Thymosin Alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid acidic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal fragment of prothymosin alpha, first characterised as one of the active components of thymosin fraction 5, a thymic extract studied from the 1970s onward. AminoOptimization Group supplies it as a lyophilised research powder in a 10 mg presentation, tested to 99% purity by HPLC, with a Certificate of Analysis available for the lot supplied. This material is offered strictly for laboratory research use. It is not a drug, and it is not for human or veterinary use.
What is Thymosin Alpha-1?
Thymosin Alpha-1 (Tα1) is the 28-residue N-terminal fragment of prothymosin alpha (ProTα), a small acidic nuclear protein first isolated from thymosin fraction 5, a partially purified extract of calf thymus tissue studied by researchers investigating thymic peptide factors. The peptide carries an acetylated serine at its N-terminus and terminates in a free carboxylic acid rather than an amide. Its sequence is unusually enriched in aspartate and glutamate residues, giving it a strongly net-negative charge at physiological pH.
This acidic composition has a structural consequence documented in the biophysical literature: Thymosin Alpha-1, like its parent protein prothymosin alpha, does not adopt a single stable folded conformation in aqueous solution. It is described in published structural work as an intrinsically disordered peptide, a classification studied for what it implies about how such peptides engage binding partners, since ordered structure in this class is frequently reported to form only upon binding rather than existing beforehand.
The name places it within the broader thymosin family, but the literature is careful to separate the alpha and beta sub-families, which share a thymic origin and a naming convention without sharing structure or function. Thymosin Beta-4, for example, is a distinct 43-residue peptide studied largely for its actin-binding properties; Thymosin Alpha-1 has no comparable cytoskeletal role and belongs to an entirely separate line of immunological research. Conflating the two is a recognised source of error in secondary literature and in sourcing.
Specifications
- Compound: Thymosin Alpha-1
- CAS number: 62304-98-7
- Molecular formula: C129H215N33O55
- Molecular weight: 3108.3 g/mol
- Purity: 99% by HPLC
- Presentation: Lyophilised powder, sealed vial
- Available sizes: 10 mg
- Physical form: White to off-white powder
- Classification: Research peptide — not for human or veterinary use
Research context
Published research on Thymosin Alpha-1 centres on innate and adaptive immune signalling. Study designs examine its interaction with pattern-recognition receptors on antigen-presenting cells, including reported engagement of Toll-like receptors such as TLR2 and TLR9, and the downstream MyD88-dependent signalling that follows in these model systems. Dendritic cell maturation markers, cytokine profiles, and antigen-presentation efficiency are common readouts in this line of work.
A second area of literature concerns thymopoiesis and T-cell subset differentiation, reflecting the peptide’s origin as a thymic factor, and its role is also examined in models of immune senescence and in models of chronic infection, where researchers use it to probe how a modulator of innate signalling interacts with an already-engaged adaptive response. None of this literature establishes safety or efficacy for use in humans. It is provided as research context only.
Reconstitution
Lyophilised peptide requires reconstitution with a suitable sterile diluent before use in solution. Bacteriostatic water, containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative, is the diluent most commonly specified for multi-use laboratory preparations; sterile water is typical where the reconstituted material will be used once and discarded.
Direct the diluent stream against the inner wall of the vial rather than onto the powder itself, and allow the material to dissolve without agitation. Peptides are susceptible to shear stress from shaking; swirl gently if needed instead. Thymosin Alpha-1’s high proportion of charged residues makes it comparatively hydrophilic, and it is expected to go into solution readily at room temperature.
Working concentration is a function of how much diluent is added to a given vial mass. Our peptide reconstitution calculator computes the resulting concentration for any combination of vial size and diluent volume.
Storage and stability
Before reconstitution: store the sealed vial at -20 °C, protected from light. In lyophilised form, Thymosin Alpha-1 is comparatively stable, and brief temperature excursions during shipping are normal and are not expected to compromise a properly lyophilised product.
After reconstitution: refrigerate at 2–8 °C and protect from light. Peptide in solution is materially less stable than the dry powder, and acidic peptides of this kind are documented as susceptible to aggregation on repeated freeze-thaw cycling — aliquot instead if repeated sampling is required.
Inspect solutions before use. Cloudiness, visible particulate, or discolouration indicate the material should not be relied upon for quantitative work.
Certificate of Analysis
Every lot is tested by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the purity figure quoted above refers to analytical results for the specific lot supplied — not to a generic specification. A Certificate of Analysis is available on request, and we will provide lot-specific documentation before purchase if your protocol requires it.
Purity by HPLC describes the proportion of target peptide relative to detectable related substances in the tested lot. It is a statement about the material as manufactured and tested. It is expressly not a representation that the material is suitable for any use in humans or animals.
Handling and safety
Handle in accordance with good laboratory practice. Use appropriate personal protective equipment, work in a suitable containment environment, and dispose of material and consumables according to your institution’s requirements and applicable local regulation. Anyone with access to this material should understand that it is not for human or veterinary use.
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes Thymosin Alpha-1 from Thymosin Beta-4?
The two share a family name and a thymic origin but little else. Thymosin Alpha-1 is a 28-residue acidic peptide studied for its role in immune signalling; Thymosin Beta-4 is an unrelated 43-residue peptide studied mainly for its interaction with actin. They belong to separate research literatures and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Is Thymosin Alpha-1 approved in Canada?
No. This compound has not been evaluated or authorised by Health Canada, the FDA, or any comparable regulatory authority. It carries no DIN or NPN, its safety and efficacy for human use have not been assessed, and it is supplied for laboratory research only.
How much diluent should be used for reconstitution?
That depends on the working concentration your protocol requires. Use the reconstitution calculator to work out the resulting concentration for your vial size.
How stable is Thymosin Alpha-1 once reconstituted?
Stability in solution is shorter than in lyophilised form and depends on diluent, temperature, and handling. Refrigerate at 2–8 °C, protect from light, avoid freeze-thaw cycling, and validate stability under your own storage conditions if your work depends on it.
Do you provide a Certificate of Analysis?
Yes — lot-specific, available on request, including before purchase.
Research use only
This product is supplied solely for laboratory and scientific research. It is not a drug, food, cosmetic, or medical device, and it must not be administered to humans or animals. Nothing on this page is medical advice or a therapeutic claim. Full terms are set out in our Research Use Only Disclaimer.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.