· For research use only. Not for human consumption.
For research use only. Not for human consumption.
Peptide nomenclature is one of the most confusing aspects of entering the research peptide world. Some compounds have acronym names. Others have numbers. A few are named after the scientists who discovered them. And some have multiple names that all refer to the same molecule. If you have ever looked at a list of research peptides and wondered how any of these names were chosen, this guide will finally make sense of the system — or rather, the several overlapping systems.
The truth is there is no single universal naming convention for research peptides. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which eventually receive standardized generic names through official bodies like the World Health Organization, many research peptides carry the informal names they were given during early laboratory work. Those names stick, even decades later.
This guide breaks down peptide nomenclature patterns in plain language. For context on specific compounds mentioned here, see our BPC-157 guide, our SS-31 overview, or the full research compound catalog.
TL;DR: Research peptides get their names from acronyms (BPC = Body Protection Compound), discoverer names (SS-31 = Szeto-Schiller 31st compound), numerical designations (AOD-9604), or descriptions of origin (MOTS-c = Mitochondrial Open reading frame of the Twelve S rRNA type-c). Many peptides also have generic pharmaceutical names (elamipretide = SS-31). The naming is not standardized, which is why it can be confusing. For research use only. Not for human consumption.
Why Is Peptide Nomenclature So Confusing?
Pharmaceutical drugs go through a formal naming process. A committee assigns a generic name based on established conventions. The suffix tells you the drug class: “-mab” for monoclonal antibodies, “-vir” for antivirals, “-tide” for peptides. But research peptides often get named long before they reach any formal naming body — and many never reach that stage at all.
The result is a patchwork of naming traditions. Some names describe what the peptide does. Some describe where it came from. Some honor the people who made it. Some are just sequential catalog numbers from a chemistry lab. And some peptides carry two or three names simultaneously, depending on which research community is discussing them.
Understanding these patterns will not make every name intuitive, but it will help you decode most of them. Once you know the common naming strategies, new peptide names become less mysterious and more informative.
Acronym-Based Names: What the Letters Stand For
Many research peptides are named using acronyms that describe what the compound is or where it was found. These are among the most common peptide nomenclature patterns, and decoding the acronym usually tells you something useful about the peptide.
BPC-157: Body Protection Compound, peptide 157. The name describes what researchers observed in early studies — effects related to tissue protection in animal models. The “157” refers to the specific fragment number from the parent protein. Gwyer et al. (2019) reviewed the preclinical literature on this 15-amino-acid peptide (PMID: 30915550). The name itself conveys the compound’s research context.
MOTS-c: Mitochondrial Open reading frame of the Twelve S rRNA type-c. This name is a mouthful, but it precisely describes where the peptide was found. Lee et al. (2015) identified it within the 12S rRNA gene of the mitochondrial genome (PMID: 25738459). Every part of the name tells you something: it is mitochondrial, it comes from an open reading frame, it is in the 12S rRNA region, and the “c” distinguishes it from other peptides found in the same region.
AOD-9604: Anti-Obesity Drug, compound 9604. The “AOD” part is a research designation from the laboratory where it was developed. The number is a catalog identifier. The name reflects the original research context in which the compound was first studied.
GHK-Cu: Glycyl-Histidyl-Lysine with copper. This name directly spells out the amino acid sequence (Gly-His-Lys) plus the copper ion that is part of the complex. It is one of the most straightforward naming conventions — what you see is literally what you get.
Discoverer Names: Named After the Scientists
Some peptides carry the names of the researchers who created them. This tradition is more common with synthetic peptides, where specific scientists designed the molecule from scratch. The name serves as a permanent credit to the inventors.
SS-31: Szeto-Schiller, compound 31. Hazel Szeto and Peter Schiller designed a series of synthetic peptides intended to target mitochondria. SS-31 was the 31st compound in that series that showed the properties they were looking for. Mitchell et al. (2020) studied SS-31 in aged mouse models (PMID: 32273339). The name tells you who made it and where it falls in their research sequence.
Szeto-Schiller peptides as a group (SS-01 through SS-31 and beyond) illustrate how numbering systems work in peptide chemistry. The lab synthesized many compounds in sequence, testing each one. Most were failures. SS-31 was the one that worked well enough to become a widely studied research tool. The preceding 30 compounds are largely forgotten, but the numbering preserves the history.
This naming pattern is useful because it immediately tells you the peptide is synthetic (natural peptides are discovered, not invented, so they do not carry inventor names) and gives you a way to look up the original research group’s work.
