SS-31
A cell-permeable tetrapeptide, also known as elamipretide, that concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane by binding cardiolipin.
- Purity
- 99.2%
- Lot
- PU-570A
- Format
- Lyophilized powder
- Third-party tested
- Discreet packaging
- Same-day shipping
- Encrypted checkout
For research use only. Not for human consumption.
Mechanism of Action
SS-31 is a cell-penetrating aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide. Its defining property, characterised in a 2015 FASEB Journal report, is selective accumulation in the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it associates with cardiolipin - the signature phospholipid of that membrane.
Binding cardiolipin has been reported to stabilise the interactions between cardiolipin and the respiratory-chain proteins that depend on it, with downstream effects on cristae structure and electron transport efficiency. Reviews published in 2025 examine this mechanism and its therapeutic implications in detail.
Research Findings
The compound has a genuine clinical literature under the name elamipretide. A 2023 Neurology paper reported the MMPOWER-3 trial in primary mitochondrial myopathy, a 2024 Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases paper examined genotype-specific effects, and a 2026 Drugs entry records its first approval.
Preclinical work has examined neuroinflammation and memory endpoints, cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and podocyte mitochondrial injury. This is among the best-characterised compounds in the catalogue at the mechanistic level.
Storage & Reconstitution
Sealed lyophilized vials are stored in the dark. The peptide-formulation literature regards the dry solid as the stable state and the solution as the fragile one: refrigeration at 2-8 degrees C is standard for short holding periods, and minus 20 degrees C or colder for long-term storage. Vials are brought to room temperature before opening so that atmospheric moisture does not condense onto the cold solid.
For reconstitution, the diluent is added slowly down the inner wall of the vial rather than directly onto the cake, and the vial is swirled rather than shaken - agitation at an air-liquid interface is a well-documented driver of peptide aggregation. The solid should dissolve to a clear, particle-free solution; persistent cloudiness or visible particulate indicates the material should not be used.
Reconstituted solution is held at 2-8 degrees C and protected from light. Freeze-thaw cycling is the single most avoidable cause of loss, so where a solution must be frozen it is aliquoted first into single-use volumes. Working aliquots are labelled with the lot number so that any result can be traced back to the certificate of analysis for that lot.
- Physical form
- Lyophilized powder, sealed vial
- Sealed storage
- 2-8 C short term / -20 C long term
- Reconstituted
- 2-8 C, protected from light
- Diluent
- Bacteriostatic water, added down the vial wall
- Avoid
- Shaking, freeze-thaw cycling, direct light
Handling summary
References
Every entry below links to its PubMed record. Publication is not endorsement: several of these papers report limitations, negative findings or adverse events, and they are listed for that reason.
- [1]Elamipretide (SS-31) improves mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic and memory impairment induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice(opens PubMed in a new tab)
J Neuroinflammation · 2019 · PMID 31747905
- [2]Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction with elamipretide(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Heart Fail Rev · 2022 · PMID 35037146
- [3]Elamipretide: A Review of Its Structure, Mechanism of Action, and Therapeutic Potential(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Int J Mol Sci · 2025 · PMID 39940712
- [4]Mitochondrial Dysfunction: The Silent Catalyst of Kidney Disease Progression(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Cells · 2025 · PMID 40497970
- [5]Elamipretide: First Approval(opens PubMed in a new tab)
Drugs · 2026 · PMID 41335372
- [6]