What BPC-157 Is
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157; also referred to as Bepecin, and by the development codes PL-14736 and PLD-116) is a synthetic linear peptide studied as a research reagent. It is conventionally classed as a stable gastric pentadecapeptide and is used in laboratory work as a cytoprotective / tissue-repair research peptide.
Research-use status: BPC-157 is not approved by any regulator. It is an investigational, research-use-only compound; the highest stage of formal development reached is Phase 1. RetaLABS supplies this material as a molecular reference for researchers. Nothing here is medical advice and no therapeutic, efficacy or dosing claims are made.
BPC-157 is conventionally described as a partial sequence of a putative “body protection compound” reported from human gastric juice. That description should be read as an attributed historical account rather than as an established natural origin: the proposed parent protein has not been fully characterised or deposited in protein databases, and there is no UniProt accession for it. The peptide itself, however, is well defined as a discrete synthetic molecule with assigned chemical identifiers (PubChem, ChEMBL, DrugBank, UNII).
For a broader overview of how this peptide is studied, see our BPC-157 research guide, and for combination-context material see the BPC-157 and TB-500 blend research guide.
Structure & Sequence
BPC-157 is a linear pentadecapeptide — 15 amino-acid residues, all in the L-configuration. Its single-letter sequence and key structural facts are summarised below:
- Sequence: GEPPPGKPADDAGLV
- Length: 15 amino acids (pentadecapeptide)
- Termini: free N-terminus and free C-terminal carboxyl — written H-GEPPPGKPADDAGLV-OH
The backbone is unmodified: there is no acetylation, no amidation, no disulfide bond and no cyclisation. A notable structural feature is the high proline content — three consecutive prolines at positions 3, 4 and 5 (Pro3-Pro4-Pro5), plus a fourth proline at position 8 (Pro8). This proline-rich motif is the feature most often associated with the peptide’s reputed proteolytic stability.
Each residue is joined by a standard peptide (amide) bond; for background on that linkage chemistry, see our peptide bonds chemistry primer.
Physicochemical Properties
The table below lists confirmed reference values for BPC-157. Where a property depends on the supplied form, both the free peptide and the acetate salt are given — always specify the form when citing a CAS number, molecular formula or molecular weight.
| Property | Free peptide | Acetate salt |
|---|---|---|
| Name | BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157; Bepecin; PL-14736; PLD-116) | BPC-157 acetate |
| Peptide class | Cytoprotective research peptide (stable gastric pentadecapeptide) | As free peptide, acetate form |
| Sequence | GEPPPGKPADDAGLV | GEPPPGKPADDAGLV |
| Length | 15 amino acids | 15 amino acids |
| Termini | Free N-terminus, free C-terminal carboxyl (H-GEPPPGKPADDAGLV-OH) | As free peptide |
| Molecular formula | C62H98N16O22 | C64H102N16O24 |
| Average molecular weight | ~1419.5 g/mol | ~1479.6 g/mol |
| CAS number | 137525-51-0 | 1628202-19-6 |
| PubChem CID | 9941957 | 155977614 |
| DrugBank ID | DB11882 | DB11882 |
| ChEMBL ID | CHEMBL4297358 | CHEMBL4297358 |
| UNII | 8ED8NXK95P | 8ED8NXK95P |
| Regulatory status | Not approved; investigational / research-use-only (max Phase 1) | Not approved; investigational / research-use-only |
This molecular reference does not assert authoritative storage or solubility specifications. For general laboratory handling of lyophilised peptides, see the peptide reconstitution and storage guide.
Stability & Identity Notes (Free vs Salt Form)
Two distinct chemical identities are commonly described for BPC-157, and they should not be conflated in records or certificates of analysis:
- Free peptide — molecular formula C62H98N16O22, average molecular weight ~1419.5 g/mol, CAS 137525-51-0, PubChem CID 9941957.
- Acetate salt — molecular formula C64H102N16O24, average molecular weight ~1479.6 g/mol, CAS 1628202-19-6, PubChem CID 155977614. The added mass relative to the free peptide reflects the associated acetate counter-ion.
Both forms share the same peptide backbone and sequence (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV) and therefore the same DrugBank ID (DB11882), ChEMBL ID (CHEMBL4297358) and UNII (8ED8NXK95P). Because the molecular weight and formula differ between forms, any mass-based calculation should state which form is being referenced.
The backbone carries no acetylation, amidation, disulfide bridge or cyclisation — a fully unmodified linear structure with free termini. The peptide’s reputed resistance to proteolysis is conventionally attributed to its high proline content (Pro3-Pro4-Pro5 and Pro8) rather than to any chemical modification. RetaLABS does not present a monoisotopic mass for this entry; the headline figure is the average molecular weight.
Mechanism Context
In the research literature, BPC-157 is studied predominantly in preclinical rodent models and in in vitro systems, where it is characterised as a cytoprotective / tissue-repair research peptide. The descriptors “cytoprotective” and “stable gastric pentadecapeptide” are how the compound is conventionally framed in that body of work.
This section describes the biological research context only. It is not a statement of clinical effect. BPC-157 is investigational and research-use-only, has not been approved by any regulator, and no human therapeutic, efficacy or dosing claims are made here.
Because the proposed gastric-juice parent protein remains uncharacterised and undeposited, BPC-157 is best understood and catalogued as a discrete, well-defined synthetic peptide — anchored by its sequence and the chemical identifiers listed above — rather than by reference to a sequenced natural precursor.