The short version of Pro-Gly-Pro fits in a sentence. The long version — which is the one that helps — is below.
Reviewed 2025-12-06. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in Russia as a structural analogue of tuftsin, a naturally occurring immunomodulatory tetrapeptide. Its sequence, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, keeps the tuftsin core at the N-terminus and appends a Pro-Gly-Pro tail. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow synthesized the compound during the 1990s while searching for peptides with combined anxiolytic and immunomodulatory activity. The added tail was intended to resist enzymatic cleavage and prolong the molecule's presence in circulation.
The compound has a calculated molecular weight near 751.9 daltons and carries a net positive charge at physiological pH because of its arginine residue. It dissolves freely in water and in common aqueous buffers, and typically appears as a white or off-white lyophilized powder. The amide backbone makes the molecule susceptible to peptidases, which limits oral use and favors intranasal or parenteral routes. Nomenclature in the literature varies: the substance is also described by the sequence abbreviation TP-7 and by a Russian trade designation.
Regulatory status differs sharply by region. Selank holds a Russian marketing authorization, where it is supplied mainly as nasal drops, while authorities elsewhere have not approved it for medical use. Material sold internationally is therefore usually labeled as a research chemical rather than a medicine. Peer-reviewed publications come predominantly from Russian laboratories, and sample sizes are generally small. Whether the compound produces comparable effects under independent, well-controlled replication remains an open question that the broader literature has not settled.
Most published work on selank originates from a small number of research groups in the Russian Federation. A large share of that record appears in Russian-language journals, which limits access for readers who rely on English-indexed databases. Independent replication by laboratories outside the original research network is sparse in publicly available sources. This concentration of origin and language is a frequently noted feature when the compound is summarized in broader reviews of synthetic peptides.
Reported pharmacological effects center on reduced anxiety-like behavior in animal models and on measures of memory and learning. Proposed contributing mechanisms include modulation of GABAergic signaling, shifts in monoamine turnover, and changes in the activity of enzymes that degrade neuropeptides. Effects on the expression of genes linked to neuroplasticity have also been described. No single molecular target is widely accepted, and whether the behavioral findings arise from one pathway or several remains an open question.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical class | Synthetic heptapeptide | Analog of the tetrapeptide tuftsin |
| Sequence | Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro | Reported consistently across pharmacopoeial descriptions |
| Appearance | White to off-white lyophilized powder | Typical form of research-grade material |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water | Aqueous buffers; poor in nonpolar solvents |
| Typical storage temperature | -20 degrees Celsius | Lyophilized powder; protect from moisture |
Published clinical evidence is limited. Most controlled trials were conducted in Russia, enrolled modest numbers of participants, and appeared in Russian-language journals, which restricts independent verification. Reported outcomes include lower anxiety scores, improved attention and memory measures, and changes in fatigue ratings. Reviews written in English note methodological limitations such as small samples and inconsistent endpoints. Whether the compound produces clinically meaningful benefit relative to established anxiolytics is therefore an open question rather than an established finding.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was designed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a structural analogue of tuftsin, a naturally occurring tetrapeptide fragment of the immunoglobulin heavy chain. The added Pro-Gly-Pro tail was intended to slow enzymatic degradation and extend biological activity. In Russia it is registered as an anxiolytic nasal preparation, while regulators elsewhere have not approved it for clinical use.
Proposed mechanisms centre on modulation of the GABAergic system, with reports of altered expression of genes related to GABA-A receptor subunits and changed monoamine turnover. Some studies describe inhibition of enkephalinase, the enzyme that degrades endogenous enkephalins, which may prolong opioid peptide signalling. Effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and on cytokine expression have also been reported. These findings come largely from animal models and small human studies, and the precise primary target remains unresolved.
Outside its country of origin the compound is generally handled as a research chemical rather than an approved medicine. No regulatory approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency has been granted for human use. Identity and purity are normally checked by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, with mass spectrometry used to confirm the molecular mass. Lyophilised material is stored cold and desiccated, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles are avoided.
