Thymosin Alpha-1 (Research Overview)
Thymosin Alpha-1 (Tα1) is a 28-residue, N-terminally acetylated peptide first isolated from a calf thymus extract (thymosin fraction 5) in the 1970s. It is unrelated in sequence to Thymosin Beta-4, despite the shared name.
Mechanism of Action
Tα1 is derived from the N-terminus of the larger precursor protein prothymosin alpha. It is acidic, carries an acetylated serine at its N-terminus, and has a listed molecular weight of about 3108 Da. In water it is largely unstructured, adopting helical structure in membrane-mimicking solvents.
Cell and animal studies have examined Tα1 in relation to immune-cell signaling, including Toll-like receptor pathways in dendritic cells and T-cell maturation markers. The precise receptor-level mechanism is still discussed in the literature.
Research Areas
Research on Tα1 spans structural biology, immunology cell models and animal infection models. It has been studied clinically in several countries outside the United States; it is not an approved drug in the US.
For laboratory work, Tα1 is a useful example of a mid-length acidic peptide: its characterization relies on mass spectrometry and HPLC rather than simple UV assays, and its acetylated N-terminus matters for identity confirmation.
Specification summary
Thymosin Alpha-1
Thymosin Alpha-1 is coming soon to Sealed Peptides. Sizes and pricing are not yet listed; you can ask for one email when it is available. For laboratory research use only.
Related materials
Related compounds
From the research blog
Laboratory background
Education for people working with this material in the laboratory: guides on handling and analysis, definitions of terms, and arithmetic tools. It describes no use of the material.
Guides
References
- Dominari A, Hathaway Iii D, Pandav K, Matos W, Biswas S, Reddy G, et al. Thymosin alpha 1: A comprehensive review of the literature. World J Virol. 2020;9(5):67-78. PMID 33362999 · DOI
- Camerini R, Garaci E. Historical review of thymosin α 1 in infectious diseases. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2015;15 Suppl 1:S117-27. PMID 26098768 · DOI
- Szabo P, Weksler ME. Is thymosin alpha 1 a thymic hormone?. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1992;65(3):195-200. PMID 1451325 · DOI
- Tuthill C, Rios I, McBeath R. Thymosin alpha 1: past clinical experience and future promise. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010;1194:130-5. PMID 20536460 · DOI
Cited literature is provided for scientific context only and does not describe or endorse any use of these products.
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.