Thymosin alpha 1 is one of those subjects where the details matter more than the headlines. This page pulls together the background, the mechanisms, and the practical points readers ask about most.
Updated 2025-12-31. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
The molecule consists of 28 amino acid residues with an acetyl group attached to the N-terminal serine. Its sequence is acidic overall, with several glutamic and aspartic acid residues distributed along the chain and no cysteine, so disulfide bridges do not form. The peptide carries a net negative charge at physiological pH. Because the N-terminus is blocked, the intact molecule resists degradation by many aminopeptidases, which contributes to its stability in biological fluids.
The peptide is generated in cells by cleavage of prothymosin alpha, a larger acidic protein encoded by the PTMA gene. Prothymosin alpha is expressed in many tissues, not only in the thymus, and its functions include nuclear roles in chromatin-related processes. The 28-residue fragment corresponds to the N-terminal portion of that precursor. How the cleavage occurs and how the fragment's concentration is regulated remain open questions; circulating amounts are small and difficult to measure reliably with routine assays.
Thymosin alpha 1 is approved as a medicine in several countries, including Italy and China, for indications such as chronic hepatitis B and as an immune adjuvant. It is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a therapeutic product. In research settings the peptide appears in studies of sepsis, vaccine response, and oncology support, often with mixed or inconclusive results. The evidence base is uneven, and reviews note that many trials were small. Regulatory status therefore differs widely between jurisdictions.
Thymosin alpha 1 is a synthetic 28-amino-acid peptide first isolated in 1966 from thymosin fraction 5, a bovine thymus extract. Its chain begins with an acetylated serine residue and ends with asparagine. The native peptide carries a molecular mass near 3,108 daltons. Researchers classify it as an immunomodulatory agent rather than a hormone with a single endocrine target. Early work framed it as a thymus-derived factor that supports T-cell maturation. The synthetic form used in research and clinical products matches the natural sequence.
Immune signaling studies link thymosin alpha 1 to Toll-like receptor pathways, particularly TLR2 and TLR9, on dendritic cells and other antigen-presenting cells. Activation of these receptors promotes maturation of T cells and increases natural killer cell activity. The peptide shifts cytokine output toward a T helper 1 profile, raising interferon gamma and interleukin 2 while modulating interleukin 10. Whether these effects translate into clinical benefit for any specific disease remains a subject of debate. Reported outcomes vary across trials and populations.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical class | Acetylated peptide | N-terminal acetyl group blocks aminopeptidase attack |
| Residue count | 28 amino acids | Matches the N-terminus of prothymosin alpha |
| Molecular mass | About 3,108 Da | Value for the free, unmodified peptide |
| Isoelectric point | Approximately 4.2 | Acidic; net negative charge at neutral pH |
| Encoding gene | PTMA | Human gene for the precursor protein |
Laboratory work indicates that the peptide acts on cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Reported effects include signalling through Toll-like receptors on dendritic cells, enhanced T-cell maturation, and increased natural killer cell activity. These actions are described largely from cell-culture and animal experiments, and the precise receptor-level events remain incompletely defined. Studies in humans have generally measured immune markers rather than a single defined molecular target. The resulting picture remains partly descriptive.
Clinical research has examined the peptide in chronic hepatitis B and C, as a vaccine adjuvant, and in sepsis and oncology settings. Results across trials have been mixed, and several studies were small or conducted under differing protocols. Regulatory status varies by country, and the compound is not approved in every jurisdiction where it is studied. Evidence for any single indication should be read with attention to sample size and endpoint choice.
Thymosin alpha-1 is a synthetic peptide of 28 amino acid residues that corresponds to a naturally occurring fragment first isolated from thymus tissue. Its chain is acetylated at the amino terminus, a modification that shields the peptide from rapid cleavage by aminopeptidases. The molecule carries a net negative charge at physiological pH and dissolves freely in water. Researchers classify it as an immune-modulating agent rather than a classical hormone, because it acts on several cell types of both the innate and the adaptive immune system.
The peptide was identified during work in the 1970s on thymosin fraction 5, a partially purified extract of calf thymus. Investigators separated that mixture and characterized individual components, one of which they named thymosin alpha-1. The same compound later received the international nonproprietary name thymalfasin. Commercial material is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis rather than by extraction, so synthetic and natural forms share an identical sequence. Naming conventions vary across the literature, and readers should distinguish the alpha-1 peptide from other thymosins that have unrelated sequences and functions.
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Following months of rumours and investigations, on 13 August 2013, Reid—along with the Essendon Football Club, senior coach James Hird, senior assistant coach Mark Thompson, and football manager Danny Corcoran—was charged by the AFL with bringing the game into disrepute in relation to the supplements program at the club in 2011 and 2012. The club was given 14 days to consider the charges and face an AFL Commission hearing on 26 August 2013. On 27 August 2013, the AFL Commission handed down its decision to exclude Essendon from the 2013 finals series and fine it $2 million. James Hird was banned for 12 months, Danny Corcoran suspended for six months, and Mark Thompson fined $30,000, but the case against Reid continued after his decision to fight the charges against him. On 18 September 2013, 24 hours before Reid was due back in the Supreme Court, the AFL withdrew all 38 charges against him for his role in the supplements scandal, meaning he was free to resume his work at the Essendon Football Club.
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For instance, the rare alternative start codon CTG codes for Methionine when used as a start codon, and for Leucine in all other positions. Example: Condensed translation table for the Standard Genetic Code (from the NCBI Taxonomy webpage).
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
==== Elimination ==== Pregabalin is eliminated by the kidneys in the urine, mainly in its unchanged form. It has a relatively short elimination half-life, with a reported value of 6.3 hours. Because of its short elimination half-life, pregabalin is administered 2 to 3 times per day to maintain therapeutic levels. The kidney clearance of pregabalin is 73 mL/minute. As pregabalin clearance is directly proportional to creatinine clearance, renal impairment leads to drug accumulation and elevated plasma concentrations. Dose adjustment is therefore required in patients with a creatinine clearance below 60 mL/min, with progressively greater reductions recommended as renal function declines. Patients undergoing hemodialysis require supplemental dosing following each session, as a standard four-hour treatment reduces plasma pregabalin concentrations by approximately 50%.
RNAi Atlas: a database of RNAi libraries and their target analysis results miRSearch Archived 2012-12-04 at the Wayback Machine: Tool for finding microRNAs that target mRNA How mRNA is coded?: YouTube video What is mRNA?: theconversation.com
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Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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Chief Information Office Contractor Assurance and Continuous Improvement Environment, Safety and Health Government and External Relations Independent Audit and Oversight Office of General Counsel Prime Contract Management Office Quality Assurance Office Security Organization LLNS, LLC Parent Oversight Office The laboratory is organized into four principal directorates, each headed by a principal associate director:
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Thymosin fraction 5 is a mixture of many peptides obtained from thymus tissue, while thymosin alpha 1 is a single defined 28-residue molecule. The two names appear together in older literature because the purified peptide was first obtained from that mixture.
The precursor, prothymosin alpha, is encoded by the PTMA gene in humans. The 28-residue peptide corresponds to the N-terminal segment released from that larger protein.
It is produced as a fragment of prothymosin alpha and is present in many tissues. Circulating concentrations are low, which makes routine measurement difficult.
It is a chain of 28 amino acids, with an acetyl group attached to the first serine residue. The synthetic version replicates this sequence. Its molecular mass is about 3,108 daltons.