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Molecular Background And Naming — Explained

By Editorial Desk · published 2025-09-02 · last reviewed 2025-10-15 · News

GHRH receptor raises a handful of sensible questions. This page answers them in order, starting with the fundamentals and moving to applications.

This page was last updated on 2025-10-15 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.

Molecular Background and Naming

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 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.

Background and Naming Conventions

CJC-1295 is a synthetic peptide analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, constructed on the 29-amino-acid fragment designated GRF(1-29). The name began as an internal development code during the 1990s and later spread through research supply catalogs and discussion forums. The molecule does not occur in nature; its sequence is engineered rather than isolated from tissue. Two related compounds are sold under this single label, and they differ by one appended chemical group that strongly influences how long the peptide remains in circulation.

The dividing feature between the two forms is a maleimide-based drug affinity complex, abbreviated DAC. In the DAC-bearing version, a linker attaches the peptide to serum albumin after administration, and that association slows removal from plasma. The version lacking DAC appears in catalogs as MOD GRF(1-29) or tetrasubstituted GRF(1-29). Because informal writing treats both as one item, comparisons drawn from such sources routinely blend measurements taken from two molecules with substantially different behavior.

Cjc-1295 at a glance

PropertyValueNotes
Molecular weight (no linker)~3.37 kDaCalculated from peptide sequence
Molecular weight (with linker)~3.65 kDaIncludes albumin-binding moiety
AppearanceWhite to off-white powderTypically lyophilized
SolubilitySoluble in waterAlso dissolves in aqueous buffers
Common synonymsModified GRF(1-29), DAC:GRFUsage varies by source

Receptor Action and Clearance

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.

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.

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Compound Identity and Development History

CJC-1295 is a synthetic peptide built as a long-acting analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone. Its backbone matches the first twenty-nine residues of the natural human hormone, with four amino acid substitutions added to slow enzymatic breakdown. A reactive maleimide group, commonly termed the drug affinity complex, allows the peptide to attach to circulating albumin after administration. That albumin attachment keeps the molecule in the bloodstream for an extended period instead of being cleared within minutes.

The compound emerged from work at a Canadian biotechnology firm in the early 2000s. Early human studies examined its effect on growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 in healthy volunteers and in people with HIV-associated fat redistribution. Reports described sustained increases in both markers after a single injection. Development did not advance to regulatory approval, and the clinical programme was later discontinued. The molecule is now encountered mainly as a research chemical rather than a marketed medicine.

Receptor Action and Pharmacokinetics

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.

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.

Analytical Characterization and Storage

Characterization of this peptide relies on a small set of routine techniques. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separates the target from truncated or oxidized by-products and yields a purity estimate when paired with ultraviolet detection near 214 nanometers. Mass spectrometry, either electrospray coupled to liquid chromatography or matrix-assisted laser desorption, confirms that the observed mass matches the value calculated for the expected sequence. Amino acid analysis, and enzymatic digestion followed by fragment mapping, are used when the sequence itself rather than the mass requires verification.

Stability depends heavily on physical state. A lyophilized powder kept dry, desiccated, and shielded from light typically holds its integrity for months to years at minus twenty degrees Celsius, and longer at minus eighty. Once dissolved, the peptide becomes far more vulnerable, since peptide bond hydrolysis, oxidation of susceptible residues, and aggregation all proceed faster in solution. Buffers near neutral pH are generally gentler than strongly acidic or alkaline conditions. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles and exposure to air-liquid interfaces during vigorous mixing cause losses that are easy to overlook.

Reference notes

=== Primary and original calibrations === The agreed-upon isotopic composition of primary reference and the original calibration materials were generally not reached through interlaboratory comparison. In part this is simply because the original materials were used to the define the isotopic scales and so have no associated uncertainty. VSMOW serves as the primary reference and calibration material for the hydrogen isotope system and one of two possible scales for the oxygen isotope system, and was prepared by Harmon Craig. VSMOW2 is the replacement calibration standard and was calibrated by measurements at five selected laboratories. The isotopic composition of SLAP was reached through interlaboratory comparison. NBS-19 is the original calibration material for the carbon isotope scale made by I. Friedman, J. R. O’Neil and G. Cebula and is used to define the VPDB scale. IAEA-603 is the replacement calibration standard and was calibrated by measurements at three selected laboratories (GEOTOP-UQAM in Montreal, Canada; USGS in Reston, USA; MPI-BGC in Jena, Germany). The isotopic composition of LSVEC was reached through interlaboratory comparison. IAEA-S-1, the original calibration material for the sulfur isotope scale and still in use today, was prepared by B. W. Robinson.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is an independent research institute in Dublin, Ireland. Its research focuses on Ireland's economic and social development to inform policy-making and societal understanding. The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) focuses on European and International affairs. The Iona Institute is a conservative, Catholic think tank. TASC (Think tank for Action on Social Change) is an Irish left-wing think tank.

On January 1, 2010, 18 FARC rebels were killed when the Colombian Air Force bombed a jungle camp in southern Colombia. Colombian troops of the elite Task Force Omega then stormed the camp, capturing 15 FARC rebels, as well as 25 rifles, war materials, explosives, and information which was given to military intelligence. In southwestern Colombia, FARC rebels ambushed an army patrol, killing a soldier: the troops then exchanged fire with the rebels. During the fighting, a teenager was killed in the crossfire. When Juan Manuel Santos was elected president in August 2010, he promised to "continue the armed offensive" against rebel movements. In the month after his inauguration, FARC and ELN killed roughly 50 soldiers and policemen in attacks all over Colombia. September also saw the killing of FARC's second-in-command Mono Jojoy. By the end of 2010, it became increasingly clear that "neo-paramilitary groups", referred to as "criminal groups" (BACRIM) by the government, had become an increasing threat to national security, with violent groups such as Los Rastrojos and Aguilas Negras taking control of large parts of the Colombian countryside. In 2010, the FARC killed at least 460 members of the security forces, while wounding more than 2,000. By early 2011, Colombian authorities and news media reported that FARC and its clandestine sister groups had partly shifted their strategy from guerrilla warfare to "a war of militias", meaning they were increasingly operating in civilian clothes while hiding amongst sympathizers in the civilian population.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Notes from published material

Black kōji produces citric acid during fermentation, which inhibits the growth of unwanted microorganisms. It is typically used for the production of awamori. There are three Aspergillus species that are used as black kōji:

===== MeSH D08.811.464.267 – carbon-sulfur ligases (EC 6.2) ===== MeSH D08.811.464.267.500 – coenzyme a ligases MeSH D08.811.464.267.500.200 – acetate-coa ligase MeSH D08.811.464.267.500.600 – succinate-coa ligases

Biomedical Sciences Molecular and Cellular Biology Bioengineering and Devices Biophysics, Biochemistry and Structural Biology Climate science, Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs, IPR and Policy

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Frequently asked questions

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.

Why do two versions share one name?

Early development used the albumin-binding form, and a shorter variant was later discussed under the same label. Because the two differ in half-life and handling, ambiguity arises whenever a source omits the variant designation.

What is the relationship to GRF(1-29)?

The compound derives from that fragment but is not identical to it. The parent fragment lacks the stabilizing substitutions, so its degradation rate and duration of action differ noticeably.

Does this compound occur naturally in the body?

No. It is a laboratory-synthesized analog built on a fragment of the natural hormone. The natural peptide is shorter-lived and lacks the stabilizing substitutions found in the synthetic version.

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