Research glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet across our guides — from formulation and handling to the molecular science and the quality checks that back a batch.
Formulation & handling
- Peptide
- A short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds — shorter than a full protein. Peptides are studied for the many signaling roles they play in biology.
- Amino acid
- The individual building block of peptides and proteins. The order of amino acids defines a peptide's identity and behavior.
- Sequence
- The specific order of amino acids in a peptide, written from the N-terminus to the C-terminus. The sequence determines structure and function.
- Lyophilized
- Freeze-dried to a stable powder by removing water under vacuum. Peptides ship and store dry in this form to preserve their integrity.
- Reconstitution
- The laboratory step of dissolving a lyophilized powder back into liquid with a suitable diluent before it is measured or studied.
- Bacteriostatic water
- Sterile water with a small amount of benzyl alcohol that inhibits bacterial growth — a common diluent for reconstituting research peptides.
- Concentration
- The amount of compound per unit volume of solution (e.g. mg/mL). It is fixed at reconstitution and used to calculate the volume for any measured quantity.
- Aliquot
- A measured portion drawn from a larger reconstituted stock, often stored separately to avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
Molecular science
- Molecular weight
- The mass of one molecule of a compound, usually in daltons (Da). It is used to convert between mass and moles in calculations.
- Purity
- The proportion of a sample that is the intended compound — typically reported as a percentage from HPLC on the certificate of analysis.
- Half-life
- The time for half of a compound to be cleared or degraded under given conditions; a key variable in research study design.
- Receptor
- A protein that a signaling molecule binds to, triggering a downstream response. Many peptides are studied for how they interact with specific receptors.
- Agonist
- A molecule that binds a receptor and activates it, mimicking the body's own signal. An antagonist instead binds and blocks it.
- Analog
- A compound whose structure is deliberately modified from a parent molecule to change properties such as stability or receptor selectivity.
- Peptide bond
- The chemical bond joining one amino acid to the next, forming the backbone of every peptide and protein.
Research & quality
- Research use only (RUO)
- A designation meaning a product is intended strictly for laboratory research — not for human or animal consumption, diagnostic, or therapeutic use.
- Certificate of analysis (COA)
- A document from analytical testing that reports a specific batch's identity, purity, and mass, so a researcher can verify what they received.
- HPLC
- High-performance liquid chromatography — the standard method for separating a sample and measuring purity, reported on the COA.
- Mass spectrometry
- An analytical technique that measures molecular mass to confirm a compound's identity and detect impurities.
- Assay
- A defined laboratory procedure for measuring the presence, amount, or activity of a substance.
- In vitro / in vivo
- “In glass” (cells or biochemistry outside a living organism) versus “in the living” (within a whole organism) — two contexts in which findings are generated.
- Reproducibility
- The degree to which an experiment yields the same result when repeated — a cornerstone of trustworthy research.
Educational content for researchers. The compounds discussed here are research chemicals; this material summarises what they are studied for, their mechanisms, and published laboratory findings. It is not medical advice and makes no therapeutic claims — nothing here is a treatment, cure, or product for human or veterinary use.