Published work on this peptide almost always uses intranasal delivery, with drops or a spray applied to the nasal mucosa. Some animal experiments have used subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection, and a smaller number have compared routes directly. Oral administration is not a focus of the literature, because short peptides of this size are broken down by digestive enzymes and cross intestinal barriers poorly. How much of an intranasal dose reaches the bloodstream intact in humans remains an open question.
Selank is not a naturally occurring peptide and has no known endogenous counterpart in human physiology. Russian-language sources frequently call it TP-7, while English-language sources use the name Selank almost exclusively. Database indexing is uneven, partly because early reports appeared in regional journals that are not widely cataloged. Some summaries describe the material as a tuftsin analog and others as a synthetic heptapeptide; the labels overlap rather than conflict. Citing the primary sequence resolves ambiguity more reliably than the research or trade name alone.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, written TKPRPGP in one-letter notation. Its structure consists of the immunomodulatory tetrapeptide tuftsin, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg, extended at the carboxyl terminus by a Pro-Gly-Pro segment. The molecular formula is commonly given as C33H57N11O9, corresponding to a monoisotopic mass near 751.4 Da and an average molecular mass near 751.9 Da. All seven residues are proteinogenic amino acids, and the molecule carries no modified side chains or non-natural linkages.
The compound was designed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences during the 1980s and 1990s. The stated design goal was to retain the immunomodulatory and central nervous system activity attributed to tuftsin while improving resistance to enzymatic breakdown. Adding a proline-rich tail to the short parent peptide was a deliberate strategy, because proline residues restrict the conformations available to many peptidases. The same laboratory produced Semax, an ACTH fragment analog, and both compounds were developed in parallel as short, enzymatically stabilized peptides intended for intranasal use.
== Prognosis == Symptoms of fibromyalgia are regarded as persistent in nearly all patients. The German Federal Ministry of Health guidance on FM refers to a longitudinal study (n = 1555) in which 10% of patients had substantial improvement in pain, 15% had moderate improvement, and 39% worsened. FM severity worsened in 36%. No average meaningful change in symptoms was found, and high levels of self-reported symptoms and distress continued for most patients. Fibromyalgia can cause substantial disability, with impacts on the ability to work, engage in recreational activities, and do household duties. Amongst people with fibromyalgia, the proportion that are able to maintain their jobs has been estimated at between 34% and 77%, and some research suggest the typical reduction in work hours is between 50-70%. There is variation in the level of impact, with 71.4% of those who are mild remaining in employment, compared to 61.2% of those who are moderate and 28.5% of those who are severe. Levels of pain can vary significantly over time, from severe pain to almost symptom-free phases. A 2023 meta-analysis found that FM people were at a standardized mortality ratio (i.e., observed mortality rates in the study population, compared to expected levels based on a standard population) of 3.37 (95% CI 1.52 to 7.50) for mortality due to suicide.
Countercurrent exchange is used extensively in biological systems for a wide variety of purposes. For example, fish use it in their gills to transfer oxygen from the surrounding water into their blood, and birds use a countercurrent heat exchanger between blood vessels in their legs to keep heat concentrated within their bodies. In vertebrates, this type of organ is referred to as a rete mirabile (originally the name of the organ in the fish gills). Mammalian kidneys use countercurrent exchange to remove water from urine so the body can retain water used to move the nitrogenous waste products (see countercurrent multiplier).
Sioux Nation of Indians and was involved in the Black Hills Land Claim John Lowenthal (1947), lawyer and documentary filmmaker known for his defense of Alger Hiss Norman Dorsen (1950), professor at the New York University School of Law and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union Robert O. Harris (1951), labor lawyer and chairman of the National Mediation Board Norman Marcus (1953), New York City Planning Commission general counsel and zoning expert Richard H. Stern (1953), attorney and law professor David Braun (1954), music industry lawyer, former president of PolyGram Records Alvin Hellerstein (1954), US federal judge Isaac Shapiro (1954), head of international practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, former president of Japan Society Clarence Benjamin Jones (1956), attorney and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. Jerome H. Kern (1957), founder of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, former CEO of Playboy and Colorado Symphony Bernard Nussbaum (1958), White House counsel under Bill Clinton Ezra G. Levin (1959), lawyer, co-chair of international law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel David G. Trager (1959), judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York Robert Abrams (1960), Bronx borough president and New York state attorney general Frank Tuerkheimer (1960), Watergate prosecutor and former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin José A. Cabranes (1961), judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals; first Puerto Rican to sit in a U.S. District Court; current trustee of Columbia University Michael B.
