Function
While Sermorelin is used as a diagnostic agent for assessing GH secretory capacity and as a research tool or off-label therapy to increase endogenous GH in GH-deficient or age-related contexts1727, SS-31 improves mitochondrial bioenergetics, reduces oxidative stress, and shows protective effects in models of ischemia-reperfusion, neurodegeneration, and other mitochondrial disorders4637137.
Mechanism
While Sermorelin works as a synthetic 29-amino-acid peptide identical to the 1–29 N-terminal fragment of human GHRH that stimulates GH synthesis and secretion by binding pituitary GHRH receptors1727120, 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.
Length and Sequence
Sermorelin is 29 amino acids long, whereas SS-31 is shorter as it has a length of 4 amino acids. Sermorelin is made up of a sequence of Tyrosine, Alanine, Aspartic acid, Alanine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Asparagine, Serine, Tyrosine, Arginine, Lysine, Valine, Leucine, Glycine, Glutamine, Leucine, Serine, Alanine, Arginine, Lysine, Leucine, Leucine, Glutamine, Aspartic acid, Isoleucine, Methionine, Serine, Arginine. SS-31 is made up of a sequence of Arginine, dimethylTyr, Lysine, Phenylalanine.