TB-500 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 2025-09-28. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
TB-500 is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Ac-LKKTETQ. It corresponds to a short N-terminal region of thymosin beta-4, a 43-amino-acid protein found in many cell types. The fragment contains an actin-binding motif, which is one reason it appears in laboratory studies of cell migration and cytoskeletal dynamics. TB-500 is not the full-length protein and is produced as a research chemical rather than an approved therapeutic agent. Its molecular weight is approximately 889 Da.
Several names appear in scientific and commercial contexts for this peptide. The label TB-500 is informal and does not follow standard biochemical nomenclature. Research articles more often describe the compound as a thymosin beta-4 fragment, Tβ4 fragment, or by its sequence Ac-LKKTETQ. Confusing TB-500 with full-length thymosin beta-4 can lead to incorrect assumptions about activity because the fragment lacks the remaining residues of the parent protein. The relationship between fragment and parent protein remains an active area of study.
The compound is most often distributed as a lyophilized powder, appearing white to off-white and forming a loose cake or fluffy solid. It is hygroscopic to some degree, so brief exposure to humid air can add water weight and complicate weighing. The peptide dissolves readily in water and in neutral aqueous buffers, and aqueous solubility is generally described as high, well above the concentrations used in typical assays. Some polar organic solvents are also usable, which matters when a concentrated stock is prepared before dilution into buffer.
Storage recommendations center on keeping the dry powder cold, dry, and dark. A freezer at -20 degrees Celsius or below is conventional, and desiccant is often included to limit moisture uptake. Once dissolved, the peptide is less stable, and solutions are typically kept frozen and thawed only once. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are a common source of losses because they promote aggregation and adsorption to container surfaces. Working aliquots are therefore prepared in advance, and glass or low-binding plastic is usually preferred over ordinary laboratory plastic.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C38H68N10O14 | Calculated for the acetylated heptapeptide |
| Molecular weight | ~889 Da | Monoisotopic mass approximately 889.0 Da |
| Amino acid sequence | Ac-LKKTETQ | N-terminal acetylated seven-residue peptide |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Typically supplied as a lyophilized solid |
| Solubility class | Water-soluble | Peptides of this size generally dissolve in aqueous media |
Dry peptide powder is commonly kept at −20 °C in a desiccated container away from light, a practice that limits moisture uptake and oxidation. Once dissolved, solutions are generally held at 2–8 °C for short periods or frozen at −20 °C or lower for longer storage, with repeated freeze-thaw cycles avoided. Hydrolysis and oxidation are the main degradation routes for peptides in solution, and both accelerate at higher temperature or extreme pH. Published stability data specific to TB-500 are limited, so shelf life should be treated as uncertain.
Identity and purity checks for peptide material typically combine reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with mass measurement, since retention time alone cannot confirm a sequence. Mass measurement verifies the expected molecular mass within instrument tolerance, while chromatographic peak area provides a purity estimate. Anti-doping analysis of urine uses related but more sensitive workflows, sometimes after solid-phase extraction. For research material, batch documentation, certificate content, and independent testing are common points of scrutiny, because supply chains outside pharmaceutical regulation vary widely in the paperwork they provide.
The compound circulates in the literature as a research reagent rather than an approved therapeutic. Regulatory agencies in several countries have not authorized it for medical use, and sporting bodies list related thymosin beta-4 peptides among prohibited substances. Suppliers typically market it with a purity figure and a certificate of analysis, while peer-reviewed clinical reports remain sparse. Discussions therefore often separate laboratory findings from anecdotal reports, and reviewers tend to note the small size and methodological limits of the available studies.
TB-500 refers to a synthetic peptide fragment derived from the actin-binding region of thymosin beta-4, a protein present in most mammalian cells. The full protein contains forty-three amino acids, while the commonly sold fragment is a much shorter acetylated sequence, often cited as LKKTETQ. The fragment retains part of the actin-binding motif but lacks the remainder of the parent protein. Material sold under this name is usually lyophilized powder intended for laboratory research, and it is not a finished pharmaceutical product.
Proposed activity centers on actin sequestration and on the movement of cells during repair processes. In cell culture and animal models, the fragment has been associated with migration, tube formation, and tissue remodeling. These observations are frequently described as preliminary, because most published work uses rodent or in vitro systems rather than controlled human trials. Whether the short fragment reproduces the effects of the full protein remains an open question, and the relationship between dose, route, and measured outcome is not well characterized.
Prazosin, sold under the brand name Minipress among others, is a medication used to treat high blood pressure, symptoms of an enlarged prostate, and nightmares related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is an α1 blocker. It is a less preferred treatment of high blood pressure. Other uses may include heart failure and Raynaud syndrome. It is taken by mouth. Common side effects include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, and heart palpitations. Serious side effects may include low blood pressure with standing and depression. Prazosin is a non-selective inverse agonist of the α1-adrenergic receptors. It works to decrease blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and helps with an enlarged prostate by relaxing the outflow of the bladder. How it works in PTSD is not entirely clear. Prazosin was patented in 1965 and came into medical use in 1974. It is available as a generic medication. In 2021, it was the 183rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 2 million prescriptions.
