Peptides Academy
Humanin
Research-Grade
Humanin was discovered in 2001 by Hashimoto et al. during a functional screen for survival factors in an occipital lobe cDNA library from an Alzheimer's disease patient. It is a 24-amino-acid peptide encoded in the 16S rRNA region of mitochondrial DNA — making it one of the first identified mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs), a class that also includes MOTS-c and SHLPs. Humanin's cytoprotective mechanism involves binding to BAX, preventing BAX-mediated mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization — a critical step in apoptosis. It also binds to and activates the CNTFR/WSX-1/gp130 tripartite receptor complex, engaging STAT3 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways that promote cell survival. Circulating humanin levels decline with age in both humans and mice, and this decline correlates with age-related metabolic and cognitive deterioration. Epidemiological data from the Leiden Longevity Study shows that offspring of nonagenarians have higher circulating humanin levels than age-matched controls — suggesting a link between humanin and familial longevity. Analogs with enhanced stability have been developed. HNG (humanin G, with a Ser14→Gly substitution) is 1000-fold more potent than native humanin in cytoprotection assays. Most in vivo research uses HNG due to its improved pharmacological properties. All current evidence is preclinical. No human therapeutic trials of humanin or its analogs have been published.
Specifications
| Origin / Manufacturer | Synthetic (mitochondrial-derived peptide analog) |
| Active Components | Humanin (HN) or Humanin-G (HNG) acetate |
| Storage | Store at −20°C, protect from light |
| Shelf Life | 12 months (lyophilized) |
| Form Factor | Lyophilized powder for reconstitution |
Clinical Evidence
Clinical report reference
Clinical report reference
Clinical report reference
Clinical report reference
Clinical report reference
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
Every clinical claim on this page traces to a primary peer-reviewed source.
- 1Hashimoto Y, et al.. A rescue factor abolishing neuronal cell death by a wide spectrum of familial Alzheimer's disease genes and Abeta. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2001;98(11):6336-6341. PMID:11371646
- 2Muzumdar RH, et al.. Humanin: a novel central regulator of peripheral insulin action. PLoS ONE. 2009;4(7):e6334. PMID:19623253
- 3Lee C, et al.. The mitochondrial-derived peptide MOTS-c promotes metabolic homeostasis and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Cell Metabolism. 2015;21(3):443-454. PMID:25738459
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Mitochondrial Biology & Aging Review
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