Peptable

Comparison

SS-31 vs Tesamorelin

Function

While SS-31 improves mitochondrial bioenergetics, reduces oxidative stress, and shows protective effects in models of ischemia-reperfusion, neurodegeneration, and other mitochondrial disorders4637137, Tesamorelin is FDA-approved to reduce excess visceral adipose tissue in HIV-associated lipodystrophy and is studied for broader body-composition, NAFLD, and cognitive effects via GH/IGF-1 axis modulation1893.

Mechanism

While SS-31 works as 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, Tesamorelin is a full-length 44-amino-acid GHRH analog with an N-terminal trans-3-hexenoic acid modification that binds GHRHR, activating cAMP/PKA signaling to increase endogenous GH and IGF-1, with improved stability versus native GHRH182893102.

Receptor

SS-31

Cardiolipin-rich inner mitochondrial membrane; interacts with cardiolipin and associated mitochondrial proteins rather than a classical cell-surface receptor46137143

Tesamorelin

Growth hormone–releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) 9394103

Organism or Origin

SS-31

Fully synthetic Szeto–Schiller tetrapeptide; not encoded in the genome4637

Tesamorelin

Synthetic analog of human hypothalamic GHRH1893

Gene

SS-31

Not assigned in the current dataset.

Tesamorelin

GHRH

Summary

SS-31 and Tesamorelin are noticeably different, with limited direct overlap in their usual biological context. Both are often discussed in Cardiovascular health contexts, while SS-31 is more of a mitochondrial peptide and Tesamorelin is better described as a hormone peptide and Metabolic peptide. They also influence different molecular systems, with SS-31 tracking more closely to Mitochondrial membrane while Tesamorelin centers more on Growth hormone axis. SS-31 has a more synthetic design origin, while Tesamorelin is closer to synthetic analog background and their development context also differs, with SS-31 in Clinical phase 2 while Tesamorelin is approved. SS-31 takes the form of a linear peptide, whereas Tesamorelin is closer to a peptide conjugate, while their sequence patterns also diverge, with SS-31 showing cationic amphipathic features and Tesamorelin showing alpha-helical domain features.

Related articles

No related articles are linked to these peptides yet.

Sources

46Discovery of novel SS-31 (d-Arg-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2 ... - PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11409442/
56Discovery of novel SS-31 (d-Arg-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2 ..., https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/ra/d4ra05517a
137Mitochondrial protein interaction landscape of SS-31 | PNAS, https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2002250117
143SS-31 Peptide: Mitochondrial Repair for Energy and Longevity, https://revolutionhealth.org/blogs/news/peptide-therapy-ss-31
18Tesamorelin: Benefits, Dosing & Where to Buy (2026) - Peptides, https://thepeptidecatalog.com/peptides/tesamorelin
28The Ultimate Guide to Tesamorelin | Las Vegas | Sky Health, https://www.skyhealthnv.com/tesamorelin
93Tesamorelin - FDA-Approved GHRH Analog Guide - PeptideMark, https://www.peptidemark.com/peptides/tesamorelin
94Growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth-hormone-releasing_hormone_receptor
102Tesamorelin: Molecular Characterization and Metabolic Research, https://biotechpeptides.com/2026/03/25/tesamorelin-molecular-characterization-growth-hormone-axis-modulation-and-metabolic-research/
103Growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_hormone_releasing_hormone_receptor