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Identity And Naming History — Complete Guide

By Editorial Desk · published 2025-08-26 · last reviewed 2025-09-27 · Topic

Everything below concerns GHRH. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.

Updated 2025-09-27. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.

Identity and Naming History

CJC-1295 is the name used for a synthetic peptide modeled on growth hormone-releasing hormone, the hypothalamic signal that prompts the pituitary to release growth hormone. The compound was described by a Canadian drug discovery company in the mid-2000s as a long-acting research tool. Two closely related molecules share the name in practice: one carries a drug affinity complex, or DAC, group, and one does not. The distinction matters because the two behave differently in circulation.

The peptide backbone corresponds to GRF(1-29), the first 29 residues of native growth hormone-releasing hormone, which retains most of the receptor-activating activity of the full-length molecule. Four substitutions distinguish the analog from the natural sequence: D-alanine at position 2, glutamine at position 8, alanine at position 15, and leucine at position 27. These changes slow cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase IV, the enzyme that degrades native hormone in plasma within minutes. The outcome is improved enzymatic stability combined with a still brief residence time when no additional modification is present.

Molecular Background and Naming

CJC-1295 is a synthetic peptide designed as a long-acting analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). Its structure derives from the first 29 amino acids of native GHRH, a fragment often called GRF(1-29). Four substitutions were introduced to slow enzymatic breakdown and extend activity relative to the natural sequence. The compound was developed by ConjuChem as part of a broader effort to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of peptide hormones. It is studied in laboratory and clinical research settings rather than appearing as a naturally occurring substance.

Two related forms circulate in technical discussion under the same family name. The original version carries a drug affinity complex (DAC) that binds covalently to serum albumin after administration, and this linkage substantially extends circulation time. A second form, frequently written as modified GRF(1-29) or CJC-1295 without DAC, lacks that linker and clears much faster. The naming is a frequent source of confusion because the shorthand CJC-1295 can refer to either form depending on the source. Reports sometimes fail to specify which variant was studied.

The peptide backbone includes a D-alanine at position two, which resists cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase IV, and several other substitutions that reduce degradation. Its molecular weight is roughly 3.4 kDa without the linker and about 3.6 kDa with it. The molecule is water soluble and is normally supplied as a lyophilized powder. Precise sequence and mass values depend on which variant is described, so technical documents usually state the exact form being referenced.

Cjc-1295 at a glance

PropertyValueNotes
Molecular classSynthetic peptideGHRH analog, not a steroid
Backbone length29 amino acidsBased on GRF(1-29)
SubstitutionsFour positionsD-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15, Leu27
AppearanceWhite to off-white powderTypical lyophilized research material
Common synonymsModified GRF(1-29)Usage varies between sources

CJC-1295 Background and Mechanism

The peptide binds GHRH receptors on somatotroph cells within the anterior pituitary, triggering a signalling cascade that increases growth hormone secretion. Its improved resistance to dipeptidyl peptidase IV degradation distinguishes it from the parent hormone. In the DAC-bearing version, a maleimide group reacts with a cysteine residue on serum albumin, forming a covalent bond that keeps the peptide in circulation far longer. That albumin attachment is the central design feature separating the two research variants.

Pharmacokinetic behaviour differs sharply between the two forms. The DAC-bearing peptide shows an extended circulation time measured in days, whereas the version without the complex is cleared within roughly half an hour. This gap shapes how researchers design dosing schedules in animal models. Whether the prolonged presence of the DAC form produces effects meaningfully different from the short-acting variant remains an open question, since comparative human data are scarce.

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Receptor Action and Clearance

Reports on this compound commonly follow serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 across defined time windows. Protocols differ in sampling frequency, assay platform, and participant characteristics, which makes direct comparison between publications difficult. Some work focuses on pulsatile release patterns instead of average concentrations. Whether repeated exposure alters endogenous hormone rhythms over long periods remains an open question, and the formal literature is thinner than the volume of informal commentary implies.

