Comparison
While Matrixyl is a widely used cosmetic peptide with evidence of stimulating extracellular matrix synthesis and reducing wrinkle appearance in skin-care formulations48, Semax is used clinically in Russia for ischemic stroke and cognitive disorders; in models it improves learning, protects dopaminergic neurons, and modulates stress responses without significant endocrine ACTH-like effects166174.
While Matrixyl works as 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, Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide, Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro (MEHFPGP), that is an analog of ACTH(4–10) with a Pro-Gly-Pro extension and exerts neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions partly via upregulation of BDNF and modulation of dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems40162165174.
Matrixyl is 5 amino acids long, whereas Semax is longer as it has a length of 7 amino acids. Matrixyl is made up of a sequence of Lysine, Threonine, Threonine, Lysine, Serine. Semax is made up of a sequence of Methionine, Glutamic acid, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Glycine, Proline.
Matrixyl
Not clearly established in the current dataset.
Semax
Targets are not fully defined; interacts with melanocortin-related pathways and inhibits certain peptidases, but no single dominant receptor has been established174
Matrixyl
Not assigned in the current dataset.
Semax
POMC
No related articles are linked to these peptides yet.