This is a working overview of prohibited list, written for readers who want more than a one-paragraph summary but less than a textbook.
This page was last updated on 2026-01-04 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
Discussion of the compound frequently appears alongside other short peptides described as fragments of larger proteins. That grouping is convenient but can be misleading, because fragment length, charge, and modification state determine how a peptide behaves in solution and in any experimental system. A seven-residue acetylated peptide and a full-length protein differ in mass by roughly an order of magnitude, and they cannot be assumed to share distribution or binding properties. Precision about which molecule is under discussion is the single most useful step when reading such material.
TB-500 is a shorthand label used in supplier catalogs and online discussion for a short synthetic peptide described as a fragment of thymosin beta-4. Most product listings present it as the N-terminally acetylated heptapeptide Ac-LKKTETQ, a sequence corresponding to the actin-binding region of the parent protein. The name is not a formal chemical designation and does not appear in standard nomenclature systems. Because labeling practices vary between vendors, two products sold under the same name may not contain the same molecule, and the stated sequence should be treated as a claim rather than a fixed definition.
Once dissolved, the peptide is far less stable than the dry powder. Aqueous solutions are subject to hydrolysis, oxidation at susceptible residues and gradual loss of material through adsorption onto glass and plastic surfaces. Terminal glutamine can cyclise under some conditions, producing a related species that complicates purity assessment. Dilute solutions tend to lose a larger fraction of material to surfaces than concentrated ones. Buffers, pH and ionic strength all influence the rate of change, so stability figures are only meaningful when those parameters are stated alongside the storage interval.
Detection in biological samples relies on mass spectrometry, typically liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry after peptide extraction and enrichment. Intact peptides can also be confirmed by high-resolution mass measurement together with fragmentation data. Detection windows in urine are short because the peptide is degraded by proteases and cleared quickly, and concentrations are low. Many jurisdictions treat the compound as a prohibited substance in sport, grouped with peptide hormones and related factors, while it is not an approved therapeutic product. Identity and purity statements therefore rest on certificates of analysis, ideally issued by an independent laboratory.
Material is normally supplied as a lyophilised powder in a sealed vial. The powder is hygroscopic, so exposure to humid air leads to water uptake, caking and gradual loss of the fluffy texture that indicates a good freeze-dry. Vials are best kept sealed with desiccant, protected from light and stored cold. Letting a cold vial warm to room temperature before opening reduces condensation on the contents. Purity is normally reported from a chromatographic run, and that figure applies to the batch as tested rather than to the vial after repeated opening.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reported sequence | Ac-LKKTETQ | Described in most listings as the actin-binding region of thymosin beta-4 |
| Reported molecular weight | Approximately 889 Da | Value shifts with the stated sequence; compare against the certificate of analysis |
| Parent protein length | 43 amino acids | Thymosin beta-4; the fragment covers only a small part of it |
| Common synonyms | TB4 fragment; thymosin beta-4 fragment | Trade-style names rather than formal nomenclature |
| Formal monographs | Not established | Labeling conventions differ by supplier and region |
Lyophilized peptide arrives as a dry cake that should stay sealed until use. Reconstitution is generally performed with sterile water or a buffered solution, and the resulting liquid should be handled gently to limit mechanical stress. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are widely described as harmful to short peptides, so dividing a reconstituted batch into single-use portions is a common practice. Laboratories also record the solvent, concentration, and date of preparation on the vial label to keep later measurements traceable.
Dry powder is commonly held at minus twenty degrees Celsius, with some suppliers recommending lower temperatures for long-term archival storage. Once dissolved, solutions are typically kept cold and protected from light, since aqueous peptide solutions can lose integrity through hydrolysis or oxidation over time. Stability data specific to this fragment are limited in the public literature, and much of the guidance comes from general peptide handling practice rather than from controlled degradation studies. Users therefore treat stated shelf lives as approximate rather than fixed.
Identity and purity are normally assessed with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, paired with mass spectrometry to confirm molecular mass. A certificate of analysis reports a purity percentage, usually derived from chromatographic peak area, but that figure does not by itself prove a correct sequence or the absence of counterions. Independent verification may include amino acid analysis or peptide mapping. Batch-to-batch variation is a documented concern in the research chemical market, and the gap between a quoted purity value and actual peptide content can be substantial when the material is a salt or retains residual water.
