SS-31

Product Overview

SS-31, also known as Elamipretide or MTP-131, is a synthetic mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide belonging to the Szeto-Schiller (SS) peptide family.

Unlike conventional peptides that primarily act through cell-surface receptors, SS-31 has been designed to selectively accumulate within mitochondria and interact with cardiolipin, an important phospholipid located within the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Research involving SS-31 has examined mitochondrial membrane structure, oxidative stress, electron transport, ATP production, mitochondrial bioenergetics and cellular responses to mitochondrial dysfunction. Research-Chem.uk supplies SS-31 as a laboratory research compound intended strictly for in-vitro, analytical and scientific research applications.

What Is SS-31?

SS-31 is a synthetic tetrapeptide belonging to the Szeto-Schiller family of mitochondria-targeted peptides. Its commonly reported sequence is:

D-Arg–2',6'-dimethyl-Tyr–Lys–Phe-NH₂

The molecule has been engineered to possess properties that allow it to interact preferentially with mitochondrial membranes.

A major focus of SS-31 research is its interaction with cardiolipin. Cardiolipin is a distinctive phospholipid concentrated within the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it contributes to membrane organisation and the function of proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation.

Research has demonstrated that SS-31 associates with cardiolipin through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions and can influence the physical and functional properties of mitochondrial membranes.

This mitochondrial targeting distinguishes SS-31 from many other experimental peptides and makes it particularly relevant to research into mitochondrial structure and bioenergetics.

How Is SS-31 Investigated in Research?

SS-31 has been investigated across biochemical, cellular and animal research models. Research has examined:

• Mitochondrial membrane function
• Cardiolipin interactions
• Oxidative phosphorylation
• ATP production
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
• Mitochondrial membrane potential
• Electron transport
• Cellular energy metabolism
• Mitochondrial dynamics
• Oxidative stress
• Apoptotic signalling
• Cellular responses to mitochondrial dysfunction

One of the defining characteristics of SS-31 is its interaction with cardiolipin within the inner mitochondrial membrane. Experimental studies have demonstrated that SS-31 can alter cardiolipin-associated membrane properties and influence interactions between cardiolipin and mitochondrial proteins.

More recent mechanistic research has expanded this understanding, identifying interactions between SS-31 and proteins associated with oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial energy metabolism.

SS-31 Research Applications

What Does the Research Say?

SS-31 has one of the more extensively investigated mitochondrial-targeting profiles among experimental peptide compounds.

Early mechanistic research established that SS-31 preferentially associates with mitochondrial membranes and interacts with cardiolipin. Experimental work demonstrated that the peptide can interact with cardiolipin and influence the relationship between cardiolipin and cytochrome c, an important component of the mitochondrial electron-transport system. These findings provided a mechanistic basis for investigating SS-31 in mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Subsequent research has expanded the proposed mechanism beyond simple antioxidant activity. Studies have identified effects involving mitochondrial membrane electrostatics, cardiolipin-dependent protein organisation, ATP production and oxidative-phosphorylation efficiency.

Research in ageing models has also reported improvements in mitochondrial ADP sensitivity and aspects of cardiac and skeletal-muscle function following SS-31 exposure.

More recent research continues to investigate SS-31 in models involving mitochondrial dysfunction, including neurological injury and metabolic disease models. A 2026 animal study investigated SS-31 in a spinal-cord-injury model and reported effects associated with mitochondrial bioenergetics and neural remodelling.

At the same time, the evidence should be interpreted according to the experimental model. Results from isolated mitochondria, cultured cells or animal studies cannot automatically be extrapolated to human outcomes. For laboratory research, SS-31 therefore provides a particularly useful model for studying the relationship between mitochondrial membranes, cardiolipin, oxidative phosphorylation and cellular energy metabolism.

Research References

• Szeto HH, Schiller PW. Novel therapies targeting inner mitochondrial membrane — potential for diseases of aging. Research describing the development and mitochondrial-targeting properties of Szeto-Schiller peptides.
• Birk AV, et al. The mitochondrial-targeted compound SS-31 re-energizes mitochondria and protects cells from oxidative stress. Research investigating SS-31, mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative stress.
• Mitochondrial cardiolipin research. Experimental studies have demonstrated that SS-31 selectively interacts with cardiolipin and can influence cytochrome-c-associated mitochondrial electron transport.

• Mitchell W, et al. (2020). The mitochondria-targeted peptide SS-31 binds lipid bilayers and modulates surface electrostatics as a key component of its mechanism of action. Biophysical research examining SS-31 interactions with mitochondrial membrane models.

• Pharaoh G, et al. (2023). The mitochondrially targeted peptide elamipretide (SS-31) improves ADP sensitivity in aged mitochondria by increasing uptake through the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT). Geroscience, 45, 3529–3548.

  PMID: 37462785 · DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00861-y

• Du X, et al. (2024). Application research of novel peptide mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant SS-31 in mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrion, 75, 101846.

  PMID: 38237649 · DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2024.101846

• Sabbah HN, et al. (2025). Contemporary insights into elamipretide's mitochondrial mechanism of action and therapeutic effects. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 187, 118056.

  DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118056

SS-31 Product Specifications

SS-31 is a synthetic member of the Szeto-Schiller peptide family and is distinguished by its mitochondrial-targeting properties and interaction with cardiolipin.

Quality and Purity

At Research-Chem.uk, analytical quality and batch traceability are central to our research peptide range.

This SS-31 batch is supplied with a stated 99.0% purity, with HPLC analysis used to assess peptide purity. Each batch is supported by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) providing analytical documentation for the supplied material.

Our quality-control approach is designed to give researchers clearly documented materials for controlled laboratory investigations and analytical research. Researchers should always refer to the relevant batch-specific COA when recording analytical characteristics for experimental work.

Laboratory Research Applications

SS-31 may be suitable for laboratory investigations involving:

• Mitochondrial biology
• Mitochondrial bioenergetics
• Cardiolipin research
• Inner mitochondrial membrane studies
• Oxidative phosphorylation
• ATP-production research
• Electron-transport studies
• Reactive oxygen species research
• Oxidative-stress models
• Mitochondrial membrane potential
• Cellular energy metabolism
• Mitochondrial dynamics
• Apoptosis research
• Cellular ageing research
• Skeletal-muscle mitochondrial studies
• Cardiac mitochondrial research
• Analytical peptide research

SS-31 is supplied strictly as a research compound and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition.

Why Choose Research-Chem.uk?

Research-Chem.uk provides research peptides for laboratories, analytical researchers and other qualified research environments. Our peptide range focuses on: