Thymosin Alpha-1

Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid peptide, acetylated at the N-terminus, that is cleaved from the protein prothymosin alpha. It was first isolated from thymus tissue in 1977 by Allan Goldstein's group and is studied in immunology research. It is approved as a medicine in some countries outside the United States, but not by the FDA.

Despite the shared name, they are unrelated. Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid acetylated peptide cleaved from prothymosin alpha and was first isolated from thymus tissue; it is studied in immunology research. Thymosin β4 is a 43-amino-acid protein from a different gene that binds actin inside cells; TB-500 refers to synthetic peptides derived from it. Both names come from the same 1960s–70s thymus extract (thymosin fraction 5) in which they were found.

No. Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid acetylated peptide cleaved from prothymosin alpha and studied mainly in immunology research. Growth hormone is a 191-amino-acid pituitary protein with its own receptor. The two share no sequence and act on different targets; the "thymosin" name refers to the thymus tissue where it was first isolated.

Research on thymosin alpha-1 centers on immunology: T-cell maturation and Toll-like receptor signaling in dendritic cells, in cell and rodent models. Under the name thymalfasin it has been investigated in clinical trials in people with chronic hepatitis B and C and with sepsis, and as an adjunct to vaccines, and it is approved as a medicine in some countries outside the United States. Findings in cells or animals do not establish effects in people.

No. Thymosin alpha-1, whose international nonproprietary name is thymalfasin, is approved as a medicine in a number of countries outside the United States, but not by the FDA. The material sold here is a research reagent for laboratory use only, not a medicine.

Yes to both. Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid peptide, acetylated at its N-terminus, with a molecular weight of about 3.1 kDa. It occurs naturally as a fragment of the protein prothymosin alpha, but the material used in research and medicine is made by solid-phase chemical synthesis, and ours is synthetic.

Thymosin alpha-1 is a water-soluble, acidic peptide. Let the sealed vial reach room temperature, add a sterile diluent such as bacteriostatic water or sterile water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, and swirl gently until dissolved; do not shake. The concentration is the labeled mass divided by the volume added. Label the vial with the date and concentration and keep it refrigerated.

For storage, yes. Keep lyophilized thymosin alpha-1 sealed, dry and refrigerated at 2–8 °C, or frozen at −20 °C for long-term storage, and away from light. Short periods at room temperature, such as during shipping, are normal for the dry powder. Once reconstituted, keep the solution refrigerated and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

All three come from thymus research but are different substances. Thymosin alpha-1 is a defined 28-amino-acid acetylated peptide. Thymulin, formerly called serum thymic factor, is a nonapeptide (pGlu-Ala-Lys-Ser-Gln-Gly-Gly-Ser-Asn) that requires bound zinc for activity. Thymalin is not a single peptide but a polypeptide extract of calf thymus developed in the Soviet Union. We sell thymosin alpha-1 only.

Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid acetylated peptide from prothymosin alpha, studied in immunology for T-cell and dendritic-cell signaling. KPV is a three-amino-acid fragment of α-MSH (Lys-Pro-Val), studied in cell and rodent models of inflammation. They differ in size, origin and target, and share no sequence.

Both are studied in immunology but are unrelated. Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid acetylated peptide from prothymosin alpha, researched for its role in T-cell maturation and Toll-like receptor signaling. LL-37 is a 37-amino-acid cathelicidin, cut from the hCAP18 protein, researched mainly as an antimicrobial peptide of the innate immune system. They share no sequence.

They come from research on different glands. Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid peptide first isolated from thymus tissue and studied in immunology. Epitalon (Epithalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, developed in Russia from research on a pineal-gland extract and studied in aging research. They differ in size, origin and research area.

Ara-290 is an 11-amino-acid peptide derived from erythropoietin and designed for the proposed innate repair receptor. Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid acetylated peptide from prothymosin alpha, studied in immunology. Thymosin alpha-1 is approved as a medicine in some countries outside the U.S.; Ara-290 is investigational everywhere. Neither is FDA approved.

Thymosin Alpha-1: molecular formula C129H215N33O55; molecular weight 3108.3 g/mol; CAS number 62304-98-7. Sequence: Ac-SDAAVDTSSEITTKDLKEKKEVVEEAEN. Match these identifiers against the Certificate of Analysis for the lot.

Yes. Each lot has its own Certificate of Analysis, linked on this page for the current lot of each size: 10mg (99.56% HPLC purity); 50mg (98.65% HPLC purity). Past certificates are archived in the COA library; contact us with the lot number on the vial label if a certificate is missing.

98.65% (HPLC, current lot). Purity is measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and reported on the lot's Certificate of Analysis.

Thymosin Alpha-1 is supplied as lyophilized powder in a sealed vial in 2 sizes: 10mg, 50mg. In stock and dispatched in 1–2 business days. Quantity pricing applies automatically at 5+ and 10+ vials of the same size.

Store sealed at −20 °C, dry and protected from light.