Once in solution, short peptides are generally less stable than the dry powder, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles are a common cause of loss. Laboratory guidance usually calls for aliquoting on first dissolution and storing aliquots at -20 °C or below, away from light. Adsorption to plastic and glass surfaces can lower measured concentration, particularly at low concentrations, so container material and buffer choice can affect results. Visible cloudiness, colour change or unexpected precipitate is a signal to re-check the material.
Purity is normally assessed by reversed-phase HPLC, with the main peak reported as a percentage of total peak area, while identity is confirmed by mass spectrometry. Electrospray and MALDI-TOF instruments are both used, and the observed mass is compared with the value calculated from the stated sequence. Ion-exchange or size-exclusion methods appear where aggregation or charge variants are of interest. Water content, counter-ion content and residual trifluoroacetate from purification are separate variables that can shift the measured mass and should be weighed when reading a certificate of analysis.
Research peptides are typically supplied as a white to off-white lyophilised powder in a sealed vial. The dry solid is more stable than a solution and is normally kept refrigerated or frozen until use. Dissolution is usually done in water, phosphate-buffered saline or a similar aqueous medium, depending on the assay. Because the material is hygroscopic and easily contaminated, opening vials in a low-humidity environment and recording the lot number before use are standard laboratory practices.
No major regulatory agency has approved TB-500 for therapeutic use, and it holds no pharmacopoeial monograph. The name appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list within the class covering peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances. Detection in doping control relies on mass spectrometric methods applied to urine, often after preparation steps that concentrate the analyte. Discussion of TB-500 therefore clusters in biochemistry, sports medicine, and anti-doping literature rather than in registered clinical trials.
TB-500 is a synthetic peptide preparation marketed under a name derived from thymosin beta-4, a 43-residue actin-binding protein first isolated from thymus tissue. The full-length protein has a reported molecular mass near 4963 Da, while material sold as TB-500 is often described as a fragment containing the actin-binding motif LKKTETQ. Because suppliers use the name inconsistently, published sources sometimes refer to the same label as a fragment, a synthetic copy, or a related analog. This naming ambiguity complicates direct comparison of reports across studies.
Laboratory work on thymosin beta-4 describes binding to monomeric actin and effects on cell migration, angiogenesis, and inflammatory signaling in cultured cells. Animal models have examined skin, corneal, and cardiac repair after injury, with outcomes reported mainly in preclinical literature. Most of that evidence concerns the parent protein rather than preparations labelled TB-500, so extrapolation from animal findings to a specific commercial product remains uncertain. Whether the two behave identically in living systems has not been established in controlled human studies.
Regulatory status differs by country, but TB-500 is not an approved pharmaceutical in major jurisdictions. It is commonly sold as a research chemical for laboratory use, which places responsibility for identity and purity on the supplier and the laboratory. Published human data are limited, and most reports involve preclinical models or cell culture. Questions about whether the fragment mimics all actions of thymosin beta-4, and under which conditions, remain open. Independent verification of any material is therefore a practical requirement in research settings.
TB-500 is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Ac-LKKTETQ. It corresponds to a short N-terminal region of thymosin beta-4, a 43-amino-acid protein found in many cell types. The fragment contains an actin-binding motif, which is one reason it appears in laboratory studies of cell migration and cytoskeletal dynamics. TB-500 is not the full-length protein and is produced as a research chemical rather than an approved therapeutic agent. Its molecular weight is approximately 889 Da.
Two types of atomic bomb were developed by the United States during World War II: a uranium-based device (codenamed "Little Boy") whose fissile material was highly enriched uranium, and a plutonium-based device (see Trinity test and "Fat Man") whose plutonium was derived from uranium-238. Little Boy became the first nuclear weapon used in war when it was detonated over Hiroshima, Japan, on 6 August 1945. Exploding with a yield equivalent to 12,500 tonnes of TNT, the blast and thermal wave of the bomb destroyed nearly 50,000 buildings and killed about 75,000 people (see Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). In 1943 the Manhattan Project contracted two private companies, Union Carbide and Chevron, to quietly compile a survey of uranium deposits around the world. As the survey results came in, two geology professors studied the results and suggested general guidelines for new sources, including uranium associated with gold mines in the Rand area in South Africa. Initially it was believed that uranium was relatively rare, and that nuclear proliferation could be avoided by simply buying up all known uranium stocks, but within a decade large deposits of it were discovered in many places around the world.
