GRF(1-29) 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.
Last reviewed on 2026-08-01. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Two related forms appear under the CJC-1295 name. The simpler analogue, commonly written as modified GRF(1-29), carries the four substitutions but no additional conjugation. The second form attaches a maleimidopropionic acid linker to a lysine residue, a modification frequently called the drug affinity complex. That linker reacts with the free thiol on serum albumin to form a covalent bond. Because albumin has a long residence time in blood, the conjugated peptide stays in circulation far longer than the unconjugated analogue.
Receptor level activity follows the canonical GHRH pathway. The peptide binds the GHRH receptor, a class B G protein coupled receptor on somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary. Binding raises intracellular cyclic AMP, which promotes calcium entry and the release of growth hormone into the bloodstream. Because the molecule acts at the same receptor as the endogenous hormone, its effect is superimposed on the natural pulsatile rhythm rather than replacing it. Whether sustained receptor occupation leads to desensitization is not fully settled.
CJC-1295 belongs to a class of synthetic peptides modeled on growth hormone releasing hormone, a forty-four amino acid signal produced by the hypothalamus. The compound is built from the first twenty-nine residues of the natural sequence, with four substitutions introduced at positions 2, 8, 15 and 27. These changes were designed to slow enzymatic breakdown while preserving receptor activation. The result is a peptide that is shorter than native GHRH and considerably more resistant to ordinary clearance pathways in circulation.
CJC-1295 is a synthetic peptide analog of growth hormone-releasing hormone, constructed on the 29-amino-acid fragment designated GRF(1-29). The name began as an internal development code during the 1990s and later spread through research supply catalogs and discussion forums. The molecule does not occur in nature; its sequence is engineered rather than isolated from tissue. Two related compounds are sold under this single label, and they differ by one appended chemical group that strongly influences how long the peptide remains in circulation.
The dividing feature between the two forms is a maleimide-based drug affinity complex, abbreviated DAC. In the DAC-bearing version, a linker attaches the peptide to serum albumin after administration, and that association slows removal from plasma. The version lacking DAC appears in catalogs as MOD GRF(1-29) or tetrasubstituted GRF(1-29). Because informal writing treats both as one item, comparisons drawn from such sources routinely blend measurements taken from two molecules with substantially different behavior.
Four amino acid substitutions separate the modified backbone from the parent GRF(1-29) sequence. These changes reduce recognition by dipeptidyl peptidase IV and related proteases, extending the interval before degradation. Development work in this area sought longer-acting GHRH analogs for endocrine investigation. Published descriptions treat the substitution set as a defining property of the core sequence, while the albumin-binding linker is described separately as an optional addition to that same backbone.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peptide class | Synthetic GHRH analogue | Built on a 29 residue sequence |
| Primary target | GHRH receptor (GHRHR) | Class B G protein coupled receptor |
| Unconjugated half life | Minutes | Limited by protease degradation |
| Key modification | Four residue substitutions | Positions 2, 8, 15 and 27 |
| Common synonym | Modified GRF(1-29) | Usually denotes the form without DAC |
Lyophilised powder is the usual supplied form. The material is hygroscopic, so vials are typically equilibrated to room temperature before opening in order to prevent condensation on the contents. Long-term storage is generally described at minus twenty degrees Celsius or colder, protected from light and moisture. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are avoided because they promote aggregation and loss of soluble material. A reconstituted solution is considerably less stable than the dry powder and is normally kept refrigerated for short periods only.
Identity and purity are assessed mainly by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. The chromatographic separation resolves the target peptide from truncation products and from species carrying oxidised residues, while mass measurement confirms the expected molecular mass. Because the two common variants differ by roughly 280 daltons, a mass determination distinguishes them unambiguously. Purity is often quoted as a percentage of total peak area, although that figure depends on the detection wavelength and the integration method applied.
Reported half-lives differ widely between the two variants and between species. Values for the albumin-binding form are usually expressed in days, while the unconjugated form is measured in minutes to a few hours. Sampling schedules, assay sensitivity, and route of administration all influence the numbers, which limits direct comparison across studies. Whether sustained receptor occupancy produces different downstream effects from pulsatile stimulation remains an open question in the published work. Claims about relative potency should therefore be read alongside the specific study design that produced them.
CJC-1295 is a synthetic peptide designed to mimic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), the endogenous signal that prompts the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. The compound is a modified fragment of the natural hormone, spanning the first twenty-nine amino acids of GHRH with several substitutions that slow enzymatic breakdown. Two variants circulate in research settings: one carrying a drug affinity complex (DAC) and one without it. The DAC-free form is frequently labelled Mod GRF(1-29) in catalogs and discussion forums.
