Knowledge base

Peptide research overview

Glossary

Reconstitution

Reconstitution is the process of dissolving a lyophilized powder in a liquid, such as bacteriostatic water, to form a solution for laboratory use.

Lyophilization

Lyophilization, or freeze-drying, is a process in which water is removed from a frozen product under vacuum to obtain a stable powder.

Bacteriostatic water

Bacteriostatic water is sterile water containing a small percentage of benzyl alcohol that inhibits bacterial growth, used as a solvent during reconstitution.

Certificate of Analysis (CoA)

A certificate of analysis is a document confirming the identity and purity of a batch based on HPLC and mass spectrometry analysis.

HPLC

HPLC, or high performance liquid chromatography, is an analytical technique that separates and quantifies the components of a mixture and is used to determine purity.

Mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of molecules to confirm identity and molecular weight.

Peptide

A peptide is a chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, shorter than a protein.

Amino acid

An amino acid is an organic compound and building block of peptides and proteins, containing both an amino group and a carboxyl group.

Purity

Purity is the percentage of the desired compound in a sample relative to impurities, determined using HPLC.

GHRH analog

A GHRH analog is a synthetic variant of growth hormone-releasing hormone that acts on the GHRH receptor.

Agonist

An agonist is a molecule that binds to a receptor and activates it, triggering a cellular response. In peptide research the term refers to a compound that mimics the action of a natural signalling molecule.

Antagonist

An antagonist is a molecule that binds to a receptor without activating it, blocking or reducing the action of an agonist. The term describes a compound's role in receptor research.

Receptor

A receptor is a protein on or inside a cell that recognises and binds specific molecules, after which a signal is relayed within the cell. Receptors are the binding sites at which peptides are studied in laboratory research.

Ligand

A ligand is a molecule that binds to a receptor or other target protein. In peptide research the peptide is often the ligand whose binding to a given receptor is studied.

Incretin

Incretins are gut hormones, such as GLP-1 and GIP, released after a meal and involved in the regulation of blood glucose. The term is used in research to denote this class of signalling molecules.

Secretagogue

A secretagogue is a substance that prompts a cell or gland to release a hormone or other substance. In research the term describes, for example, peptides that stimulate the release of growth hormone.

Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones. In laboratory research this process is studied to better understand tissue repair and cell biology.

Half-life

The half-life is the time it takes for half of a substance to be cleared from a system or broken down. In research this value indicates how quickly a peptide declines in a test setting.

In vitro

In vitro means literally in glass and refers to experiments carried out outside a living organism, for example in a test tube or cell culture. The term contrasts with in vivo.

In vivo

In vivo means literally within the living and refers to research conducted in a living organism. The term contrasts with in vitro, where work is done outside the organism.

Preclinical research

Preclinical research comprises the studies conducted before a substance is tested in humans, usually in cell cultures and animal models. This stage serves to explore activity and safety within a laboratory setting.

Placebo-controlled

Placebo-controlled means that in a study one group receives a dummy treatment without active substance, for comparison with the group receiving the actual substance. This lets researchers distinguish real effects from chance or expectation.

Double-blind study

In a double-blind study neither the participants nor the researchers know who receives the active substance and who receives the control. This design reduces bias in the results.

Amino acid sequence

The amino acid sequence is the precise order in which the amino acids in a peptide or protein are linked together. This order determines the molecule's structure and properties.

Peptide bond

A peptide bond is the chemical link that joins two amino acids together, forming the chain of a peptide. This bond forms when the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another.

Neurotrophic factor

A neurotrophic factor is a protein that supports the growth, maintenance and survival of nerve cells. In research these factors are studied within neurobiology.