Prostamax
Also known as: Lys-Glu-Asp-Pro, KEDP tetrapeptide, peptide bioregulator Prostamax
Synthetic short-chain oligopeptide / peptide bioregulator (epigenetic regulator)
What it is
Prostamax (Lys-Glu-Asp-Pro) is a synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator studied for its effects on chromatin structure in aging human lymphocytes. Published abstracts describe it as inducing decondensation (deheterochromatinization) of densely packed chromatin, activation of ribosome genes (Ag-positive NORs), and release of genes repressed by age-related heterochromatinization (PMID 23221144; PMID 15085253). At the biophysical level, Prostamax causes a redistribution of thermal energy among chromatin denaturation endotherms and a shift of endotherms to lower temperatures, consistent with partial relaxation of the 30-nm chromatin fiber into the 10-nm filament and small structural changes in nucleosomal organization. In organotypic tissue culture of rat prostate explants, Prostamax at 0.05 ng/ml showed a stimulating effect on tissue compared to control explants in both young and aged rats, suggesting tissue-specific bioregulatory activity. Prostamax has also been identified as a class of epigenetically active short peptides whose motifs are found in proteins of long-lived species such as the African naked mole rat, located between lysine and arginine residues facilitating release via limited proteolysis.
Class: Synthetic short-chain oligopeptide / peptide bioregulator (epigenetic regulator)
What it's studied for
- Chromatin decondensation / deheterochromatinization in aging lymphocytes Human observational
- In cultured lymphocytes from individuals aged 75–86 years, Prostamax increased SCE frequency to 12.0±0.28 per cell (vs. 5.9±0.2 in intact cells), increased Ag-positive NORs to 2.5 per cell (vs. 0.95), and reduced large pericentromeric heterochromatin segments on chromosomes 1 and 9, indicating chromatin decondensation PMID 23221144 Dzhokhadze et al., Georgian Medical News (2012)
- Among five tested short peptides (including Prostamax), all induced activation of ribosome genes, decondensation of chromatin, and deheterochromatinization of facultative chromatin in leukocytes of subjects aged 75–88 years. Prostamax specifically led to decondensation of chromosome 1 pericentromeric structural chromat PMID 15085253 Khavinson et al., Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2004)
- Microcalorimetric analysis showed Prostamax causes redistribution of heat among denaturation endotherms T(d)III and T(d)IV and shifts both to lower temperatures by 2.9 and 1.0°C respectively, consistent with partial relaxation of the 30-nm fiber and small structural changes in nucleosomal organization of human lymphocy PMID 15612551 Meskhi et al., Biofizika (2004)
- Tissue-specific bioregulatory / reparative stimulation (prostate tissue) Animal studies only
- In organotypic tissue culture of prostatic gland explants from young (3-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) Wistar rats, Prostamax at 0.05 ng/ml showed a stimulating effect compared to control explants, suggesting it may stimulate reparative processes in prostate tissue during aging. PMID 17152728 Zakutskiy et al., Advances in Gerontology (2006)
- Modulation of chromatin structure in the presence of heavy metal ions (copper, cadmium) Human observational
- Microcalorimetric study examined joint influence of Prostamax and Cu(II)/Cd(II) ions on chromatin structure in situ in blood lymphocyte cultures from aging individuals. Cu(II) caused additional heterochromatin condensation; Cd(II) caused heterochromatin decondensation and partial denaturation. Study assessed Prostamax PMID 19359734 Kiladze et al., Georgian Medical News (2009)
- Epigenetic regulation / longevity-associated peptide motif research Animal studies only
- Motifs of short-chain epigenetically active peptides (epigenetic regulators, of which Prostamax is a class member) were found in proteins of the long-lived African naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) but not in short-lived species (Norway rat, house mouse), suggesting a role in longevity-associated epigenetic regula PMID 28948547 Khavinson et al., Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine (2017)
Community-reported dosing
| Route | Dose | Frequency / Duration | Population / context | Source tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In vitro (tissue culture medium) | 0.05 ng/ml | Not specified (organotypic tissue culture duration not stated in abstract) | animal | Research PMID 17152728 |
Tier key: Research = PMID-cited study · [C] = scraped community source · [S] = model-synthesized from aggregate community reports (softer evidence). How we source.
Safety signals
- Prostamax significantly increased sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency in cultured human lymphocytes (12.0±0.28 per cell vs. 5.9±0.2 in intact cells); the in vivo implications of elevated SCE — a marker of DNA repair/recombination activity — are not discussed in the abstract. PMID 23221144
- Prostamax induced biophysical changes in nucleosomal organization and chromatin fiber structure (shifts in denaturation endotherms); long-term biological consequences of these structural chromatin changes are not assessed in the reviewed literature. PMID 15612551
Frequently asked
What is Prostamax and what is its amino acid sequence?
