SS-31 (Elamipretide): sourcing, documentation and price
SS-31 (elamipretide) is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide sold for laboratory research. This page covers its identifiers, the models it has been studied in, documentation expectations and price factors for research su
SS-31, also known as elamipretide, is a synthetic mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide. It is supplied as a research-use-only material, typically as a lyophilised powder, and is not sold for human or veterinary use. The compound is characterised by alternating cationic and aromatic residues, a motif associated with binding to the mitochondrial inner membrane and with reduction of oxidative stress in experimental systems [2]. Identifiers such as sequence, molecular formula and molecular weight are batch-specific and should be confirmed against the certificate of analysis supplied with each lot; the evidence block for this page does not provide a single canonical set of those values, so no sequence or formula is stated here.
The work around SS-31 centres on mitochondrial function, specifically the inner mitochondrial membrane and the electron transport chain. Studies in this evidence set examine mitochondrial membrane interactions, oxidative stress, and cell senescence in cardiomyocyte and neuronal models [1][2].
Research Studies
SS-31 and radiation-induced senescence in cardiomyoblast H9C2 cells and hiPSC-CMs
In a study of radiation-induced cardiomyocyte senescence, H9C2 cardiomyoblast cells and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) were exposed to gamma-radiation at 2, 5 and 10 Gy. Exposure inhibited H9C2 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and induced senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) staining [1]. The study evaluated the effects of the mitochondrial-targeted peptide SS-31 (elamipretide) on this radiation-induced senescence in both cell models [1]. This is an in vitro study; findings in cultured cells do not establish effects in intact animals or humans.
SS-31 and alpha-synuclein membrane binding and aggregation
Alpha-synuclein membrane binding and aggregation are closely associated with Parkinson's disease and a class of related syndromes termed synucleinopathies. In this study, SS-31 was examined for its ability to modulate alpha-synuclein interaction with lipid membranes and to mitigate mitochondrial function impairment induced by alpha-synuclein oligomers [2]. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence anisotropy, the study demonstrated that SS-31 displaces both wild-type and N-terminally acetylated alpha-synuclein [2]. The work is biophysical and cell-based; it does not report clinical outcomes.
SS-31 and vision loss in Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA)
A clinical trial record describes an investigator-initiated study of elamipretide in Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA). The stated objective is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and activity of elamipretide in treating vision loss in FRDA [3]. This is a registered study record; it is not a report of results, and no efficacy conclusion can be drawn from the record alone.
SS-31 and aged female mice under nutritional stress (MASLD model)
A comparative study in aged female mice under nutritional stress evaluated mitochondria-targeted compounds, including MitoQ and SS-31 (elamipretide), in the context of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). The paper frames MASLD as a major cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and cardiovascular disease, with early mitochondrial dysfunction driving lipid imbalance, inflammation and fibrosis, and notes the lack of approved pharmacological treatments [4]. The study compares mitochondria-targeted interventions in this model [4]. This is an animal study; results in mice do not translate directly to other species.
SS-31 in the broader peptide-therapy literature for musculoskeletal injuries
A review of approved and unapproved peptide therapies for musculoskeletal injuries and athletic performance describes peptides as short amino acid chains occupying a pharmacological niche between small-molecule drugs and large proteins, and notes rapidly expanding use in sports medicine driven by demand for accelerated injury recovery and performance enhancement [5]. SS-31 appears within this broader class discussion rather than as the subject of a dedicated trial in that review [5]. This is a review; it does not provide primary efficacy data for SS-31.
Documentation and sourcing
For research supply, the documentation set is the product. A typical lot should be accompanied by a certificate of analysis stating identity, purity and the analytical methods used, plus a safety data sheet. Because the evidence block does not supply a canonical sequence, formula or molecular weight for SS-31, buyers should treat those values as lot-specific and verify them against the supplier's own documentation rather than against a generic web listing.
Purity is usually expressed as a percentage by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and identity is commonly confirmed by mass spectrometry. Where a supplier states a purity figure without naming the method, the figure is not comparable across suppliers. The table below summarises the documentation items a research buyer would normally expect to see and what each one establishes.
| Document | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of analysis | Lot identity, purity value, analytical method | Biological activity in any model |
| Mass spectrometry data | Molecular identity consistent with the stated structure | Purity level |
| HPLC trace | Purity profile and retention behaviour | Identity without an orthogonal method |
| Safety data sheet | Handling, storage and hazard information | Research suitability for a given assay |
Price factors
Price for SS-31 as a research material is driven mainly by lot size, purity grade and the documentation package. The table below lists the factors that most often move a quotation, with the direction of the effect.
| Factor | Typical effect on price |
|---|---|
| Quantity (mg) | Higher quantity lowers unit cost per mg |
| Purity grade | Higher stated purity raises price |
| Analytical package | Additional orthogonal methods raise price |
| Lot-specific documentation | Full CoA and SDS add cost but reduce verification burden |
| Packaging format | Sealed, inert-atmosphere vials cost more than bulk containers |
No price figures are given here because the evidence block contains none. Any quotation should be read alongside the certificate of analysis for the specific lot, since purity and quantity are the two variables that most directly determine both cost and experimental suitability.
If you are reading this for personal health reasons
This material is sold for laboratory research only. We do not provide dosing or medical guidance, and nothing on this page is a recommendation for human use. Anyone considering a compound for themselves should speak to a licensed clinician.
Sources
- [1] Mitochondrial-targeted SS-31 peptide attenuates radiation-induced cardiomyocyte senescence. https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13400571
- [2] Therapeutic Peptide SS-31 Modulates Membrane Binding and Aggregation of alpha-Synuclein and Restores Impaired Mitochondrial Function. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42219795/
- [3] FRDA Investigator Initiated Study (IIS) With Elamipretide. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05168774
- [4] Targeting Mitochondria in MASLD: Comparative Evaluation of MitoQ and SS-31 (Elamipretide) in Aged Female Mice under Nutritional Stress. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42708867/
- [5] Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41966639/