Humanin

Humanin is a small mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for its role in cell survival, mitochondrial function, and aging biology.

Humanin is encoded inside mitochondrial DNA and is involved in cytoprotection and neuroprotection. It has been shown to have effects on aging and cardiac health in animal studies. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]

Humanin is a small peptide encoded inside mitochondrial DNA. Most peptides in the body are encoded by the cell nucleus, so a peptide written in mitochondrial DNA is unusual. Humanin acts as a stress signal from the mitochondria back to the rest of the cell.

Two mechanisms come up most often in published research. First, humanin binds to the pro-apoptotic protein BAX and prevents BAX from triggering programmed cell death. Second, humanin acts as a ligand at cell-surface receptors including FPRL1 and a trimeric receptor made up of CNTFR, gp130, and WSX-1, which can activate STAT3 signaling and other survival pathways.

Humanin has also been shown to activate chaperone-mediated autophagy. That is the process the cell uses to identify damaged proteins and send them to lysosomes for clean-up. Together, these mechanisms are why humanin is described as a cytoprotective and stress-response peptide. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]

Provider notes: [PDP compound] humanin