tuftsin is one of those subjects where the details matter more than the headlines. This page pulls together the background, the mechanisms, and the practical points readers ask about most.
Last reviewed on 2025-11-23. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, frequently abbreviated as TKPRPGP. It was designed as a structural analogue of tuftsin, a naturally occurring tetrapeptide released by enzymatic cleavage of the immunoglobulin heavy chain. The two additional proline residues at the C-terminal end extend the parent chain and change how the molecule behaves in solution. The free peptide has a calculated molecular mass of approximately 751.9 g/mol and is generally supplied as a lyophilised white to off-white powder.
Development work on the compound began in the 1980s and 1990s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, within the same research programme that produced the peptide Semax. Early investigators sought a tuftsin derivative with improved resistance to enzymatic breakdown and with activity in the central nervous system after peripheral administration. Most of the primary literature from this period was published in Russian, a factor that still shapes how easily the findings can be checked by outside groups.
Naming for this compound is not fully standardised in English sources. The spelling Selanc appears in some transliterations, and catalogue entries may instead list the peptide sequence itself as the identifier. Reference material sometimes groups it with other short synthetic peptides studied for behavioural effects, which can create confusion when citations are compared. Distinguishing the exact sequence from related tuftsin analogues is therefore a practical first step when reviewing any dataset or specification sheet.
Purity assessment relies mainly on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Because the peptide lacks a strong chromophore, detection often uses backbone absorbance near 214 nm. Identity is confirmed by mass spectrometry, typically electrospray ionization or matrix-assisted laser desorption, comparing the measured mass against the expected value. Amino acid analysis can verify composition after acid hydrolysis. Diastereomer content and residual counterions are reported less often, although both can influence biological assays.
Lyophilized material is generally stable for extended periods when kept dry at or below minus twenty degrees Celsius. Working solutions are less stable, and common practice is to aliquot and freeze them so that repeated freeze-thaw cycles are avoided. Aqueous solutions are sensitive to pH extremes and to microbial growth, so short-term storage at refrigerator temperature is typical. Oxidation and hydrolysis are the principal degradation routes. Reconstitution with sterile water or a mild buffer is standard, and solutions should be protected from light.
Regulatory treatment varies by jurisdiction. In Russia the compound is a registered prescription product, while in the European Union and the United States it is generally handled as a research chemical without a marketing authorization. Suppliers therefore operate outside pharmaceutical oversight, and buyers rely on supplier documentation for purity and identity claims. Chain of custody and third-party testing are the main verification tools. Analysts note that the absence of a pharmacopoeial monograph for research-grade material limits standardization across vendors.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical class | Synthetic heptapeptide | Tuftsin analogue |
| Sequence | Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro | Single-letter form: TKPRPGP |
| Molecular formula | C33H57N11O9 | Calculated for the free peptide |
| Molecular weight | About 751.9 g/mol | Derived from the sequence |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Typical lyophilised form |
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in Russia during the 1990s. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences designed it as a stabilized analog of tuftsin, a naturally occurring immunomodulatory tetrapeptide. The compound has been studied primarily for its reported anxiolytic and nootropic effects. It remains largely unknown in Western pharmacology and is not approved as a medicine by major regulators such as the FDA or the EMA.
The primary structure of Selank is Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, corresponding to the molecular formula C33H57N11O9 and a monoisotopic mass of roughly 751.9 daltons. The N-terminal threonine and the arginine residue in the fourth position are shared with tuftsin, which carries the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg. The three additional residues at the C-terminus, Pro-Gly-Pro, extend the chain and are associated with greater resistance to enzymatic degradation. This extension also separates Selank from the shorter parent peptide.
Development took place at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where a series of short peptides were designed in the 1980s and 1990s. Selank was selected from variants of tuftsin that showed resistance to plasma peptidases. Russian regulatory approval covers it as an anxiolytic agent given intranasally. Outside that market the compound is normally handled as a research chemical rather than a medicine, and no widely recognised international pharmacopoeial monograph exists. The name Selank is a coined trade designation rather than a systematic chemical name.
