Cartalax 20mg

Identity

Cartalax is the tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp (AED), the member of the Khavinson series assigned to cartilage and connective tissue. It should not be confused with Epithalon, the tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, which shares its first three residues and differs only by a terminal glycine.

Molecular target

No receptor has been identified. The series is described as acting through direct binding to DNA at specific promoter regions and to histone proteins, a model supported by docking studies and by circular dichroism work on peptide-oligonucleotide interaction.

Signalling pathway

Reported effects are on transcription rather than on any second-messenger cascade. In chondrocyte culture the published readouts concern expression of matrix components and of markers associated with chondrocyte differentiation.

Research context

Chondrocyte and connective-tissue cell culture, and rodent models, largely from the originating group. The near-identity with Epithalon at the sequence level, alongside a quite different assigned tissue, is the clearest illustration of why the tissue-specificity claim in this series warrants caution.

Specification

• Form: lyophilised powder, sealed vial
• Purity: verified by high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric confirmation
• Analysis: third-party tested, full report published against the batch number on the vial
• Storage: 2-8 °C

Handling: See our step-by-step reconstitution protocol, and our guide to bacteriostatic water vs sterile water for choosing a diluent.

For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.