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Peptide & research glossary
Plain-language definitions of the peptide-science, analytical and laboratory terms you’ll encounter across our catalogue. Educational reference — research use only.
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Peptide science
Amino acid
An organic molecule that serves as a building block of peptides and proteins. Twenty standard amino acids combine in different sequences to form peptides.
Amino-acid sequence
The specific order of amino acids in a peptide, often written in one-letter code. The sequence defines the peptide’s identity.
Molecular formula
The notation listing the number of each type of atom in a molecule (e.g. C62H98N16O22 for BPC-157).
Molecular weight
The mass of a single molecule, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is used to confirm a peptide’s identity, typically by mass spectrometry.
How identity is verifiedPeptide
A short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds — essentially a small fragment of a protein. Peptides occur throughout biology and are widely studied as signalling molecules in research.
Peptide bond
The covalent amide bond that links one amino acid to the next, forming the backbone of a peptide chain.
Protein
A large, folded chain of amino acids. Proteins are longer than peptides (typically more than ~50 residues); the chemistry is the same, only the length and structure differ.
Residue
A single amino-acid unit within a peptide or protein chain.
Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)
A stepwise chemical method that builds a peptide one amino acid at a time on a solid resin support — the most common way research peptides are made.
Synthetic peptide
A peptide produced by chemical synthesis rather than extracted from a biological source, allowing defined, reproducible research material.
Analytical & quality
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A document from analytical testing that reports a batch’s measured purity and identity, letting researchers verify exactly what they received.
How to read a COAHPLC
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography — an analytical technique that separates a sample into its components to measure purity. It is the industry standard for characterising research peptides.
See how we testIdentity
Confirmation that a compound is the one expected, typically established by matching its measured molecular weight to the theoretical value.
Lot / batch number
A unique identifier that ties a specific vial to its Certificate of Analysis, enabling batch-level traceability.
Verify your batchMass spectrometry
An analytical technique that measures a compound’s molecular weight to confirm its identity. Used alongside HPLC during characterisation.
See how we testPurity
The percentage of a sample that is the intended compound rather than impurities. Higher purity (e.g. ≥99% by HPLC) supports more reliable, reproducible research.
Our purity standardsReference standard
A well-characterised compound used as a benchmark for comparison, calibration, or identification in research.
Handling & storage
Aliquot
A measured sub-portion of a solution divided off from a larger batch, often used to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Bacteriostatic water
Sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol, commonly used in laboratories to reconstitute lyophilised peptides.
Reconstitution calculatorConcentration
The amount of a compound per unit volume of solution, e.g. milligrams per millilitre (mg/mL).
Calculate concentrationFreeze-thaw cycle
A round of freezing and thawing. Repeated cycles can degrade peptides, so aliquoting and stable storage help preserve integrity.
Lyophilisation (freeze-drying)
A process that removes water from a compound to produce a stable, dry powder suitable for storage and shipping.
Lyophilised
Describes a compound that has been freeze-dried into a dry powder, as most research peptides are supplied.
Reconstitution
The laboratory process of dissolving a lyophilised peptide in a suitable solvent before it is used in research.
Reconstitution calculatorSolvent
A liquid used to dissolve a compound — for research peptides, commonly bacteriostatic or sterile water.
Stability
How well a compound retains its integrity over time under given conditions of temperature, light, and moisture.
Research concepts
Agonist
A molecule that binds to a receptor and activates it, producing a biological response in research models.
Antagonist
A molecule that binds to a receptor and blocks its activation rather than triggering a response.
Half-life
The time required for half of a compound to be eliminated or degraded under given conditions.
In vitro
Research conducted in a controlled environment outside a living organism, such as in cell cultures or test tubes.
In vivo
Research conducted within a living, non-human organism or model system.
Ligand
Any molecule that binds to a specific target, such as a receptor, in a biological system.
Receptor
A protein that binds a specific molecule and triggers a response in a cell. Many peptides are studied for how they interact with receptors.
Research use only (RUO)
A designation meaning a product is intended solely for laboratory or scientific investigation and is not for human or veterinary consumption, diagnosis, or treatment.
Secretagogue
A substance studied for its ability to promote the secretion of another substance, such as a hormone, in research contexts.
Signalling pathway
A sequence of molecular events through which a cell detects and responds to a signal. Peptides are studied as tools to probe these pathways.
Put the terms into context
Explore our independently tested research compounds, or read how we verify quality on every batch.