N-Acetyl Selank is an acetylated form of the Selank peptide. The acetylation of the peptide into N-Acetyl Selank appears to improve its stability. Selank is a synthetic analogue of the natural tetrapeptide Tuftsin. Tuftsin is an immunomodulatory peptide, and N-Acetyl Selank appears to share many of its potential functions. In addition, N-acetyl Selank also appears to exhibit an impact on neurotransmitters, brain signaling, and neuroplasticity.

Specifications

Molecular Formula: C₃₃H₅₇N₁₁O₉

Molecular Weight: 751.9 g/mol

Sequence: AC-THR-LYS-PRO-ARG-GLY-PRO

N-Acetyl Selank Research

N-Acetyl Selank as a Nootropic
N-Acetyl Selank may have similar potential as Selank, but with the added possibility of increased chemical stability. In research studies with rat subjects, scientists suggest that the peptide may activate the serotonin metabolism in the tested animals’ brains.^[1] As a result, introducing Selank appeared to enhance memory storage processes compared to a placebo. Researchers have also clinically investigated the potential of Selank when introduced alongside a control compound to models of anxiety-phobic, hypochondriac, and somatoform disorders.^[2] Compared to the control compounds alone, the combination of Selank and the compound appeared to have increased the overall impact of the control compound.

N-Acetyl Selank as a Anxiolytic
The anxiolytic potential of Selank has been studied experimentally. In laboratory research, Selank was posited to increase the levels of calming neurotransmitters such as serotonin in the brains of rats.^[4] Serotonin is a primary target of most anxiolytics, and blocking its reuptake is a common mechanism of action for these compounds. Additional clinical research in models of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and neurasthenia compared the impact of Selank to that of a control compound in reducing symptoms.^[5] The researchers reported that the anxiolytic impact of both the compound and the peptide were similar, but Selank appeared to have additional antiasthenic and psychostimulant potential. They noted that “[those] with GAD and neurasthenia had the decreased level of tau(1/2) leu-enkephalin, which was correlated with disease duration, severity of symptoms related to anxiety and asthenia and autonomic disorders”. Selank has an inhibitory effect on enkephalin-degrading enzymes, which is likely the primary mechanism of its supposed anxiolytic activity