=== Synthetic genomics === The formation of animals with a chemically manufactured (minimal) genome is another facet of synthetic biology that is highlighted by synthetic genomics. This area of synthetic biology has been made possible by ongoing advancements in DNA synthesis technology, which now makes it feasible to produce DNA molecules with thousands of base pairs at a reasonable cost. The goal is to combine these molecules into complete genomes and transplant them into living cells, replacing the host cell's genome and reprogramming its metabolism to perform different functions. Scientists have previously demonstrated the potential of this approach by creating infectious viruses by synthesising the genomes of multiple viruses. These significant advances in science and technology triggered the initial public concerns concerning the risks associated with this technology. A simple genome might also work as a "chassis genome" that could be enlarged quickly by gene inclusion created for particular tasks. Such "chassis creatures" would be more suited for the insertion of new functions than wild organisms since they would have fewer biological pathways that could potentially conflict with the new functionalities in addition to having specific insertion sites. Synthetic genomics strives to create creatures with novel "architectures," much like the bioengineering method. It adopts an integrative or holistic perspective of the organism.
Plant foods lose less during processing, as they contain pyridoxine, which is more stable than the pyridoxal or pyridoxamine forms found in animal-sourced foods. For example, milk can lose 30–70% of its vitamin B6 content when dried. The vitamin is found in the germ and aleurone layer of grains, so there is more in grains from which these layers have not been removed, for example more in whole wheat bread than in white wheat bread, and more in brown rice than in white rice. Most values shown in the table are rounded to nearest tenth of a milligram:
=== Biotransformation === n-Hexane is biotransformed to 2-hexanol and further to 2,5-hexanediol in the body. The conversion is catalyzed by the enzyme cytochrome P450 utilizing oxygen from air. 2,5-Hexanediol may be further oxidized to 2,5-hexanedione, which is neurotoxic and produces a polyneuropathy. In view of this behavior, replacement of n-hexane as a solvent has been discussed. n-Heptane is a possible alternative.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Use == Carrel and Dakin used a variety of apparatuses to infuse the solution continuously over the wounds. In modern typical usage, the solution is applied to the wound once daily for lightly to moderately exudative wounds, and twice daily for heavily exudative wounds or highly contaminated wounds. The healthy skin surrounding the wound should preferably be protected with a moisture barrier ointment (e.g., petroleum jelly) or skin sealant as needed to prevent irritation.
The McDLT was a hamburger sold by the fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's from 1984 to 1991. The product's marketing focused on keeping the hot and cold components separate until the customer assembled them, popularized by the slogan "Keep the hot side hot, and the cool side cool." McDonald's discontinued the sandwich in early 1991, citing complaints about its bulky polystyrene packaging, which caused logistical difficulties in restaurant kitchens and environmental concerns. Later accounts have described the McDLT as a failed McDonald's product.
Freeze-drying – the Andean civilizations learned to freeze dry potatoes (chuño) and other food items, so that the resultant dehydrated powder could be stored for years and then later transported across vast distances to feed countless peoples. The Spanish conquistadors used this Andean invented freeze-drying technique to transport several tonnes of dehydrated potatoes across the Atlantic Ocean back to Europe to feed Europeans.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Most listings describe it as a short acetylated peptide with the sequence Ac-LKKTETQ, presented as a region of thymosin beta-4. The label is a trade-style name rather than a standardized chemical name, so the exact content of a given vial depends on the supplier.
No. Thymosin beta-4 is a protein of 43 amino acids, while TB-500 is described as a short fragment of it. The two differ in size, structure, and the range of interactions each can support.
Naming for research peptides is not centrally coordinated, so vendors set their own labels and specifications. Differences in stated sequence, molecular weight, or purity documentation usually trace back to those independent labeling choices.
Sealed, dry and protected from light at reduced temperature is the usual laboratory convention. Allowing a cold vial to reach room temperature before opening limits condensation. Repeated opening exposes the powder to moisture and should be minimised.