Livagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide with the sequence Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala (KEDA), molecular formula C18H31N5O9 and molecular weight 461.47 g/mol, a Khavinson short peptide supplied as a lyophilized powder for in vitro research into nucleic-acid interaction and gene-expression readouts. This profile covers the sequence, how it relates to Testagen and Epithalon, and how it is framed in a laboratory setting.
What is the Livagen peptide?
Livagen is four amino acids long: L-lysine, L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid and L-alanine, written KEDA. With one basic side chain (lysine) and two acidic side chains (glutamate and aspartate), it is a small polar zwitterion that dissolves readily in aqueous solvents. Like the rest of the family, "Livagen" is a catalog name; the compound is defined by its sequence and identifiers: CAS 433257-50-2, PubChem CID 87919683.
How does Livagen relate to Testagen and Epithalon?
Livagen shares its first three residues, Lys-Glu-Asp, with Testagen (KEDG). The only difference is the C-terminal residue: alanine in Livagen, glycine in Testagen. Alanine carries one extra methyl group, so Livagen is exactly 14.03 g/mol heavier. Epithalon (AEDG) shares the Glu-Asp-Gly tail with Testagen but starts with alanine instead of lysine. The three compounds therefore form a small matched set in which each pair differs by a single residue, which is useful for structure-activity comparisons in cell assays. The family is laid out in full in the pillar guide to Khavinson short peptides: Testagen and Livagen.
| Property | Livagen | Testagen |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence | Lys-Glu-Asp-Ala (KEDA) | Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly (KEDG) |
| Formula | C18H31N5O9 | C17H29N5O9 |
| Molecular weight | 461.47 g/mol | 447.44 g/mol |
| Expected [M+H]+ | about 462.2 | about 448.2 |
| Vial size listed | 20 mg | 20 mg |
How is Livagen framed in in vitro research?
As with other short-peptide bioregulator research compounds, the question asked in the laboratory is mechanistic: whether a short, highly charged peptide interacts with nucleic acids and whether that is reflected in gene-expression readouts such as messenger-RNA levels or reporter-gene activity in cultured cells. Experiments are run at defined molar concentrations against vehicle and scrambled-peptide controls. No outcome beyond the assay readout is implied by the catalog name.
Stock concentration math for a 20 mg vial
Dissolving a 20 mg vial in 1 mL of reconstitution solution gives 20 mg/mL, which at 461.47 g/mol is 43.3 mM; 2 mL gives 21.7 mM and 4 mL gives 10.8 mM. Because Livagen and Testagen differ in molecular weight, matched experiments should be set up on a molar basis rather than equal mg/mL.
How do you confirm Livagen identity?
Check the Certificate of Analysis for an HPLC purity near 99% and a mass-spectrometry result consistent with 461.47 g/mol. The 14-unit gap from Testagen makes the two easy to distinguish by mass. The CAS number to expect is 433257-50-2; note that 195875-84-4, which is easy to confuse with it in catalog records, is the CAS number of tesofensine, an unrelated small molecule, and does not belong to Livagen. If a COA and a product page disagree on an identifier, regard the sequence and the measured mass as authoritative and ask the supplier to reconcile the record; the mass-spectrometry identity guide explains how the measured value is read.
Related research guides
- Khavinson short peptides: Testagen and Livagen
- Pinealon: a tripeptide bioregulator
- Epithalon: a tetrapeptide bioregulator
- Gene-expression assays in vitro
Research-use note
All materials discussed are supplied for in vitro laboratory research use only, and are not for human or animal use.