Once in circulation, the peptide binds the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor displayed on pituitary somatotroph cells. Receptor activation couples to Gs proteins, elevates intracellular cyclic AMP, and drives protein kinase A signaling inside the cell. That cascade increases discharge of growth hormone into the bloodstream. The analog therefore operates through a receptor pathway that already exists for the body's own releasing hormone, rather than through an engineered artificial target.

Clearance profiles diverge sharply between the two versions. The albumin-binding molecule stays in plasma for several days, whereas the unmodified analog is largely gone within about half an hour in reported work. Cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase IV is a major contributor to the short life of the unmodified sequence. These gaps mean the two versions cannot be substituted for each other in study design or in reading results side by side.

Handling Storage And Analytical Methods

Research material is normally supplied as a freeze-dried powder in sealed vials. In that state the peptide is comparatively robust, but prolonged exposure to warmth, moisture, or light accelerates degradation. Storage at minus twenty degrees Celsius or lower, with desiccant and protection from light, is the commonly described practice. Vials should be allowed to reach room temperature before opening to limit condensation on the powder. Moisture uptake during handling is a recognized source of variability in later measurements.

Reconstitution is typically performed with sterile water or bacteriostatic water, added slowly against the vial wall. The resulting solution should be clear and colorless; cloudiness or visible particles suggest a problem with the material or the diluent. Once in solution, the peptide is less stable than the dry powder. Refrigerated storage at two to eight degrees Celsius is common for short-term holding, while freezing aliquots is described for longer periods.

Receptor Action and Pharmacokinetics

The attached maleimide group explains the unusual duration of the DAC version. After injection it reacts with the thiol of cysteine-34 on serum albumin, forming a stable covalent bond. The resulting conjugate is too large for rapid kidney filtration and is shielded from many peptidases. Reported half-lives for this form reach several days, whereas the version without the group is cleared in roughly half an hour. That gap is the main pharmacological difference between the two.

Downstream of growth hormone, the liver and other tissues increase production of insulin-like growth factor 1, a mediator of many growth-promoting effects. Studies have documented elevated levels of both hormones after dosing, and the rise from the long-acting form persists longer than that produced by shorter-acting analogues. What remains unclear is whether sustained elevation of these markers translates into meaningful clinical benefit, and whether prolonged exposure carries risks that short trials could not detect.

CJC-1295 acts at the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor, a G-protein-coupled receptor found on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary. Binding triggers a rise in cyclic AMP and calcium entry, which promotes release of stored growth hormone. Because the peptide mimics the body's own releasing hormone, it amplifies existing secretory pulses rather than driving continuous output. The size of the response therefore depends partly on the subject's own hormonal rhythm and feedback state.

Supporting material

=== Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia === "Pola pola" ("half and half") is a slang term for the drink spritzer, made out of equal parts of white wine or rosé wine and carbonated water. Different ratios of wine and carbonated water are named with various slang terms, depending on the region. "Pola pola" is also known as "litra i voda" (one bottle of wine and one bottle of carbonated water), as well as "Litar-litar" (as in 1 liter of wine, 1 liter of water) and "Gemišt".

=== Biosecurity and bioterrorism === Some ethical issues relate to biosecurity, where biosynthetic technologies could be deliberately used to cause harm to society and/or the environment. Since synthetic biology raises ethical issues and biosecurity issues, humanity must consider and plan on how to deal with potentially harmful creations, and what kinds of ethical measures could possibly be employed to deter nefarious biosynthetic technologies. With the exception of regulating synthetic biology and biotechnology companies, however, the issues are not seen as new because they were raised during the earlier recombinant DNA and genetically modified organism (GMO) debates, and extensive regulations of genetic engineering and pathogen research are already in place in many jurisdictions. Additionally, the development of synthetic biology tools has made it easier for individuals with less education, training, and access to equipment to modify and use pathogenic organisms as bioweapons. This increases the threat of bioterrorism, especially as terrorist groups become aware of the significant social, economic, and political disruption caused by pandemics like COVID-19. As new techniques are developed in the field of synthetic biology, the risk of bioterrorism is likely to continue to grow.