For each essential amino acid i, calculate Ai/Ri. Take the amino acid with the smallest value of Ai/Ri. Call it l. This is the limiting amino acid taking actual absorption into account. The DIAAS is 100% × Al/Rl. DIAAS provides three separate Ri reference profiles for different human age groups.
==== Benzamides ==== Amisulpride (Socian) ‡ – Selective dopamine antagonist. Higher doses (greater than 400 mg) act upon post-synaptic dopamine receptors resulting in a reduction in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as psychosis. Lower doses, however, act upon dopamine autoreceptors, resulting in increased dopamine transmission, improving the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Lower doses of amisulpride have also been shown to have antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in non-schizophrenic patients, leading to its use in dysthymia and social phobias. Nemonapride † – Used in Japan. Remoxipride # – Has a risk of causing aplastic anaemia and, hence, has been withdrawn from the market worldwide. It has also been found to possess relatively low (virtually absent) potential to induce hyperprolactinaemia and extrapyramidal symptoms, likely attributable to its comparatively weak binding to (and, hence, rapid dissociation from) the D2 receptor. Sultopride – An atypical antipsychotic of the benzamide chemical class used in Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong for the treatment of schizophrenia. It was launched by Sanofi-Aventis in 1976. Sultopride acts as a selective D2 and D3 receptor antagonist.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
[xanthine oxidase] + 2 glutathione Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are xanthine dehydrogenase and glutathione disulfide, whereas its two products are xanthine oxidase and glutathione. This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on a sulfur group of donors with a disulfide as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is [xanthine-dehydrogenase]:glutathione-disulfide S-oxidoreductase. Other names in common use include [xanthine-dehydrogenase]:oxidized-glutathione S-oxidoreductase, enzyme-thiol transhydrogenase (oxidized-glutathione), glutathione-dependent thiol:disulfide oxidoreductase, and thiol:disulfide oxidoreductase. This enzyme participates in glutathione metabolism.
== Side effects == The most common adverse effects in studies were upper respiratory tract infection, headache, nausea, and diarrhea. The most common side effects in clinical trials were nasopharyngitis, nausea, headaches, herpes simplex (including oral herpes, ophthalmic herpes, herpes dermatitis and genital herpes), and increase in blood creatine phosphokinase. Abrocitinib can cause serious infections, malignancy, major cardiac events, thrombosis and other laboratory abnormalities including thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and lipid elevations. However, according to clinical data, Abrocitinib is well tolerated. The total adverse reactions were not statistically different between the placebo and the dose of 100 mg of abrocitinib. However, it was slightly higher for the dose of 200 mg of abrocitinib. Symptoms such as acne, headache, and nausea, appeared in the first two weeks of starting abrocitinib, and it was not necessary to interrupt the treatment. In general, the AE frequency of abrocitinib was the same or a little bit higher than in case of placebo or dupilumab.
Days later, the Treasury released £12,300 for further development, and a small team of the RRS researchers were sworn to secrecy and began developing the concept. A system was to be built at the RRS station, and then moved to Orfordness for over-water testing. Wilkins would develop the receiver based on the GPO units, along with suitable antenna systems. This left the problem of developing a suitable pulsed transmitter. An engineer familiar with these concepts was needed.
=== Safety === Reports after the first Gulf War linked anthrax vaccine adjuvants to Gulf War syndrome in American and British troops. The United States Department of Defense strongly denied the claims. Discussing the safety of squalene as an adjuvant in 2006, the World Health Organisation stated "follow-up to detect any vaccine-related adverse events will need to be performed." Accordingly no such followup has been published by the WHO. Petrovsky (2015) is a review that discusses the comparative safety of vaccine adjuvants. It stated that "the biggest remaining challenge in the adjuvant field is to decipher the potential relationship between adjuvants and rare vaccine adverse reactions, such as narcolepsy, macrophagic myofasciitis or Alzheimer's disease."
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
TB-500 is a synthetic heptapeptide corresponding to a fragment of thymosin beta-4. It is used in laboratory research and is not an approved drug.
No. Thymosin beta-4 is a 43-amino-acid protein, while TB-500 represents only a short N-terminal segment. The two should not be treated as interchangeable in experimental design.
It is often called a thymosin beta-4 fragment, Tβ4 fragment, or Ac-LKKTETQ. The name TB-500 is mainly a commercial or catalog label rather than a formal chemical name.
Short transit at ambient temperature is generally tolerated, but long-term storage at room temperature is not recommended. Heat, moisture, and light all accelerate degradation. Cold, dry, dark storage is the conventional choice.