Prostamax Peptide

Prostate-specific bioregulatory tetrapeptide that normalizes prostatic epithelial cell gene expression. Researched for reducing age-related prostatic hyperplasia and maintaining normal prostate function in aging models.

Prostamax is a synthetic short-chain peptide bioregulator with the amino acid sequence Lys-Glu-Asp-Pro (KEDP), a molecular formula of C20H33N5O9, a molecular weight of approximately 487.51 g/mol, and CAS number 1421139-86-3. It belongs to the family of Khavinson cytogen peptides, a class of ultra-short peptides isolated and characterized at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology under the direction of Professor Vladimir Khavinson. Prostamax is conceptually derived from the polypeptide complex Prostatilen, which itself was extracted from bovine prostate tissue. KEDP represents the minimal active fragment proposed to retain the tissue-specific regulatory activity of the parent extract in a defined, synthesizable form.

In the Khavinson bioregulator framework, each short peptide is hypothesized to interact preferentially with a specific organ or cell type, modulating gene expression via direct peptide-DNA interactions and through epigenetic mechanisms. Prostamax has been investigated in the context of prostate gland physiology, with preclinical models exploring its effects on glandular epithelium, secretory function, and age-related stromal-epithelial remodeling. Research interest stems from observations that aged-animal prostate tissue exposed to KEDP shows changes in proliferative markers, secretion patterns, and morphological organization that parallel those reported with Prostatilen extracts.

What differentiates Prostamax from related Khavinson peptides such as Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), Vilon (Lys-Glu), and Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg) is its specific four-residue composition and proposed tissue tropism for prostatic epithelium. Where Epitalon is studied for pineal and telomerase-related endpoints, and Vilon for thymic and immune endpoints, Prostamax research focuses on prostate-specific gene expression, androgen signaling crosstalk, and modulation of inflammatory and proliferative pathways implicated in benign prostatic models. The compound is supplied as a lyophilized white powder for in vitro and in vivo investigational use, and its small size and water solubility make it experimentally tractable for cell culture, tissue explant, and rodent dosing studies.

Prostamax (Lys-Glu-Asp-Pro, KEDP) belongs to the family of short bioregulatory peptides developed at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology under the bioregulator framework pioneered by Khavinson and colleagues. Like its sibling tetrapeptides (Epitalon, Vilon, Bronchogen), Prostamax is hypothesized to act as a tissue-specific gene expression modulator rather than as a classical receptor ligand. Research suggests that short peptides of this class enter the cytoplasm and nucleus of target cells, where they interact directly with DNA in a sequence-specific manner and modulate transcription of genes governing differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis in the prostate gland.

Direct DNA Binding and Epigenetic Modulation

In vitro studies of KEDP and related peptides indicate selective binding to promoter regions of genes involved in prostate cell differentiation. The peptide's small size (4 residues, ~487 Da) allows it to traverse nuclear pore complexes without active transport. Once in the nucleus, KEDP has been proposed to bind to specific oligonucleotide motifs, displacing repressor proteins or altering local chromatin structure. This complementary peptide-DNA interaction model is supported by molecular dynamics simulations and has been invoked to explain the tissue specificity of bioregulators.

Modulation of Prostate Cell Proliferation

In aged-rat and organotypic prostate culture models, KEDP has been associated with normalization of the proliferation index. Research suggests downregulation of pro-proliferative markers (Ki-67, PCNA) in hyperplastic prostate tissue and upregulation of apoptotic regulators (caspase-3, p53) in hyperproliferative foci, while in atrophic tissue the opposite pattern has been observed — suggesting a homeostatic, rather than unidirectional, effect.

Anti-Inflammatory Signaling

Preclinical work indicates that Prostamax application reduces expression of NF-kB-dependent inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6) in prostate tissue from aged animals. Reduced inflammatory tone is thought to contribute to the restoration of glandular architecture observed histologically.

Comparison to Other Prostate Bioregulators

Prostamax (KEDP) is the synthetic short-peptide analog of Prostatilen, a polypeptide extract derived from bovine prostate tissue. Whereas Prostatilen contains a heterogeneous mixture of peptides 1-10 kDa in size, Prostamax represents the active tetrapeptide motif identified through sequential fractionation. The synthetic tetrapeptide offers reproducible composition and avoids the bovine-source variability of the original extract, while reportedly retaining the prostate-tropic activity in animal models.

Importantly, Prostamax is not an androgen receptor ligand, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, or an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist — the three classical pharmacological classes used in prostate-disease research. Its proposed mechanism is therefore complementary to, and mechanistically distinct from, these reference compounds.

Prostamax is a synthetic linear tetrapeptide consisting of four L-amino acids in the sequence Lysine-Glutamic acid-Aspartic acid-Proline. The compound is supplied as a lyophilized white powder for research reconstitution.

The peptide carries one basic residue (lysine) and two acidic residues (glutamate, aspartate), giving it a net negative charge at physiological pH. The C-terminal proline imparts conformational rigidity and a degree of resistance to carboxypeptidase activity, which is a recurring structural feature among the Khavinson tetrapeptide bioregulators. Its small size and high polarity result in good aqueous solubility but very rapid plasma clearance, which is one reason short multi-day dosing courses are used in the published animal studies.

For analytical identification, Prostamax can be characterized by reverse-phase HPLC (typically C18, water/acetonitrile gradient with 0.1% TFA) and confirmed by ESI mass spectrometry showing the expected [M+H]⁺ peak at m/z 488.5.

Prostamax is supplied as a sterile lyophilized white powder and should be handled under standard peptide laboratory protocols. The compound is highly water soluble owing to its short length and the presence of polar and charged residues (Lys, Glu, Asp), simplifying reconstitution for most in vitro and in vivo research applications.

1. Equilibrate the vial to room temperature for 20-30 minutes before opening to prevent condensation on the lyophilized cake.
2. Centrifuge briefly (1000-2000 x g for 30 seconds) to ensure the powder is at the bottom of the vial before adding diluent.
3. Reconstitute with sterile bacteriostatic water or 0.9% sodium chloride for general use. For sensitive cell culture work, sterile-filtered water for injection or PBS (pH 7.2-7.4) is preferred to avoid benzyl alcohol exposure.
4. Suggested working concentration: for a 5 mg vial, add 1 mL diluent for a 5 mg/mL stock (approximately 10.3 mM). For nanomolar in vitro studies, perform serial dilutions in culture-compatible buffer.
5. Add diluent slowly down the wall of the vial and allow the powder to dissolve by gentle swirling. Do not vortex or shake vigorously, as mechanical agitation can promote peptide aggregation and foaming.
6. Inspect the solution — it should appear clear and colorless with no visible particulates. Sterile-filter (0.22 µm) before use in cell culture.
7. Aliquot into low-binding polypropylene tubes to minimize freeze-thaw cycles and surface adsorption losses.

Compound-specific notes: KEDP lacks methionine, cysteine, and tryptophan, so it is not prone to oxidation or disulfide-related instability. However, the glutamate and aspartate residues can be sensitive to extremes of pH, and prolonged exposure to acidic conditions may promote isomerization. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles of reconstituted stocks and document lot, concentration, and date on each aliquot for reproducibility.