“Peptide bioregulators” is the name used for a family of very short peptides, mostly two to four amino acids long, developed by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues at the St Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. Each one is associated in that literature with a particular tissue: the heart, blood vessels, cartilage, the pineal gland and so on.
This guide explains what the term means, lists every bioregulator Isla supplies with its sequence, and shows how the family fits together. Several of them differ by a single amino acid, so the sequences matter.
At a glance
| Origen | Khavinson research program, St Petersburg, from the 1970s onward |
| Typical size | 2 to 4 amino acids (di-, tri- and tetrapeptides) |
| Proposed mechanism | Entry into the cell nucleus and interaction with DNA and histones to influence gene expression |
| Receptor | None identified for most members |
| Evidence base | Largely preclinical, mostly from the originating group |
| Regulatory status | Not FDA approved; supplied for research only |
What “bioregulator” means
The program began with crude extracts from animal tissues. Thymalin, a polypeptide fraction from calf thymus, and Epithalamin, from the pineal gland, are the best known. Researchers then tried to identify which short sequences carried each extract’s activity and synthesised them. The resulting di-, tri- and tetrapeptides are what are now sold as bioregulators.
The working hypothesis is unusual. Instead of binding a receptor on the cell surface, these peptides are proposed to be small enough to enter the nucleus and interact with DNA and histone proteins, nudging the expression of tissue-specific genes. A 2021 systematic review from the same group summarises that model (Khavinson 2021).
The bioregulators Isla supplies
| Peptide | Sequence | Tissue it is assigned to |
|---|---|---|
| Vilon | Lys-Glu (KE) | Thymus / immune (first peptide isolated from Thymalin) |
| Vesugen Guide | Lys-Glu-Asp (KED) | Blood vessels |
| Testagen | Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly (KEDG) | Gonadal tissue |
| Pancragen | Lys-Glu-Asp-Trp (KEDW) | Pancreas |
| Cartalax Guide | Ala-Glu-Asp (AED) | Cartilage and connective tissue |
| Cardiogen Guide | Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR) | Heart |
| Epitalon Guide | Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG) | Pineal gland |
| Pinealon | Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR) | Brain and pineal tissue |
| Ovagen | Glu-Asp-Leu (EDL) | Liver and reproductive tissue |
| Crystagen | Glu-Asp-Pro (EDP) | Immune tissue |
| Thymalin | Polypeptide complex (not a single sequence) | Thymus; the parent extract of the series |
Browse all of them in the Bioregulators collection.
How the family fits together
Laid out by sequence, the bioregulators fall into a few tight groups. Telling them apart is easiest by reading the letters:
- The K-E line: Vilon (KE) → Vesugen (KED) → Testagen (KEDG) and Pancragen (KEDW). Each adds one residue to the last.
- The A-E-D line: Cartalax (AED) → Epitalon (AEDG) and Cardiogen (AEDR). Epitalon and Cardiogen differ only in the last residue.
- The E-D line: Pinealon (EDR), Ovagen (EDL) and Crystagen (EDP) share the Glu-Asp core and differ at the third position.
- Thymalin sits outside the table: it is the original thymus extract, a mixture rather than one peptide.
Two frequent mix-ups: Pinealon is not Epitalon (EDR vs AEDG), and Cartalax is not Epitalon, even though they share their first three residues.
What the research has looked at
Most published work is cell culture and animal research: gene-expression changes in cultured cells from the matching tissue, markers of cellular ageing, and lifespan studies in rodents for the earliest members of the series. A smaller body of clinical literature exists, mainly on the original extracts such as Thymalin and Epithalamin, published largely in Russian journals.
For individual compounds, see the detailed guides on Cartalax, Cardiogen, Vesugen and Epitalon.
Limits of the evidence
- Most studies come from the originating research group and its collaborators, with limited independent replication.
- The DNA-binding mechanism is a hypothesis with supporting molecular-modelling and binding data, but it remains debated outside that network.
- Much of the work is preclinical, and many papers are published in Russian-language journals that are harder to assess.
- The tissue assignments describe where each peptide was studied, not a proven effect.
Frequently asked questions
What are peptide bioregulators?
Short synthetic peptides, mostly two to four amino acids long, from the Khavinson research program. Each is associated with one tissue and is proposed to influence gene expression in that tissue.
Are Khavinson peptides the same as bioregulators?
Yes. “Khavinson peptides”, “peptide bioregulators” and “short peptide bioregulators” are used for the same family.
Is Pinealon the same as Epitalon?
No. Pinealon is Glu-Asp-Arg (EDR); Epitalon is Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly (AEDG). They are separate compounds that are often confused because both are associated with the pineal gland and brain.
Are bioregulators FDA approved?
No. None of the bioregulators listed here is approved by the FDA. They are supplied for laboratory research only.
Purity and certificates
Every batch ships with a third-party certificate of analysis, published in our Banco de COA as reports are issued. If a bioregulator you are researching is not listed there yet, email islalongevity@gmail.com and we will send its certificate directly. New to certificates? Read how to read a certificate of analysis.
References
- Khavinson VKh, Popovich IG, Linkova NS, Mironova ES, Ilina AR. Peptide regulation of gene expression: a systematic review. Molecules. 2021;26(22):7053. doi:10.3390/molecules26227053.
- Myakisheva SN, Linkova NS, Polyakova VO, Ryzhak GA. Peptides of cartilage tissue: regulation of chondrocyte proliferation, geroprotection and prospects for use in osteoarthrosis. Vrach. 2023;34(10):46–49.
Solo para uso en investigación
Isla Longevity supplies this compound for laboratory research use only. It is not approved by the FDA for human or veterinary use and is not for human consumption. This article summarises published research and is not medical guidance.