Prostamax is a synthetic short-chain oligopeptide bioregulator with the sequence Lys-Glu-Asp-Pro (KEDP). It is classified as an epigenetically active peptide bioregulator (PMID 23221144; PMID 15085253).
What has Prostamax been studied for?
Prostamax has been studied primarily for its effects on chromatin structure in aging human lymphocytes, including decondensation of heterochromatin, activation of ribosome genes, and release of age-repressed genes (PMID 23221144; PMID 15085253; PMID 15612551). It has also been studied in organotypic tissue culture of rat prostate explants, where 0.05 ng/ml showed a stimulating effect compared to controls. Additionally, its peptide motif class has been investigated in the context of longevity-related epigenetic regulation in long-lived animal species.
What dose of Prostamax should I take?
I'm not a medical professional and can't recommend a protocol for you specifically. What research has shown: the only dose reported in reviewed published abstracts is 0.05 ng/ml applied in an animal organotypic tissue culture model. No human in vivo dosing data are reported in any reviewed abstract.
Is Prostamax approved by the FDA or Health Canada?
The reviewed published abstracts do not state the regulatory status of Prostamax with the US FDA or Health Canada. Please consult official regulatory agency databases or a licensed healthcare provider for current regulatory information.
Is Prostamax safe for human use?
The reviewed abstracts do not report any human in vivo clinical safety or pharmacokinetic data for Prostamax. All human data come from ex vivo cultured lymphocyte experiments. One study noted that Prostamax increased sister chromatid exchange frequency in cultured lymphocytes; the clinical significance of this is not discussed. No contraindications or adverse events are reported in the reviewed literature. Please speak with a licensed healthcare provider for safety guidance.
Can I combine Prostamax with other peptides like Epithalon or Vilon?
I can't recommend combining compounds — that's a prescribing decision. Here's what has been studied individually: one study compared Prostamax alongside Vilon, Epithalon, Livagen, and Cortagen in ex vivo lymphocyte experiments, but each peptide was assessed separately, not in combination. No combination dosing or stacking data are reported in the reviewed abstracts.
How does Prostamax work mechanistically?
Based on the reviewed abstracts, Prostamax appears to act as a chromatin-remodeling agent. It induces decondensation (deheterochromatinization) of tightly packed chromatin, activates ribosome genes (Ag-positive NORs), and shifts chromatin denaturation endotherms to lower temperatures consistent with relaxation of the 30-nm chromatin fiber (PMID 23221144; PMID 15085253; PMID 15612551). These findings are from ex vivo/in vitro studies; in vivo human mechanism data are not available in the reviewed literature.
What model organisms or populations have been studied with Prostamax?
The reviewed abstracts report studies in: (1) cultured blood lymphocytes from elderly humans aged 75–88 years (PMID 23221144; PMID 15085253; PMID 15612551; PMID 19359734); (2) organotypic tissue culture of prostatic gland explants from young (3-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) Wistar rats; and (3) computational/sequence analysis in the African naked mole rat and other rodents. No human in vivo clinical trials are reported.
Does Prostamax have any effect on prostate tissue specifically?
One animal study reported that Prostamax at 0.05 ng/ml showed a stimulating effect on organotypic tissue culture of prostatic gland explants from both young and aged Wistar rats compared to control explants, suggesting potential tissue-specific bioregulatory activity in prostate tissue. No human prostate tissue or clinical data are reported in the reviewed abstracts.
Where can I buy Prostamax?
I don't recommend vendors or sources. Please consult a licensed provider.
References
- [1] PMID 23221144 — In cultured lymphocytes from individuals aged 75–86 years, Prostamax increased SCE frequency to 12.0±0.28 per cell (vs. 5.9±0.2 in intact cells), increased Ag-p
- [2] PMID 15085253 — Among five tested short peptides (including Prostamax), all induced activation of ribosome genes, decondensation of chromatin, and deheterochromatinization of f
- [3] PMID 15612551 — Microcalorimetric analysis showed Prostamax causes redistribution of heat among denaturation endotherms T(d)III and T(d)IV and shifts both to lower temperatures
- [4] PMID 17152728 — In organotypic tissue culture of prostatic gland explants from young (3-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) Wistar rats, Prostamax at 0.05 ng/ml showed a stimulat
- [5] PMID 19359734 — Microcalorimetric study examined joint influence of Prostamax and Cu(II)/Cd(II) ions on chromatin structure in situ in blood lymphocyte cultures from aging indi
- [6] PMID 28948547 — Motifs of short-chain epigenetically active peptides (epigenetic regulators, of which Prostamax is a class member) were found in proteins of the long-lived Afri