Reference
What is SS-31?
SS-31 is a tetrapeptide, four residues, also known by the development name elamipretide. It belongs to a series of designed peptides — the "SS" compounds — built to associate with cardiolipin, a phospholipid found in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Classification
| Type | Peptide |
| Chain length | 4 amino acid residues |
| Family | Mitochondria-targeting tetrapeptide |
| Origin | Developed in academic research from the 2000s; also known as elamipretide |
| Supplied as | Lyophilised powder in a sealed vial |
Unlike most compounds here it was designed for a structural target rather than derived from a natural sequence. That makes its amino acid composition unusual: it includes residues arranged for the molecule to carry charge in a particular pattern, rather than to resemble anything that occurs in nature.
Where it sits by length
At 4 residues, SS-31 is one of the shortest chains it is still conventional to call a peptide. The boundary is a convention, not a rule of chemistry — chains up to roughly fifty residues are generally called peptides.
What this page does not cover
Nothing here describes what SS-31 does, what it is used for, or whether it is safe. We publish analytical results and ship parcels; we give no guidance on dosing, preparation or use, and that applies to our reference pages as much as to the product pages. The person to ask about any of that is a registered prescriber.
Where it came from
The SS in SS-31 is the two chemists who made it. The 31 is where it sat in their series.
The early 2000s — Weill Cornell, New York, and Université de Montréal. When was SS-31 created?
More on SS-31
See SS-31 in the range · What is a peptide? · Discovery timeline · All reference
