Name: Selank 10mg
Brand: RetaLABS.is
SKU: selank-10mg

Question 1

What is Selank used for in research?

Accepted Answer

Selank is researched for its anxiolytic, nootropic, and immunomodulatory properties as a stable synthetic analogue of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin. In anxiety research models, Selank has been shown to reduce anxiety-like behaviour in rodent elevated plus maze and open field tests, with an effect profile distinct from benzodiazepines, suggesting a non-GABAergic anxiolytic mechanism. Neurotrophic factor research has documented Selank's ability to upregulate BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) expression in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which is relevant to its observed effects on learning and memory consolidation in animal models. Serotonin and dopamine metabolism studies have found that Selank modulates central monoamine turnover in ways that align with its anxiolytic and cognitive effects. As a tuftsin analogue, Selank also retains immunomodulatory properties, tuftsin is a natural immunostimulatory peptide derived from IgG that promotes macrophage and monocyte activity, and Selank's immune-related research applications include models of innate immune regulation and cytokine balance studies.

Question 2

How does Selank differ from benzodiazepines in research models?

Accepted Answer

Benzodiazepines reduce anxiety by acting as positive allosteric modulators of GABA-A receptors, enhancing chloride ion conductance and producing general CNS inhibition. This mechanism produces anxiolysis but also sedation, cognitive impairment, and dependency risk (effects mediated specifically through GABA-A receptor subtypes containing α1, α2, α3, or α5 subunits. Selank's anxiolytic mechanism, in contrast, is thought to operate primarily through modulation of serotonin metabolism and BDNF expression rather than direct GABA-A receptor interaction. This mechanistic distinction makes Selank useful for research investigating anxiety-related pathways that are independent of, or complementary to, GABAergic signalling. Head-to-head comparison studies using Selank alongside benzodiazepine reference compounds (such as diazepam) allow researchers to quantify the proportion of anxiolytic effect attributable to GABA-A receptor modulation versus serotonergic and neurotrophic mechanisms) relevant for drug development work aimed at identifying anxiolytic agents without the sedation or dependency liabilities associated with chronic benzodiazepine exposure.

Question 3

How should Selank be stored?

Accepted Answer

Store lyophilised Selank at −20°C, protected from light and moisture, to maintain long-term stability. As a synthetic heptapeptide without disulfide bonds or particularly sensitive residues, Selank exhibits good lyophilised stability and handles standard frozen storage conditions well. The Pro-Gly-Pro extension added to the parent tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) sequence was specifically designed to improve enzymatic stability, this same structural stabilisation contributes to good long-term lyophilised stability at −20°C. Once the vial is opened and reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, store the solution at 2–8°C and use within four weeks. During active research, avoid leaving reconstituted vials at room temperature for extended periods. For protocols running longer than four weeks, reconstitute fresh aliquots from the frozen lyophilised stock. Label reconstituted vials with date and concentration for accurate protocol tracking.

Question 4

What is the relationship between Selank and tuftsin?

Accepted Answer

Selank is a synthetic analogue of tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), a natural tetrapeptide derived from the Fc region of IgG through sequential enzymatic cleavage. Tuftsin was first characterised as an endogenous immunostimulatory peptide that promotes phagocytic activity in macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes through receptor-mediated cell activation. Its short half-life in vivo, tuftsin is rapidly cleaved by plasma aminopeptidases, limited its research utility. The Russian Institute of Molecular Genetics addressed this by extending the tuftsin sequence with a Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide, creating the heptapeptide Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro (Selank). This C-terminal extension significantly increases resistance to aminopeptidase degradation, extending the peptide's effective research window. The Pro-Gly-Pro addition also appears to contribute independent nootropic properties, it shares sequence motifs with neuropeptides involved in cognitive regulation. Selank thus combines tuftsin's immunomodulatory properties with substantially improved metabolic stability, making it the preferred tuftsin-derived compound for CNS research applications.

Selank 10mg

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