Generic Pharmaceutical Names: The “-tide” Convention
When a research peptide enters formal pharmaceutical development, it eventually receives an International Nonproprietary Name (INN) — a standardized generic name assigned by the World Health Organization. For peptides, these names almost always end in “-tide.”
Elamipretide is the generic pharmaceutical name for SS-31. Same molecule, different name. “Elamipretide” was assigned when the compound entered clinical development. Researchers in academic settings still call it SS-31. Pharmaceutical researchers and regulatory documents call it elamipretide. Both names refer to the same four-amino-acid synthetic peptide.
Tesamorelin is the generic name for a modified GHRH analog. Teduglutide is the generic name for a GLP-2 analog. In both cases, the “-tide” suffix tells you the compound is a peptide. The rest of the name follows INN naming rules that encode information about the compound’s class and mechanism.
The dual-name situation creates confusion. A researcher reading one paper about “SS-31” and another about “elamipretide” might not realize they are reading about the same molecule. Knowing that research names and generic names often coexist is one of the most practical pieces of peptide nomenclature knowledge.
Mitchell et al. (2020) studied SS-31, also known by its generic pharmaceutical name elamipretide, in aged mouse skeletal muscle models. The dual naming illustrates how the same compound can carry different designations depending on the research vs pharmaceutical development context. Published in eLife. (PMID: 32273339)
Fragment and Modification Names: Telling You What Changed
Some peptide names explicitly describe the compound’s relationship to a parent molecule. These names use numbering systems that reference amino acid positions or describe specific chemical modifications.
ACTH(4-7): This name tells you the peptide is a fragment of ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), specifically amino acids 4 through 7. This four-amino-acid fragment is the core of Semax. The parenthetical numbers immediately tell a researcher which part of the parent molecule was used.
CJC-1295 DAC: CJC-1295 is a modified GHRH analog. “DAC” stands for Drug Affinity Complex — a chemical modification that allows the peptide to bind to albumin in the bloodstream, extending its half-life from minutes to days. The name encodes both the base compound and its specific modification.
Thymosin Beta-4: “Thymosin” identifies the protein family. “Beta-4” specifies the particular variant. TB-500 is a commonly used fragment of thymosin beta-4. Seiwerth et al. (2021) discussed peptide fragment naming in the context of BPC-157 research, noting how fragment designation affects research interpretation (PMID: 34267654).
These names are longer and more technical, but they pack useful information. A researcher who knows how to read them can immediately understand what the compound is, where it came from, and what has been changed from the original molecule.
Why Naming Matters for Research
Peptide nomenclature is not just academic trivia — it has practical consequences. When searching for published literature, using the right name is essential. A PubMed search for “SS-31” and a search for “elamipretide” return different result sets even though they describe the same compound. Researchers who do not know both names may miss relevant studies.
Naming also affects how compounds are ordered. Suppliers may list a peptide under one name while the literature uses another. Understanding the naming landscape helps researchers verify they are ordering the correct compound and comparing the right studies.
Alpha Peptides lists compounds by their most commonly recognized research names, with alternative names noted where applicable. Browse the full research catalog or review documentation on our Certificates of Analysis page to verify compound identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some peptides have two different names?
Research peptides typically receive an informal name during early laboratory work (like SS-31). If the compound enters formal pharmaceutical development, it is assigned an official generic name (like elamipretide). Both names refer to the same molecule but come from different stages of the compound’s history. Academic researchers tend to use the original name, while pharmaceutical and regulatory contexts use the generic name.
What does the “-tide” suffix mean in a peptide name?
The “-tide” suffix is part of the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) convention and indicates that a compound is a peptide. It is assigned by the World Health Organization as part of the standardized generic naming system. Examples include tesamorelin, teduglutide, and elamipretide. Not all research peptides have INN names — only those that have entered formal pharmaceutical development.
How can I find the right name when searching PubMed?
Search for both the research name and the generic name. For example, search “SS-31 OR elamipretide” to capture all relevant studies. Many peptides also have CAS registry numbers (unique chemical identifiers) that provide an unambiguous way to identify a compound regardless of which name a particular publication uses.
Why do some peptides have numbers in their names?
Numbers in peptide names usually indicate one of three things: the compound’s position in a series (SS-31 was the 31st compound in its series), a fragment position (ACTH(4-7) uses amino acids 4 through 7), or a catalog designation from the laboratory that created it (AOD-9604). The number rarely indicates size, potency, or any functional property — it is almost always a sequential identifier.
For research use only. Not for human consumption. This article is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, dosing guidance, or therapeutic recommendations.
