Function
While Humanin exerts neuroprotective and cytoprotective effects in models of Alzheimer’s disease, ischemia, and metabolic stress, reducing apoptosis and improving cell survival7136141, Matrixyl is a widely used cosmetic peptide with evidence of stimulating extracellular matrix synthesis and reducing wrinkle appearance in skin-care formulations48.
Mechanism
While Humanin works as a mitochondrial-derived 24-amino-acid peptide that protects cells against diverse apoptotic insults by interacting with cell-surface cytokine receptor complexes and intracellular targets, thereby activating pro-survival STAT3 and other pathways7136141, Matrixyl is a palmitoylated pentapeptide, Pal-Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser (Pal-KTTKS), that acts as a matrikine, signaling to dermal fibroblasts to increase production of collagen, elastin, fibronectin, and other ECM components4858.
Length and Sequence
Humanin is 24 amino acids long, whereas Matrixyl is shorter as it has a length of 5 amino acids. Humanin is made up of a sequence of Methionine, Alanine, Proline, Arginine, Glycine, Phenylalanine, Serine, Cysteine, Leucine, Leucine, Leucine, Leucine, Leucine, Threonine, Serine, Glutamic acid, Isoleucine, Aspartic acid, Leucine, Proline, Valine, Lysine, Arginine, Arginine, Alanine. Matrixyl is made up of a sequence of Lysine, Threonine, Threonine, Lysine, Serine.