Testagen, also known by its tetrapeptide designation KEDG (Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly), is a synthetic tetrapeptide bioregulator with a molecular weight of 474.53 g/mol. Developed at the Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology as part of the Khavinson peptide bioregulator series, Testagen was designed based on peptide fractions associated with testicular tissue. Its sequence, Lys-Glu-Asp-Gly, shares the KED core motif found in the vascular bioregulator Vesugen, with the addition of a C-terminal glycine residue. Like other tetrapeptide bioregulators in the Khavinson series, Testagen is proposed to modulate tissue-specific gene expression through direct DNA interaction. Produced via solid-phase peptide synthesis, Testagen is associated with gonadal tissue gene expression and reproductive endocrine signalling pathways.

Testagen is an organ-specific tetrapeptide bioregulator within the Khavinson framework. Consistent with the proposed direct-to-DNA mechanism, published in vitro work has documented that testagen specifically penetrates into the cell nucleus and interacts with DNA in a sequence-selective manner: in FITC-labelled studies in HeLa cells, testagen entered the nucleus and bound preferentially to CAG-containing oligodeoxyribonucleotide sequences, consistent with the model that these ultrashort peptides can engage DNA directly and thereby influence gene expression epigenetically [1] . The broader principle under which Testagen is studied has been consolidated for the Khavinson ultrashort-peptide class in a systematic review of the field, and the foundational tissue-specific short-peptide bioregulator and geroprotector concept into which the gonadal-tropic Testagen is placed was established in the foundational survey of the field [2,3], making Testagen a reference compound in preclinical gerontology examining the direct-to-DNA, tissue-specific gene-regulatory mode of action characteristic of the Khavinson ultrashort peptides.

Testagen is manufactured in a cGMP compliant, ISO9001 certified laboratory to a guaranteed purity of 98% or above. Every batch is independently tested using HPLC and MS-UPLC analysis before dispatch. Vials are vacuum sealed and stored in a temperature controlled, monitored cold storage system. Certificates of Analysis are available on request.

Sold strictly for in vitro research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Intended for use by qualified researchers in laboratory settings only.

Editorial Team

Dr. Martina Rossi, PhD

Scientific Contributor and Reviewer

Reviewed and approved 14 June 2026

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