SS-31: Discovery & Research History
SS-31 (Mitochondria-Targeted Tetrapeptide / Elamipretide) — how it was originally discovered, and what it has been studied for since.
How SS-31 Was Discovered
SS-31 is one of the clearer examples of a serendipitous discovery in peptide research. Hazel Szeto and Peter Schiller weren't looking for a mitochondrial compound at all — they were studying opioid receptors as part of a broader peptide-chemistry research program, part of what became known more generally as the Szeto–Schiller (SS) peptide series. In the course of that work, they found that one of their lead compounds behaved unexpectedly: it concentrated heavily inside mitochondria and bound tightly to cardiolipin, a phospholipid found almost exclusively on the inner mitochondrial membrane.
That single observation redirected the entire research program. SS-31 (H-D-Arg-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH2) is an amphipathic tetrapeptide, alternating basic and aromatic amino acids in a pattern that gives it a strong affinity for cardiolipin-rich membranes. By binding cardiolipin, it modulates the interaction between cardiolipin and cytochrome c, a key step in how the electron transport chain organizes itself into efficient “supercomplexes” — the structural arrangement that keeps oxidative phosphorylation running efficiently while limiting the reactive oxygen species that arrangement can otherwise generate. SS-31 is also referred to as MTP-131, elamipretide, or Bendavia in later clinical-stage literature.
What SS-31 Has Been Studied For
Because SS-31's entire research relevance stems from its cardiolipin-binding discovery, most research applications trace directly back to that single mechanistic finding.
- Mitochondrial membrane research
- Oxidative stress studies
- Cardiolipin interaction research
SS-31 discovery & history questions
Does SS-31's research history mean it's approved for a particular use?
No. This page describes how SS-31 was originally discovered and what it has been studied for since — it is historical and educational context, not a claim about current regulatory approval, safety, or legal status anywhere. KYIN Peptides sells SS-31 strictly for laboratory research use.
What has SS-31 been studied for in research?
SS-31 is most commonly studied in mitochondrial membrane research, oxidative stress studies, and cardiolipin interaction research.
Looking for SS-31 specs and pricing?
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