List of British Jewish writers includes writers (novelists, poets, playwrights, journalists, authors of scholarly texts and others) from the United Kingdom and its predecessor states who are or were Jewish or of Jewish descent.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Supporting material

Vaccinations will begin in March in Scotland, early April in England and Wales, and mid-April in Northern Ireland. RMT staff working for Network Rail call off a strike planned for 16 March after being given a fresh pay offer. 8 March The UK experiences its coldest March night since 2010, with −15.2 °C recorded in Kinbrace, Scotland, dipping even further to −15.4 °C by the morning. The Health Security Agency issues a level 3 cold alert for the whole of England, while more than 100 schools across Wales are closed due to snow. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves the use of the weight loss drug semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy) by the NHS in England. 9 March The UK government announces a two-year delay in the construction of the Birmingham to Crewe leg of HS2 in order to save costs. Asda and Morrisons lift their restrictions on the sale of fresh produce. Following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen, retired research scientist Christopher Harrison, 82, is convicted of the murder of his ex-wife, Brenda Page, in 1978. 10 March The UK economy grew by 0.3% in January 2023, official figures show, much more than the 0.1% that was predicted by economists. The King bestows the title of Duke of Edinburgh on his younger brother, Prince Edward. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a summit in Paris with French president Emmanuel Macron and announces the UK will give France £500m over three years to help the UK stop the influx of migrants arriving by boat.

The Edman degradation is a very important reaction for protein sequencing, because it allows the ordered amino acid composition of a protein to be discovered. Automated Edman sequencers are now in widespread use, and are able to sequence peptides up to approximately 50 amino acids long. A reaction scheme for sequencing a protein by the Edman degradation follows; some of the steps are elaborated on subsequently.

An UP element upstream of the rrn P1 promoter can bind a subunit of RNA polymerase, thus promoting transcription of rRNA. Transcription factors such as FIS bind upstream of the promoter and interact with RNA polymerase which facilitates transcription. Anti-termination factors bind downstream of the rrn P2 promoter, preventing premature transcription termination. Due to the stringent response, when the availability of amino acids is low, ppGpp (a negative effector) can inhibit transcription from both the P1 and P2 promoters.

== Apparatus == Instrumentation of supercritical fluid chromatography SFC has a similar setup to an HPLC instrument. The stationary phases are similar, and are packed inside similar column types. However, there are special features in these systems, because of the need to keep the mobile phase at supercritical fluidic state over the entire system. Temperature is critical to keep the fluids in a supercritical state, so there should be a heat control tool in the system, similar to that of GC. Also, there should be a precise pressure control mechanism, a restrictor to keep the pressure above a certain point, because pressure is another essential parameter to keep the mobile phase in a supercritical fluid state, so it is kept at the required minimal level. A microprocessor mechanism is placed in the instrument for SFC. This unit collects data for pressure, oven temperature, and detector performance to control the related pieces of the instrument. CO2 utilized in carbon dioxide dedicated pumps, which require that the incoming CO2 and pump heads be kept cold, in order to maintain the carbon dioxide at a temperature and pressure fit for supercritical fluidic state, where it can be effectively metered at a specified flow rate range. The CO2 subsequently becomes supercritical fluid throughout the injector and the column oven, when the temperature and pressure it is subjected to, are raised above the critical point of the liquid, thus the supercritical state is achieved.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Frequently asked questions

Is this compound a naturally occurring hormone?

No. It is a laboratory-made analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone. The natural hormone is a 44-residue peptide, while the analog is built on a shorter 29-residue fragment.

Why do two versions share one name?

The original material included a linker that binds serum albumin. A later variant removed that linker to reduce the duration of action. Catalogs and papers did not consistently adopt separate names, so both remain widely labeled with the same term.

What is the most reliable identifier?

The amino acid sequence and the presence or absence of the linker group. Mass measured by spectrometry gives an independent check that separates the two forms.

Is CJC-1295 a natural hormone?

No. It is a synthetic analogue modeled on the first 29 residues of human GHRH. The substitutions and any linker are laboratory modifications rather than features of the endogenous peptide.

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