Enzymatic stability motivates the extra three residues at the carboxyl end. Native tuftsin is cleaved quickly by circulating aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases, which limits its duration of action and its usefulness as a tool compound. Extending the chain with proline-rich segments is a common design tactic because proline constrains the backbone and slows proteolysis. The same Pro-Gly-Pro motif appears in other Russian-developed peptides of the era. Whether the full seven-residue chain is required for activity, or whether it acts mainly as a prodrug releasing tuftsin, remains unresolved.
== Continuous production == A common method of increasing efficiency in industrial chromatography is continuous production. There, this is done with SMB (Simulated Moving Bed). In liquid-liquid chromatography, there is no need to simulate a moving bed, as we can move it in reality, and therefore it is TMB, i.e. True Moving Bed. The essence of TMB is to continuously switch the device between ASC and DSC modes, effectively creating a moving bed. This technique is much cheaper than SMB, and its efficiency is not lagging behind. TMB systems are available from mg to tone capacity from LiLiChro.
Slovakia: Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized the actions of the United States, stating that "International law does not apply, military power is used without the mandate of the UN Security Council, and everyone who is great and strong does what he wants to promote their own interests," and that "I resolutely reject such a disruption of international law, as I did in the Iraq war, in the denial of Kosovo as a sovereign state, or in the use of Russian military power in Ukraine." He also suggested that the European Union should apply the same standards that were used with Russia when it invaded Ukraine, saying that "Either the use of American military force in Venezuela will be condemned and be consistent with attitudes to the war in Ukraine, or, as usual, remain pharisaical." Spain: The Foreign Ministry called for "de-escalation and moderation", and for compliance with "international law and the principles of the UN charter" adding that the ministry was "prepared to offer its good offices to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution". They reiterated that they did not recognize the results of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election and that Spain "has welcomed, and will continue to welcome, tens of thousands of Venezuelans who have had to leave their country for political reasons." On 4 January 2026, Brazil, Spain, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay issued a joint statement to express their "profound concern and firm rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally in Venezuelan territory" by the United States.
== Medicinal use == Arnebia densiflora has been investigated for its wound healing abilities. Arnebia densiflora is one of the five species of Boraginaceae family grown in Turkey. Several species of Boraginaceous plants are used as folk medicine in Turkey and eastern Mediterranean countries. The pigmented root of Arnebia densiflora, known locally as 'Eyilik', is added to olive oil and applied on open wounds and cuts in Anatolia. In Malatya, roots of Arnebia densiflora are dipped in butter. After removing the root pieces the butter is mixed with beeswax to prepare an ointment for open wounds. Roots of Arnebia densiflora are also used as a natural-dye to color Anatolian carpets. The medicinal effect might have to do with the high naphthoquinone content in the roots barks.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Cristalino [kɾistaˈlino] ("crystalline"): aged tequila that has been filtered to remove its color before bottling, similar to chill filtering of whisky Rosa ("pink"): a young version of the spirit "lightly aged in red wine barrels"
{\displaystyle \mathrm {eGFR} =141\ \times \ \mathrm {\min(SCr/k,1)} ^{a}\ \times \ \mathrm {\max(SCr/k,1)} ^{-1.209}\ \times \ 0.993^{\text{Age}}\ \times {\text{[1.018 if Female]}}\ \times {\text{[1.159 if Black]}}\ }
The state department of health reviewed the test results and determined that the amounts found were well below recommended public health screening levels. In 2013, BASF reported a spill of several hundred kilogrammes of the chelating agent Trilon-B (tetrasodium EDTA) into the river Rhine from BASF's headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has instituted an eco-efficiency analysis to promote green engineering principles.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
The sequence is Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, commonly written as TKPRPGP. It shares the first four residues with tuftsin and carries three prolines in the chain. The proline-rich tail is the main structural feature that separates it from the parent tetrapeptide.
Selank is a synthetic analogue built on the tuftsin tetrapeptide Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg. Extra proline residues were added to the C-terminus during design work. That modification is intended to make the peptide less vulnerable to rapid enzymatic degradation.
Transliteration from Russian produces variant spellings such as Selanc. Many suppliers avoid the trade-style name entirely and list the peptide sequence. Comparing sequences rather than names is the reliable way to confirm two entries describe the same molecule.
Purity is usually reported as an HPLC area percentage, most often measured at 214 nm. Identity is confirmed separately by mass spectrometry. A certificate of analysis should state both the method and the observed value.