Ipamorelin
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide that acts as a selective agonist of the ghrelin / growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor (GHSR) in in-vitro systems. It is supplied as a reference ligand for receptor-binding and receptor-pharmacology research.
View product · from $49What it is
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide (five-residue amino-acid chain) with the sequence Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2, where Aib is α-aminoisobutyric acid and D-2-Nal is D-2-naphthylalanine. The presence of these non-proteinogenic and D-configured residues, together with a C-terminal amide, distinguishes it from naturally occurring peptides and contributes to its conformational rigidity and proteolytic stability in vitro. It is characterized by the molecular formula C38H49N9O5 and an average molecular weight of approximately 711.85 g/mol (free base; commonly handled as the acetate salt). It belongs to the growth-hormone-secretagogue (ghrelin receptor agonist) class of small synthetic peptides and is used strictly as a research reference compound.
Mechanism (in-vitro research context)
In receptor-pharmacology assays, Ipamorelin binds and activates the ghrelin / growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHSR-1a), a class A (rhodopsin-like) G-protein-coupled receptor. Receptor engagement in vitro is associated with Gq/11 coupling and downstream phospholipase-C activation, generating inositol-trisphosphate and mobilizing intracellular calcium, signals commonly read out in cell-based functional assays. Ipamorelin is frequently described as a selective GHSR ligand and is used as a reference agonist alongside ghrelin and other secretagogues in competitive radioligand-binding, calcium-flux, and reporter-gene assay systems. All characterization described here pertains to isolated receptor or cell-culture systems, not to physiological or in-vivo outcomes.
Research areas
- GHSR-1a (ghrelin/growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor) competitive radioligand-binding assays
- GPCR functional signaling assays (Gq/11-mediated calcium mobilization and IP-1/IP3 accumulation)
- Reference-agonist comparison studies versus ghrelin and other peptide secretagogues
- Receptor selectivity and structure-activity-relationship (SAR) profiling of synthetic pentapeptides
- Analytical method development and reference-standard characterization (HPLC, LC-MS) for peptide identity and purity
Chemistry
- Molecular weight
- 711.85 g/mol
- CAS
- 170851-70-4
- Formula
- C38H49N9O5
- Sequence
- Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2
Laboratory handling
Typically supplied as a lyophilized powder. For long-term storage, keep the lyophilized solid at -20 °C, protected from light and moisture. Once reconstituted in an appropriate research-grade solvent, store working solutions at 2-8 °C for short-term handling and aliquot for storage at -20 °C to limit freeze-thaw cycles. Confirm identity, purity, and stability analytically (e.g., by HPLC and mass spectrometry) before use. This framing pertains to laboratory analytical stability only.
FAQ
What is the amino-acid sequence of Ipamorelin?
Ipamorelin is a pentapeptide with the sequence Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2. It contains the non-proteinogenic residues α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and D-2-naphthylalanine (D-2-Nal), plus a C-terminal amide.
What is its molecular formula and molecular weight?
The molecular formula is C38H49N9O5, corresponding to a free-base average molecular weight of approximately 711.85 g/mol (monoisotopic mass approximately 711.39 Da). It is commonly handled as the acetate salt, which has a higher nominal mass.
What receptor does it target in assays?
In in-vitro receptor-pharmacology studies it acts as a selective agonist at the ghrelin / growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHSR-1a), a class A G-protein-coupled receptor.
How is purity and identity verified?
Identity and purity are typically confirmed by reversed-phase HPLC for purity (often reported at >=98-99%) and by mass spectrometry (LC-MS or ESI-MS) to confirm the expected molecular mass. A certificate of analysis generally accompanies the reference material.
How should it be stored in the laboratory?
Store the lyophilized peptide at -20 °C, protected from light and moisture. Reconstituted solutions should be kept cold, aliquoted, and frozen at -20 °C to minimize freeze-thaw cycles, with stability confirmed analytically before use.
References
- Raun K, et al. Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue. European Journal of Endocrinology, 1998; 139(5):552-561.
- Ipamorelin — PubChem Compound Summary (CID 9831659)
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