Description
Testagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator, developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology from testicular tissue extract analysis. It belongs to the KED-family of Khavinson bioregulators alongside Vesugen (KED tripeptide targeting vascular endothelium), Prostamax (KEDP tetrapeptide targeting prostate), Pancragen (KEDW tetrapeptide targeting pancreas), and Livagen (KEDA tetrapeptide targeting liver and lymphocytes). The Gly C-terminal residue distinguishes Testagen within this scaffold and is associated with its testicular tissue research context. Like other Khavinson bioregulators, Testagen is proposed to enter cell nuclei and interact with specific DNA promoter regions to modulate gene expression. The one published compound-specific mechanistic study confirmed KEDG nuclear translocation and sequence-specific DNA binding in HeLa cell cultures, establishing the intranuclear mechanism in a cell model context. Testagen is studied as a specialty research peptide tool for KED-family structure-activity research and Khavinson bioregulator DNA-binding biology.
Chemical Information
- Chemical Name: Testagen (Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly; KEDG tetrapeptide)
- Also Known As: KEDG; testicular bioregulator tetrapeptide
- Compound Class: Khavinson series synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator (cytogen; defined synthetic sequence)
- Sequence: Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly
- Molecular Formula: C17H29N5O9
- Molecular Weight: 447.2 g/mol
- Tissue Origin: Derived from testicular tissue extract analysis (Khavinson methodology)
- KED-family position: KEDG (C-terminal Gly distinguishes from Vesugen KED, Prostamax KEDP, Pancragen KEDW, Livagen KEDA)
- Analytical note: Near-identical mass to Bronchogen/Chonluten family compounds; sequence verification recommended
- Production: Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS); cytogen class (defined sequence, not extract)
Applications
- KED-family structure-activity relationship research. Testagen (KEDG) extends the KED scaffold series with glycine at the C-terminus. As such, it enables systematic study of how single C-terminal amino acid variation on the shared KED N-terminal motif affects DNA binding, chromatin interaction, and potentially tissue targeting across different cell populations
- Intranuclear peptide-DNA binding mechanism research. The one published compound-specific study confirmed KEDG nuclear translocation and sequence-specific DNA binding in HeLa cell cultures. Testagen provides a defined research tool for studying how short tetrapeptides achieve nuclear import and DNA promoter interaction in cell-based models
- Khavinson cytogen class characterization. As a cytogen (defined synthetic sequence), Testagen can be fully characterized by standard analytical methods including mass spectrometry and sequencing. Researchers studying the cytogen versus cytomax (extract) distinction within the Khavinson bioregulator framework use Testagen as an analytically tractable reference compound
- Analytical method development for closely related Khavinson compounds. The near-identical mass of Testagen (KEDG, approximately 447.5 Da) and Bronchogen/Chonluten family compounds requires sequence-specific analytical methods for unambiguous identification. Researchers developing or validating analytical protocols for Khavinson bioregulator panels use this mass coincidence as a test case for method selectivity
- Testicular endocrine cell biology research. Testagen’s tissue origin is testicular extract; research interest includes Leydig cell and Sertoli cell gene expression models. Published compound-specific reproductive tissue data does not exist in the peer-reviewed literature. Therefore, researchers should design experiments with appropriate controls and not assume published Khavinson bioregulator mechanisms from other tissue targets transfer directly to reproductive cell populations
Storage and Handling
Store as lyophilized powder under refrigeration, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. As a tetrapeptide, Testagen is susceptible to proteolytic degradation under suboptimal storage conditions. Reconstitute immediately before use and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to maintain compound integrity.
Compliance Notice
Testagen is for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or veterinary use and carry no therapeutic, diagnostic, or clinical indication. FDA has not evaluated this product. By purchasing this product, the buyer confirms that they will follow appropriate institutional safety procedures and use it exclusively for controlled research.
