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Extensively Studied

SS-31 (Elamipretide)

Longevity & Anti-Aging · ['SS-31', 'Elamipretide', 'MTP-131', 'Bendavia']

SS-31 (elamipretide) is a synthetic, cell-permeable, mitochondria-targeting tetrapeptide that concentrates at the inner mitochondrial membrane and associates with cardiolipin. It has been evaluated in numerous preclinical studies and human clinical trials for mitochondrial dysfunction, and is offered strictly for laboratory research.

🔬 Research use only — not for human or veterinary use. K4 Elite does not provide dosing instructions.
Molecular Formula
C32H49N9O5
Molecular Weight
639.8 g/mol
PubChem
CID 11764719 ↗
Research Level
Extensively Studied
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SS-31 (Elamipretide) chemical structure

SS-31, known clinically as elamipretide (also MTP-131 / Bendavia), is a synthetic aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide of the Szeto-Schiller (SS) peptide series. Its sequence is D-Arg-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2, and it is cell-permeable and selectively concentrates several-hundredfold at the inner mitochondrial membrane.

SS-31 associates with cardiolipin, a phospholipid unique to the inner mitochondrial membrane, and is studied for its effects on electron transport, cristae structure, and reduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. It has advanced further in clinical development than most peptides in this category, with trials in mitochondrial myopathy, heart failure, and ophthalmic disease.

Content here summarizes peer-reviewed and clinical-trial literature. SS-31 is intended for research use only in this context and is not a marketed drug.

SS-31 binds cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it is reported to stabilize the interaction of cardiolipin with cytochrome c and other electron-transport components. This is proposed to preserve cristae architecture, improve the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation, and reduce excess production of reactive oxygen species.

By protecting mitochondrial structure and function under stress, SS-31 has been studied for effects on cellular energetics in tissues with high metabolic demand such as heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, and retina.

  • Cardiolipin / bioenergetics: SS-31 binds cardiolipin and improves mitochondrial electron transport and cristae stability (Birk et al., 2013; Szeto, 2014).
  • Heart failure and ischemia-reperfusion: Studied in cardiac injury models and in clinical trials for heart failure (Daubert et al., 2017; PROGRESS-HF).
  • Mitochondrial myopathy: Evaluated in the MMPOWER clinical trial program for primary mitochondrial disease.
  • Renal protection: Studied in acute kidney injury and ischemia-reperfusion models for mitochondrial preservation.
  • Ophthalmic / age-related disease: Investigated in trials for dry age-related macular degeneration and Leber hereditary optic neuropathy.
  • Aging skeletal muscle: Studied for effects on mitochondrial energetics and muscle function in aged animal models.
📋 How published studies were conducted — a research reference summarizing study designs from the literature. This is not usage, dosing, or administration guidance. K4 Elite does not provide dosing instructions; determining any research protocol is the sole responsibility of the qualified researcher.

Reporting only — not guidance. Birk et al. (2013, J Am Soc Nephrol) showed in cell and animal models that SS-31 binds cardiolipin and preserves mitochondrial cristae and function, defining its mechanism of action.

Daubert et al. (2017, Circ Heart Fail) conducted a randomized clinical study of intravenous elamipretide in patients with heart failure, reporting effects on left-ventricular volumes as a research endpoint. The MMPOWER-3 trial evaluated subcutaneous elamipretide in adults with primary mitochondrial myopathy. These summaries describe published trials and are provided for reporting only, not as protocols or endorsements of use.

Combinations examined in the research literature. Descriptive only — not a recommendation to combine compounds.

CardiolipinNeutral
Direct molecular target at the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Coenzyme Q10 / mitochondrial cofactorsSynergistic
Overlapping bioenergetic pathways; combined effects studied only in limited research settings.
MOTS-c / humaninCompatible
Fellow mitochondria-focused research peptides; no established combined-use data.
Nephrotoxic / cardiotoxic agentsCaution
Studied as mitochondrial protectant in injury models; interactions not characterized for combined use.
Antioxidant supplementsNeutral
Mechanistic overlap on ROS; no controlled combination data.
  1. Birk AV et al. The mitochondrial-targeted compound SS-31 re-energizes ischemic mitochondria by interacting with cardiolipin. J Am Soc Nephrol 2013
  2. Szeto HH. First-in-class cardiolipin-protective compound as a therapeutic agent. Br J Pharmacol 2014
  3. Daubert MA et al. Novel Mitochondria-Targeting Peptide in Heart Failure Treatment. Circ Heart Fail 2017
  4. Karaa A et al. Randomized dose-escalation trial of elamipretide in primary mitochondrial myopathy (MMPOWER). Neurology 2018
Is SS-31 / elamipretide an approved drug?
As of this writing elamipretide has been evaluated in clinical trials but is not a broadly marketed approved therapy. In this reference it is treated as a research compound for laboratory use only.
What does SS-31 target?
It is a mitochondria-targeting tetrapeptide that concentrates at the inner mitochondrial membrane and associates with cardiolipin, where it is studied for effects on electron transport and cristae stability.
What is the difference between SS-31, elamipretide, and Bendavia?
They refer to the same molecule; SS-31 is the original Szeto-Schiller designation, elamipretide is the international nonproprietary name, and MTP-131/Bendavia are development codes.
What conditions has it been studied in?
Published trials and preclinical studies span mitochondrial myopathy, heart failure, renal injury, and ophthalmic diseases such as dry AMD. These are research contexts, not proven treatments.
Can you provide dosing?
No. This reference provides research context only. Any trial doses referenced from the literature are reported for context, not as human or veterinary dosing guidance.
Disclaimer: This profile summarizes published preclinical and laboratory research for reference only. It is not medical advice and makes no claim of safety or efficacy in humans. Determining any research protocol is the sole responsibility of the qualified researcher. Products are sold strictly for in-vitro research and have not been evaluated by the FDA.