. (BSI) is currently sequencing DNA samples for maternal lineage and criminal investigations.3 In February 2010, Bio-synthesis has been awarded a 2-year, $590,000, Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
== Production and styles == Meat floss is made by stewing lean meat finely cut along the grain in a broth until the meat is very tender and individual muscle fibers can be teased apart. This happens when the water-insoluble collagen that holds the muscle fibers of the meat together has been converted into water-soluble gelatin. The meat is then separated from the broth and shredded into fibrous strips. It is then added back into the broth which is enriched with soy sauce, sugar, fennel, ginger, rice wine or other ingredients. The mixture is then cooked at low heat and stirred continuously until the floss is dried. There are different regional styles of meat floss, which differ in whether oil is added during the last process of production. Jiangsu style rousong is dry-cooked and the product is slightly chewy, while Fujian style bak hu is fried with oil and the product is mildly crispy. Five kilograms (11 lb) of meat will usually yield about one kilogram (2.2 lb) of floss. Taiwanese pork floss is made by cutting pork along the muscle fibers then boiling it for around 80 minutes to reduce moisture and soften collagen. The meat is then pressed into a paddle to loosen fibers, then transferred to a gas-fired frypan with mechanical scrapers to aid in drying and reducing the meat into long fibers. Sucrose, dehydrated starch and salt is then added at a specific time and ratio to enhance flavor and texture without hindering moisture removal. Once the desired consistency and dryness is obtained, the floss is stored briefly at room temperature and reheated in the scraping-frypan.
=== Effects of propranolol on other drugs === Propranolol has been found to increase area-under-the-curve levels of propafenone by more than 3-fold. It has been found to increase lidocaine levels by 1.3-fold. The drug has been found to increase peak and area-under-the-curve levels of nifedipine by 1.6-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively. Propranolol decreases theophylline clearance by 30 to 52%. Propranolol inhibits the metabolism of the benzodiazepine diazepam and can increase exposure to diazepam. Conversely, propranolol does not affect various other benzodiazepines, including oxazepam, triazolam, lorazepam, and alprazolam. High-dose long-acting propranolol has been found to increase thioridazine levels by 1.6- to 4.7-fold and levels of its metabolite mesoridazine by 1.3- to 3.1-fold. Propranolol decreased lovastatin or pravastatin area-under-the-curve levels by 18 to 23% but did not affect fluvastatin. It may decrease triiodothyronine (T3) levels when taken with thyroxine (T4). Propranolol has been found to increase the bioavailability and effects of warfarin.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Further reading == Arens, Sofie; Verhaegen, Jan; Verbist, Ludo (1997). "Differentiation and susceptibility ofCitrobacterisolates from patients in a university hospital". Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 3 (1): 53–57. doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.1997.tb00251.x. ISSN 1198-743X. PMID 11864076. Janda JM, Abbott SL, Cheung WK, Hanson DF (1994). "Biochemical identification of citrobacteria in the clinical laboratory". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 32 (8): 1850–4. doi:10.1128/JCM.32.8.1850-1854.1994. PMC 263890. PMID 7989531. Chen KJ, Chen TH, Sue YM (2013). "Citrobacter youngae and Pantoea agglomerans peritonitis in a peritoneal dialysis patient". Peritoneal Dialysis International. 33 (3): 336–7. doi:10.3747/pdi.2012.00151. PMC 3649909. PMID 23660614.
== Biological function == Enzymes serve a wide variety of functions inside living organisms. They are indispensable for signal transduction and cell regulation, often via kinases and phosphatases. They also generate movement, with myosin hydrolyzing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to generate muscle contraction, and also transport cargo around the cell as part of the cytoskeleton. Other ATPases in the cell membrane are ion pumps involved in active transport. Enzymes are also involved in more exotic functions, such as luciferase generating light in fireflies. Viruses can also contain enzymes for infecting cells, such as the HIV integrase and reverse transcriptase, or for viral release from cells, like the influenza virus neuraminidase. An important function of enzymes is in the digestive systems of animals. Enzymes such as amylases and proteases break down large molecules (starch or proteins, respectively) into smaller ones, so they can be absorbed by the intestines. Starch molecules, for example, are too large to be absorbed from the intestine, but enzymes hydrolyze the starch chains into smaller molecules such as maltose and eventually glucose, which can then be absorbed. Different enzymes digest different food substances. In ruminants, which have herbivorous diets, microorganisms in the gut produce another enzyme, cellulase, to break down the cellulose cell walls of plant fiber.
== Drug interactions == Loperamide is a substrate of P-glycoprotein; therefore, the concentration of loperamide increases when given with a P-glycoprotein inhibitor. Common P-glycoprotein inhibitors include quinidine, ritonavir, and ketoconazole. Loperamide can decrease the absorption of some other drugs. As an example, saquinavir concentrations can decrease by half when given with loperamide. Loperamide is an antidiarrheal agent, which decreases intestinal movement. As such, when combined with other antimotility drugs, the risk of constipation is increased. These drugs include other opioids, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and anticholinergics.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
In March 2025, German Doner Kebab (GDK) opened its first Cambridge location at the Cambridge Services on the A14 at Junction 24. In May 2025, German Doner Kebab (GDK) opened its first Norwich location at 43 St Stephens Street, and a new restaurant in Kent at Bluewater Shopping Centre.
=== Ribosome inactivation === RTA has rRNA N-glycosylase activity that is responsible for the cleavage of a glycosidic bond within the large rRNA of the 60S subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes. RTA specifically and irreversibly hydrolyses the N-glycosidic bond of the adenine residue at position 4324 (A4324) within the 28S rRNA, but leaves the phosphodiester backbone of the RNA intact. The ricin targets A4324 that is contained in a highly conserved sequence of 12 nucleotides universally found in eukaryotic ribosomes. The sequence, 5'-AGUACGAGAGGA-3', termed the sarcin-ricin loop, is important in binding elongation factors during protein synthesis. The depurination event rapidly and completely inactivates the ribosome, resulting in toxicity from inhibited protein synthesis. A single RTA molecule in the cytosol is capable of depurinating approximately 1500 ribosomes per minute.
Oxytocin and vasopressin receptors are present in many other brain regions, including the amygdala, brainstem, and septum, as well as most nuclei in the hypothalamus. Because so much vasopressin and oxytocin are released at this site, studies of the supraoptic nucleus have made an important contribution to understanding how release from dendrites is regulated, and in understanding its physiological significance. Studies have demonstrated that secretin helps to facilitate dendritic oxytocin release in the SON, and that secretin administration into the SON enhances social recognition in rodents. This enhanced social capability appears to be working through secretin's effects on oxytocin neurons in the SON, as blocking oxytocin receptors in this region blocks social recognition.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It is described as a synthetic analogue of the ACTH(4–10) fragment, a short segment of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Its sequence differs from that fragment and includes two proline residues, which influence stability and behaviour in solution.
It appears in Russian pharmaceutical listings as a nasal formulation, but it is not an authorised medicine in the United States or the European Union. Outside those markets it is normally encountered as a research chemical rather than a prescription product.
Laboratory and animal work points to melanocortin signalling and changes in neurotrophic factor levels, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The exact receptor targets and the degree to which these findings transfer to humans are still unresolved.
Each freeze-thaw cycle can degrade a fraction of the peptide and promote aggregation. Dividing a stock solution into single-use volumes removes repeated cycling as a variable. It also limits the time a thawed solution spends at room temperature.