=== Wound sterility === Wound sterility, or degree of contamination of a wound, is a critical consideration when evaluating a wound. In the United States, the CDC's Surgical Wound Classification System is most commonly used for classification of a wound's sterility, specifically within a surgical setting. According to this classification system, four different classes of wound exist, each with their own postoperative risk of surgical site infection:
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
25 December – Gull New Zealand and NPD announce plans to merge their New Zealand operations, subject to approval from the Commerce Commission. 29 December — Gale force winds disrupt camping grounds and festivals, down trees and cause power outages in the upper North Island and Buller District in the South Island's West Coast Region. 30 December — Strong winds cause power disruptions to 10,000 homes and at least 50 cellphone towers in the Tasman District. 31 December – The 2026 New Year Honours are announced.
== I == Iatrogenic A condition unintentionally caused by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures. In neuroscience, may refer to nerve damage, seizures, or cognitive effects resulting from interventions. Ictal Relating to or occurring during a seizure or convulsion. Commonly used in the context of epilepsy, such as "ictal phase" versus "postictal phase." Imaging genetics A research field that combines brain imaging and genetics to investigate how genetic variation affects brain structure and function. Immunohistochemistry A technique that uses antibodies to detect specific proteins or antigens in tissue sections. Frequently used to visualize neuronal and glial markers. Implicit memory Unconscious memory of skills and procedures, such as riding a bike or playing an instrument. Associated with brain structures like the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Incus One of the three auditory ossicles in the middle ear that transmits sound vibrations from the malleus to the stapes. Independent component analysis (ICA) A computational method used to separate mixed signals into independent sources. Commonly used in EEG and fMRI to identify distinct brain activity patterns. Inferior colliculus A midbrain structure involved in auditory processing, particularly sound localization and reflexive responses to sound stimuli. Inferior olive A brainstem nucleus that sends climbing fiber inputs to the cerebellum and plays a critical role in motor learning and coordination.
Skeletal advancement to physically increase the pharyngeal airspace is often an option for craniofacial patients with upper airway obstruction and small lower jaws (mandibles). These syndromes include Treacher Collins syndrome and Pierre Robin sequence. Mandibular advancement surgery is one of the modifications needed to improve the airway; others may include reduction of the tongue, tonsillectomy, or modified uvulopalatoplasty.
== External links == Anatomy figure: 04:04-07 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "Muscles of the anterior chest wall with the pectoralis major muscles removed." "Anatomy photo:18:01-0115". SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. – "Thoracic Wall: The Anterior Thoracic Wall" Anatomy figure: 35:06-07 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "Incision and reflection of the external abdominal oblique muscle." Anatomy figure: 35:07-01 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center – "Incision and reflection of the internal abdominal oblique muscle." "Anatomy photo:35:10-0100". SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. – "Anterior Abdominal Wall: The Rectus Abdominis Muscle" Cross section image: pembody/body12a—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna "Anatomy diagram: 25466.180-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2012-09-03.
The mushroom has a thin cobweb-like partial veil that does not last long before disappearing; sometimes, the partial veil leaves an annular zone on the stipe that may be darkened by spores. The flesh is thin and membrane-like, and roughly the same color as the surface tissue. It has a farinaceous (similar to freshly ground flour) odor and taste. All parts of the mushroom will stain a bluish color if handled or bruised, and it may naturally turn blue with age.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Selank is a synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide modeled on tuftsin, a fragment of the immunoglobulin G heavy chain. It was designed in Russia to combine anxiolytic and immunomodulatory properties in one molecule.
The first four residues of Selank reproduce the tuftsin sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg. A Pro-Gly-Pro extension at the C-terminus was added to slow enzymatic breakdown and extend residence time.
It holds marketing authorization in Russia, where nasal drop formulations are sold. No equivalent approval exists in the European Union, the United States, or most other countries.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, designed as a metabolically stabilized analogue of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin. It has been studied mainly against anxiety-related and cognitive endpoints rather than as an approved medicine in most jurisdictions.