A short peptide first studied in ageing and neurobiology research. Rarely discussed. Still being explored.
Pinealon
Pinealon is a synthetic tripeptide, glutamyl-aspartyl-arginine, from the same Russian bioregulator programme that produced Epitalon. At three amino acids it is smaller still, and it is classified within that programme as a short regulatory peptide directed at neural tissue.
The premise behind the short peptide bioregulators is that very small sequences may interact directly with DNA and influence transcription, rather than acting through cell-surface receptors in the conventional way. That premise is what makes the class interesting, and also what makes it contested. It is a different model of how a peptide does anything at all.
Work has examined neuroprotection in rodent hypoxia models and behavioural endpoints, alongside molecular modelling of peptide-DNA interaction. As with Epitalon, the great majority of primary research originates from a small number of affiliated groups, and independent replication is sparse. Pinealon is one of the least-discussed compounds in this catalogue for that reason.