The peptide binds GHRH receptors on somatotroph cells within the anterior pituitary, triggering a signalling cascade that increases growth hormone secretion. Its improved resistance to dipeptidyl peptidase IV degradation distinguishes it from the parent hormone. In the DAC-bearing version, a maleimide group reacts with a cysteine residue on serum albumin, forming a covalent bond that keeps the peptide in circulation far longer. That albumin attachment is the central design feature separating the two research variants.
Povidone-iodine has found application in the field of nanomaterials. A wound-healing application has been developed which employs a mat of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) coated in a monolayer of povidone-iodine. Research has previously found that the polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, povidone) can coil around individual carbon nanotubes to make them water-soluble.
Bayesian inference of phylogeny combines the information in the prior and in the data likelihood to create the so-called posterior probability of trees, which is the probability that the tree is correct given the data, the prior and the likelihood model. Bayesian inference was introduced into molecular phylogenetics in the 1990s by three independent groups: Bruce Rannala and Ziheng Yang in Berkeley, Bob Mau in Madison, and Shuying Li in University of Iowa, the last two being PhD students at the time. The approach has become very popular since the release of the MrBayes software in 2001, and is now one of the most popular methods in molecular phylogenetics.
== Selected articles == McCartney, Fiona; Jannin, Vincent; Chevrier, Stéphanie; Boulghobra, Hakime; Hristov, Delyan R.; Ritter, Nicolas; Miolane, Cédric; Chavant, Yann; Demarne, Frédéric; Brayden, David J. (2019). "Labrasol® is an efficacious intestinal permeation enhancer across rat intestine: Ex vivo and in vivo rat studies". Journal of Controlled Release. 310: 115–126. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.08.008. PMID 31401199. Hristov, Delyan; McCartney, Fiona; Beirne, Jason; Mahon, Eugene; Reid, Stephanie; Bhattacharjee, Sourav; Penarier, Geraldine; Werner, Ulrich; Bazile, Didier; Brayden, David J. (2020). "Silica-coated nanoparticles with a core of zinc, l-Arginine, and a peptide designed for oral delivery". ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 12 (1): 1257–1269. Bibcode:2020AAMI...12.1257H. doi:10.1021/acsami.9b16104. PMID 31802658. Twarog, Caroline; Liu, Kai; O'Brien, Peter J.; Dawson, Kenneth A.; Fattal, Elias; Illel, Brigitte; Brayden, David J. (2020). "A head-to-head Caco-2 assay comparison of the mechanisms of action of the intestinal permeation enhancers: SNAC and sodium caprate (C10)". European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 152: 95–107. doi:10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.04.023. PMID 32387703. Khandelia, Rumi; Hodgkinson, Tom; Crean, Daniel; Brougham, Dermot F.; Scholz, Dimitri; Ibrahim, Hossam; Quinn, Susan J.; Rodriguez, Brian J.; Kennedy, Oran D.; O’Byrne, John M.; Brayden, David J. (2024). "Reproducible synthesis of biocompatible albumin nanoparticles designed for intra-articular administration of celecoxib to treat osteoarthritis".
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
==== United States ==== TMA-2 is not an explicitly controlled substance in the United States. However, it is a positional isomer of 3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA), and thus may be considered a Schedule I controlled substance in this country similarly to TMA.
=== IgG-like === This format retains the traditional monoclonal antibody (mAb) structure of two Fab arms and one Fc region, except the two Fab sites bind different antigens. The most common types are called trifunctional antibodies, as they have three unique binding sites on the antibody: the two Fab regions, and the Fc region. Each heavy and light chain pair is from a unique mAb. The Fc region made from the two heavy chains forms the third binding site. These BsAbs are often manufactured with the quadroma, or the hybrid hybridoma, method.
=== Metabolic and covalent labeling of glycans === Metabolic labeling of glycans can be used as a way to detect glycan structures. A well known strategy involves the use of azide-labeled sugars which can be reacted using the Staudinger ligation. This method has been used for in vitro and in vivo imaging of glycans.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
The names are often used interchangeably in casual writing, but they are not strictly identical. Modified GRF(1-29) refers to the unconjugated analogue carrying only the four substitutions. The version sold as CJC-1295 with DAC includes the albumin binding linker and clears much more slowly.
DAC stands for drug affinity complex, a term describing the maleimidopropionic acid linker. This group forms a covalent bond with the cysteine residue on serum albumin after administration. The resulting adduct is what extends the circulating half life from minutes to days.
No. It is entirely synthetic and does not correspond to any known endogenous peptide. The design starts from human growth hormone releasing hormone and introduces deliberate substitutions. Any biological effect comes from mimicking the natural hormone at its receptor.
No. It is a laboratory-synthesized analog built on a fragment of the natural hormone. The natural peptide is shorter-lived and lacks the stabilizing substitutions found in the synthetic version.