Description
Cardiogen is a synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator with the sequence Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR), developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology as part of a systematic program identifying tissue-specific short peptide regulators. Unlike receptor-binding peptides that initiate signaling at the cell surface, Cardiogen is studied for its capacity to enter cardiomyocyte nuclei directly and interact with specific DNA promoter regions and histone complexes — modulating cardiac gene expression through an epigenetic mechanism characterized across the Khavinson bioregulator series. This intranuclear mode of action distinguishes it from specialty research peptides that operate through GPCRs or receptor tyrosine kinases, and from cardiovascular compounds like Hexarelin that engage CD36 and pituitary receptors at the cell surface.
Key Characteristics
- Operates through peptide-DNA and peptide-histone interaction in the cardiomyocyte nucleus — a gene-regulatory mechanism that is tissue-specific and concentration-dependent, active at picomolar to nanomolar concentrations in preclinical models
- Studied for modulation of p53-mediated apoptotic signaling in cardiac cells — preclinical data from organotypic myocardial tissue cultures document cardiomyocyte proliferation stimulation and suppression of programmed cell death pathways
- Cardiac fibroblast activity is a secondary research focus — Cardiogen has been examined for effects on collagen synthesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and fibrosis-related gene expression in cardiac tissue models
- Part of the Khavinson bioregulator series alongside Vesugen, which targets vascular endothelial tissue through the same epigenetic mechanism — researchers studying cardiovascular biology often use both compounds in parallel to probe heart muscle and vessel wall signaling separately
- The evidence base is preclinical and concentrated within the Khavinson research network; all published studies are in vitro or animal models with no completed human clinical trials
Handling and Storage
Store as lyophilized powder under refrigeration, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. As a tetrapeptide, Cardiogen is subject to proteolytic degradation under suboptimal storage conditions. Reconstitute immediately before experimental use and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to maintain peptide integrity across assays.
FAQs
What is Cardiogen?
Cardiogen (AEDR) is a synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator developed by Professor Khavinson for research into cardiac tissue-specific gene regulation. It is studied for its capacity to enter cardiomyocyte nuclei and interact with DNA promoter regions, modulating gene expression involved in cardiomyocyte proliferation, apoptosis suppression, and extracellular matrix signaling. All published evidence is preclinical.
How does Cardiogen differ from other cardiovascular research peptides?
Most cardiovascular peptides studied in research — including ghrelin mimetics like Hexarelin, which has documented CD36 receptor activity in cardiac tissue — operate through cell-surface receptors and intracellular second messenger cascades. Cardiogen bypasses surface receptors entirely and acts directly at the nuclear level through peptide-DNA interaction, making it a mechanistically distinct tool for studying cardiac gene regulation rather than receptor-mediated signaling.
How should Cardiogen be stored?
Store as lyophilized powder under refrigeration, protected from heat, light, and moisture. As a short tetrapeptide, it is susceptible to proteolytic degradation — reconstitute immediately before use and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to preserve compound integrity throughout experimental use.
