Description
What Is P21? (In Plain English)
P21 is a lab-made peptide copied from one small piece of a natural brain protein. Think of it as a single short quote lifted out of a very long book, with a sturdy chemical handle bolted on so it survives longer in an experiment. Researchers study that quote in mice to see whether such a small fragment can still do what the whole protein does.
P21 — Research Overview
P21 (also written P021) is a small peptidergic compound derived from the active region of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), built on an acetylated tetrapeptide core (Ac-Asp-Gly-Gly-Leu-amide) conjugated to an adamantane moiety to improve metabolic stability and lipophilicity. In the published record it is associated with increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and with modulation of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) signalling through the JAK/STAT axis. Most of the primary work comes from a small number of neuroscience groups using transgenic rodent models.
Primary Research Areas
- Adult neurogenesis — investigated in the dentate gyrus of rodent models using proliferation and survival markers.
- Neurotrophin signalling — studied for BDNF and CREB pathway expression changes in vitro and in animal tissue.
- Tauopathy models — examined in transgenic mouse lines for changes in tau phosphorylation state.
- Synaptic plasticity — referenced in the literature on synaptic protein density and hippocampal electrophysiology in animal models.
- Peptide mimetic design — used as a reference scaffold for small CNTF-derived fragments.
Specifications
- Compound: P21 (P021; adamantylated CNTF-derived tetrapeptide, Ac-DGGL-amide derivative)
- CAS: Not assigned
- Presentation: Lyophilized powder, sealed vial
- Quantity: 5 mg per vial
- Storage: Store lyophilized vials cold and protected from light. Reconstituted material is stored refrigerated per standard laboratory practice.
Related Research Peptides
Neuroscience laboratories working alongside P21 5mg commonly reference Semax 10mg and Cerebrolysin, both long-standing neurotrophic research compounds. Selank 10mg and PE-22-28 appear in adjacent behavioural and neuroplasticity work.
Why Researchers Source P21 from Dissolv Labs
Dissolv Labs is a research-supply company based in Southern California. Orders are picked, packed, and shipped domestically from our SoCal facility, so most U.S. laboratories see short transit times and no international customs delay.
Every vial ships as a complete kit. Each P21 vial is paired with its own bacteriostatic water reconstitution vial, so the material arrives ready to prepare in the lab without a separate diluent order. Compounds are supplied lyophilized in sealed, labeled vials with lot identification, and analytical documentation is available on request.
P21 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is P21 used for?
P21 is supplied strictly as a research chemical for in vitro and laboratory research applications. The literature investigates it as a CNTF-derived peptide mimetic in neurogenesis, BDNF expression, and rodent tauopathy models. It is not for human or veterinary use.
How does P21 differ from Semax?
Both are small neuroactive peptides, but they come from different origins and are studied through different pathways. Semax is an ACTH(4-10) analogue with a large Russian literature centred on BDNF and dopaminergic signalling, whereas P21 is a Western-derived CNTF fragment carrying an adamantane group for stability. Researchers sometimes run them side by side as distinct neurotrophic reference compounds.
What form does P21 ship in?
P21 ships as a lyophilized powder in a sealed, labeled vial carrying lot identification. Lyophilized material is stored cold and protected from light, and reconstituted solution is refrigerated per standard laboratory practice. A matched bacteriostatic water reconstitution vial is included with every unit.
Where can I buy P21 research peptide?
P21 5mg is available for sale from Dissolv Labs, a Southern California research-supply company shipping domestically across the United States. Each order arrives as a complete kit with reconstitution vial, lot identification, and analytical documentation on request.
Research Use Only
P21 is sold exclusively as a Research Use Only (RUO) chemical. It is not a drug, supplement, cosmetic, or food, and it is not intended for human or veterinary use, ingestion, injection, topical application, or any form of consumption. It is intended solely for licensed laboratory research by qualified professionals. Dissolv Labs makes no medical, therapeutic, or diagnostic claims of any kind. By purchasing, the buyer confirms they are a qualified researcher and accepts full responsibility for lawful handling, use, and disposal.
Bacteriostatic (BAC) water is included free with every order.
Specifications
- Form: Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder, sealed vial
- Appearance: White to off-white
- Purity: ≥99%, verified by HPLC
- Identity: Confirmed by mass spectrometry
- Testing: Independent third-party laboratory, every batch
- Documentation: Batch-specific COA available on request
Exact quantity and concentration are listed in the product title and variant options above. The figures above are release specifications — the measured result for your particular lot is stated on its Certificate of Analysis.
Documentation & Testing
Every batch is tested before release. Testing covers four checks: identity by mass spectrometry, purity by HPLC against a ≥99% release threshold, content verification against the labelled mass, and batch release tied to a specific lot number.
To request the Certificate of Analysis for your vial, email us with your order number or the lot number printed on the label. We do not gate documentation behind a form or a purchase.
New to reading a COA? Our plain-English guide decodes every line, and the full process is documented on our Quality & Testing page.
Handling & Storage
Lyophilized peptides are relatively stable during transit. Arriving at room temperature is not cause for concern — the cold pack is a margin of safety rather than a pass/fail condition.
Sealed vials of lyophilized material are typically stored refrigerated or frozen and protected from light. Handling protocols for a specific compound are determined by the researcher and their institution; we supply the material and its documentation.
Shipping & Returns
Orders placed before the daily cut-off are dispatched the same business day from Southern California in insulated packaging with ice packs. Tracking is issued at dispatch.
If a shipment arrives damaged, if vial contents appear inconsistent with the specification, or if the lot number on your vial does not match the certificate we provide, contact us and we will resolve it.
Because these are temperature-sensitive laboratory materials, opened vials cannot be returned to stock.
Questions
Straight answers about documentation, shipping, and what Research Use Only means.