Thymosin Alpha-1: research overview
What is Thymosin Alpha-1
Thymosin Alpha-1 is a peptide made of 28 amino acid residues, with an acetylated N-terminus. It was isolated from a thymus fraction, the tissue that gave its name to the wider thymosin family of research peptides. Today it is widely described in the literature on cell-mediated immunity and is a popular reference compound in studies of immune response mechanisms.
For a researcher, a predictable molecule matters. When the sequence, mass and molecular formula are known and verified, it is easier to plan an experiment, compare results between series and confirm that an effect seen in culture comes from the peptide itself.
Mechanism described in research
In vitro studies have described the effects of Thymosin Alpha-1 on the maturation and differentiation of T lymphocytes and on the function of dendritic cells. Authors of this work linked these effects to changes in signalling pathways associated with pattern recognition receptors, and to shifts in cytokine production, including interleukin 2 and interferon gamma.
The picture from the research is complex, so results from any experiment should be read in the context of the cell model, the solution concentration and the incubation time used. Historically, the peptide was also the subject of clinical studies, including work on chronic viral hepatitis.
Research areas
- T lymphocyte immunology and their maturation in in vitro cultures,
- dendritic cells and antigen presentation,
- models of viral infection in cell cultures,
- preclinical models of anti-tumour immune response,
- studies on regulation of inflammation in animal models.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Thymosin Alpha-1 |
| CAS number | 62304-98-7 |
| Molecular formula | C129H215N33O55 |
| Molecular mass | 3108.3 g/mol |
| Form | lyophilised powder |
| Purity | ≥ 99% (HPLC) |
| Vial sizes | 5 mg, 10 mg |
Laboratory handling
Reconstitution and storage
- Store the lyophilised powder at -20 °C, tightly sealed, away from moisture and light.
- Once reconstituted, keep the solution at 2-8 °C.
- Avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Prepare aliquots in separate vials straight away.
- Use bacteriostatic water as the solvent, or another solvent that matches your study procedure.
Always adapt the reconstitution procedure to your own model and to the conditions in your laboratory. It is good practice to log the reconstitution date and batch number in your lab notebook.
Batch quality
Every batch is analysed by HPLC, which confirms purity of 99% or higher. Mass spectrometry (MS) confirms the molecular mass, meaning that the molecule matches its declared structure.
Purity matters because impurities can change experimental outcomes. That is why we measure quality against the standard that research teams working with peptides in cell culture expect.
Related peptides
Thymosin Alpha-1 is often compared with peptides from the same tissue research category:
Review our quality standards and analytical methods and use the concentration calculator to work out your solution before you start.
