Acetyl tetrapeptide-5
is used in cosmetic eye formulations to decrease puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles by reducing edema and protecting proteins such as SOD from glycation
Alanine
Ala / A · hydrophobic residue · neutral charge
AOD-9604
is studied as an anti-obesity peptide that can reduce weight gain and increase fat oxidation in obese animal models with generally neutral effects on IGF-1 and glucose metabolism in early human trials
Arginine
Arg / R · basic residue · positive charge
Argireline
is a topical cosmetic peptide reported to decrease dynamic wrinkles by partially mimicking the mechanism of botulinum toxin in a non-invasive manner
Asparagine
Asn / N · polar residue · neutral charge
Aspartic acid
Asp / D · acidic residue · negative charge
BPC-157
is investigated for accelerating healing of gastrointestinal mucosa, tendons, ligaments, bone, and nervous tissue in preclinical models, with anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects
Comparison
While BPC-157 is investigated for accelerating healing of gastrointestinal mucosa, tendons, ligaments, bone, and nervous tissue in preclinical models, with anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects111, SS-31 improves mitochondrial bioenergetics, reduces oxidative stress, and shows protective effects in models of ischemia-reperfusion, neurodegeneration, and other mitochondrial disorders4637137.
While BPC-157 works as a synthetic 15-amino-acid fragment of a gastric cytoprotective protein that promotes angiogenesis and tissue protection primarily by modulating VEGFR2 signaling, Src/caveolin-1–dependent eNOS activation, and nitric oxide production111, SS-31 is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide, d-Arg-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2, that selectively binds cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane, stabilizing cristae structure, improving electron transport, and reducing ROS production4637137143.
BPC-157
VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) on endothelial cells, with downstream eNOS and nitric-oxide–mediated signaling11
SS-31
BPC-157
Not assigned in the current dataset.
SS-31
Not assigned in the current dataset.
The clearest overlap between BPC-157 and SS-31 is that both converge around Signaling modulator. Their typical research and application settings separate fairly clearly: BPC-157 is more often discussed in the realm of Gastroenterology, Musculoskeletal health, and Dermatology and aesthetics, whereas SS-31 is more often associated with the realm of Aging and longevity and Cardiovascular health. Both appear to work through Signaling modulator, but the functional emphasis still separates, with BPC-157 leaning toward Tissue repair and healing, Angiogenesis modulation, and Anti-inflammatory and SS-31 leaning toward Mitochondrial function modulation, Antioxidant activity, and Neuroprotection and cognition. BPC-157 has a more synthetic analog origin, while SS-31 is closer to synthetic design background with BPC-157 in Preclinical development and SS-31 in Clinical phase 2. SS-31 incorporates d-amino acid substitution and amidation features that are not part of BPC-157, while their sequence patterns also diverge, with BPC-157 showing proline-rich features and SS-31 showing cationic amphipathic features.