SS-31 | Research Use Only

What it is

SS-31, also known as elamipretide, is a synthetic mitochondria-targeting tetrapeptide studied in research settings for its interaction with the inner mitochondrial membrane. In the scientific literature, it is commonly described as a peptide that binds cardiolipin and is used to study mitochondrial structure, bioenergetics, and oxidative-stress-related signaling.

Origins and scientific context

SS-31 was developed as a mitochondrial-targeted research peptide within the Szeto-Schiller peptide class. Academic reviews describe elamipretide as a first-in-class compound designed to localize to mitochondria and modulate inner membrane function, with later studies expanding its use across mitochondrial disease, muscle, cardiac, kidney, and aging-related experimental models.

Molecular profile

SS-31 is commonly described as a tetrapeptide with the sequence D-Arg-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2. Peer-reviewed membrane-binding work describes the sequence as D-Arg-2′,6′-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2, and reviews identify it as a small aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide used for mitochondrial targeting.

Scientific overview

In simplified terms, SS-31 is used in research to study mitochondrial respiration, cardiolipin-associated membrane biology, and oxidative stress pathways. Published studies report that SS-31 can improve mitochondrial function in experimental systems, and mechanistic work links its activity to interactions with cardiolipin and mitochondrial protein networks involved in ATP production and membrane organization.

What researchers study with SS-31

Key research focus areas often include
• Mitochondrial respiration and bioenergetics
• Cardiolipin interaction and inner mitochondrial membrane structure
• Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction models
• Skeletal muscle, cardiac, renal, and aging-related mitochondrial research

Regulatory and compliance notice

Research Use Only. Not for human or veterinary use. This description is provided for scientific context and must not be used to market SS-31 for diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. Current literature describes SS-31 as an investigational mitochondrial research compound.

Citations and references

Elamipretide: A Review of Its Structure, Mechanism of Action, and Therapeutic Potential, review covering SS-31/elamipretide structure, cardiolipin interaction, and mitochondrial mechanism context.

In vivo mitochondrial ATP production is improved in older adult humans by elamipretide infusion, describes elamipretide as SS-31 and a first-in-class compound that binds reversibly to cardiolipin.

Mitochondrial protein interaction landscape of SS-31, study describing SS-31 as a synthetic peptide that improves mitochondrial function and investigating its protein interaction network.

The mitochondria-targeted peptide SS-31 binds lipid bilayers and modulates surface electrostatics as a key step in its mechanism of action, paper describing the tetrapeptide sequence and membrane interaction behavior of SS-31.

SS-31, a Mitochondria-Targeting Peptide, Ameliorates Kidney Disease, review covering mitochondrial oxidative stress and renal research context for SS-31.