Description

SS-31 is a synthetic tetrapeptide. It’s alternatively known as MTP-131 and is currently being developed by Stealth BioTherapeutics under the trademarks Elamipretide and Bendavia.

It’s specifically designed to target mitochondria. On entering the body, SS-31 binds with high affinity to cardiolipin, a phospholipid uniquely found in the inner mitochondrial membrane and known to interact with a protein called cytochrome.  This interaction determines whether cytochrome c becomes either an electron carrier or a peroxidase, and SS-31 promotes conversion to the former instead of the latter. As an electron carrier, cytochrome c drives the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), our primary form of cellular energy. ATP production is the principal function of mitochondria, so SS-31’s presence helps ensure that the “powerhouses of the cell” continue to carry out their critical role.

SS-31 may also inhibit the opening of a channel in the inner membrane called the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), at least in rodents. Because mPTP opening has been implicated in neuronal death, SS-31’s inhibitory action is a potential mechanism of action for the peptide’s cognitive health benefits.

Furthermore, several studies have concluded that SS-31 is capable of scavenging mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, making it a potent antioxidant.Its antioxidant mechanism of action isn’t yet fully understood, but one group of researchers has theorized that it has to do with an ability to activate autophagy— a cellular recycling process that promotes efficient function and which is critical for mitigating oxidative stress.