SS-31
A synthetic tetrapeptide that binds cardiolipin to support mitochondrial cristae structure and bioenergetics in research studies.
What SS-31 is
SS-31, known clinically as elamipretide, is a small aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide designed to target the inner mitochondrial membrane. Foundational work showed high-affinity interaction with cardiolipin, protection of cristae architecture, and improved bioenergetics in ischemic and stressed mitochondria.
The molecule has progressed into multiple clinical research programs under the elamipretide name, including studies in primary mitochondrial disease, cardiac indications, Barth syndrome, and other mitochondria-linked conditions. Published doses in later subcutaneous programs commonly reference 40 mg daily in specific trial protocols, while earlier intravenous work used mg/kg/hour infusions. Parallel academic papers map its protein-interaction landscape and aging-mitochondria effects.
Educational dosage pages should prioritize peer-reviewed trial methods and mechanistic papers. Research-supply vials marketed as SS-31 are not automatically equivalent to clinical trial product. Keep research-use framing explicit and avoid disease-cure language.
SS-31 has been studied in human trials, which is not true of most compounds in this library. The figures below come from that work.
How it works
SS-31 concentrates at the inner mitochondrial membrane through electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction with cardiolipin. Binding is reported to stabilize cristae, reduce cardiolipin peroxidation, improve electron-transport efficiency, and limit pathological reactive oxygen species generation. Cytochrome c peroxidase activity and apoptotic signaling cascades are among the downstream processes discussed in the literature. Net experimental readouts include preserved ATP production and improved organ function in ischemia-reperfusion and aging models.
The research context
Mitochondrial medicine groups, cardiology research teams, and rare-disease investigators (including Barth syndrome programs) form the core audience. Basic scientists use SS-31 as a tool compound to probe cardiolipin-dependent membrane organization. This is a bioenergetics research community more than a cosmetic-peptide audience.
What the research examines
Each tag marks a field where this compound appears in research. Appearing in a literature is not the same as working.
How it appears in the literature
How these amounts appear in the literature. Read the study before reading the number.
| Research context | Reported amount | Frequency | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elamipretide clinical research programs using daily subcutaneous administration (trial-specific) | 4 mg – 40 mg | once daily | subcutaneous |
| Early intravenous dose-escalation / infusion studies | Not a fixed mcg value | infusion per protocol | intravenous |
Handling & storage
Lyophilized research material: refrigerate or freeze per COA, protect from light. Reconstituted solutions: refrigerate, minimize agitation and freeze-thaw, and adhere to supplier or pharmacy beyond-use dating.
Notes on combined research
Clinical protocols study elamipretide as a targeted mitochondrial agent, sometimes on top of standard disease-specific care, not mixed into broad mito stacks with uncharacterized peptides. Academic comparisons may include other mitochondria-targeted antioxidants as separate arms. Avoid implying synergistic cure claims for combinations.
SS-31 questions
In several subcutaneous clinical research programs, 40 mg once daily is a prominently documented regimen. Earlier studies also tested lower SC amounts and IV mg/kg/hour infusions. Those numbers are trial doses for defined populations, not general self-administration guidance.
Match diluent to vial strength so that the intended mg dose is a measurable fraction of a milliliter. Example: 50 mg vial + 2 mL bac water = 25 mg/mL, so 1.6 mL approximates 40 mg. Plan concentration carefully for research pharmacy workflows.
Daily subcutaneous dosing is the pattern used in multiple elamipretide programs. Community research vials sometimes discuss lower milligram amounts; distinguish those informal figures from peer-reviewed 40 mg daily protocols.
Build charts from concentration (mg/mL) to mL drawn for target mg. Include a note separating clinical-trial 40 mg anchors from any lower research-catalog experiments. Unit confusion between mcg and mg is a common error with this compound.
Trial durations span weeks to months depending on indication and endpoint (bioenergetic biomarkers versus clinical scales). Preclinical ischemia models can show acute mitochondrial effects. No single consumer timeline applies.
Elamipretide PK supports daily dosing in SC programs, implying a half-life measured in hours rather than days. Use the clinical pharmacology section of the relevant study for numeric values.
Formal studies keep it as a focused mitochondrial intervention. Combining with other research peptides without a protocol adds noise. If co-interventions exist, they are usually standard-of-care medications defined by the disease under study.
Read the research yourself
Each citation was checked against PubMed before it went on this page. If we cannot link it, we do not claim it.
- The mitochondrial-targeted compound SS-31 re-energizes ischemic mitochondria by interacting with cardiolipin.PubMed
- First-in-class cardiolipin-protective compound as a therapeutic agent to restore mitochondrial bioenergetics.PubMed
- Mitochondrial protein interaction landscape of SS-31.PubMed
- Application research of novel peptide mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant SS-31 in mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction.PubMed