KPV Technical Overview
KPV is the smallest sequence fragment retained from the thirteen-residue alpha-MSH molecule, consisting of lysine, proline, and valine joined in that order. Because the tripeptide lacks the core His-Phe-Arg-Trp motif required for binding at known melanocortin receptors, it is studied as a structurally distinct entity rather than as a receptor agonist [3].
Its small size and net positive charge place it in a class of short cationic peptides that are readily soluble in aqueous buffer and straightforward to characterize by LC-MS. Laboratories use it as a reference tripeptide in transporter kinetics work and in cell-based signaling assays.
KPV is also indexed under the research designations alpha-MSH(11-13) and ACTH(11-13), which reflect its position within the parent sequence rather than a separate chemical identity.
Compound Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| CAS Number |
67727-97-3 |
| PubChem CID |
125672 |
| Molecular Formula |
C₁₆H₃₀N₄O₄ |
| Molecular Weight |
342.43 g/mol |
| Monoisotopic / Exact Mass |
342.2267 Da |
| Amino Acid Sequence |
Lys-Pro-Val (one-letter: KPV) |
| Sequence Length |
3 residues |
| Chemical Name (IUPAC) |
(2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-[(2S)-2,6-diaminohexanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino]-3-methylbutanoic acid |
| InChIKey |
YSPZCHGIWAQVKQ-AVGNSLFASA-N |
| ChEBI ID |
CHEBI:160254 |
| Synonyms |
alpha-MSH(11-13), ACTH(11-13), MSH(11-13), Lys-Pro-Val, L-Lysyl-L-prolyl-L-valine |
| Source |
Synthetic (solid-phase peptide synthesis) |
| Purity |
≥99% (HPLC) |
| Appearance |
Lyophilized white powder |
| Solubility |
Soluble in water and aqueous buffer |
| Storage |
-20°C, protect from light |
Storage and Handling
- Store the lyophilized compound at -20°C, sealed and protected from light.
- After reconstitution, store at 2°C to 8°C and use promptly; for longer intervals, aliquot and hold at -20°C to limit freeze-thaw cycles.
- Allow the vial to reach room temperature before opening to prevent condensation on the lyophilized cake.
- Maintain aseptic handling to preserve compound integrity.
Lyophilized Format
This compound ships in lyophilized (freeze-dried) form. Freeze-drying supports long-term storage stability and preserves compound integrity. No fillers are added.
Research Use Disclaimer
KPV is supplied for research use only. It is not a drug, food, cosmetic, or dietary supplement and has not been evaluated by the FDA. By purchasing, the buyer confirms the compound will be used solely for in vitro research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is KPV Peptide?
KPV is a synthetic tripeptide with the sequence Lys-Pro-Val, corresponding to residues 11 through 13 of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It is supplied as a research compound for in vitro laboratory work.
What Is the Molecular Weight of KPV?
KPV has a molecular weight of 342.43 g/mol and a monoisotopic mass of 342.2267 Da, with the molecular formula C₁₆H₃₀N₄O₄. Its CAS number is 67727-97-3 and its PubChem CID is 125672.
How Should KPV Be Stored?
KPV should be stored as a lyophilized powder at -20°C, sealed and protected from light. Once reconstituted, it is held at 2°C to 8°C for short intervals or aliquoted and frozen to limit freeze-thaw cycles.
How Is KPV Purity Verified?
KPV supplied by BioLongevity Labs is tested by high-performance liquid chromatography to a specification of ≥99% purity, with identity confirmed by mass spectrometry against the expected mass of 342.2267 Da.
What Research Areas Is KPV Studied In?
KPV is used in laboratory research on NF-κB signaling in cultured epithelial cell lines, on PepT1 di/tripeptide transporter uptake kinetics, and on melanocortin-receptor-independent peptide activity.
KPV Research Areas
Work published in Gastroenterology characterized KPV as a substrate of PepT1, the di/tripeptide transporter, and reported uptake into cultured Caco2-BBE and HT29-Cl.19A epithelial lines and Jurkat T cells. In those cell models, nanomolar concentrations of the tripeptide were associated with reduced NF-κB reporter activity and reduced MAP kinase pathway signaling, with the observed activity tracking PepT1 expression [1]. This transporter-dependent uptake route is a recurring theme in the KPV literature and distinguishes it from receptor-mediated peptide entry.
A separate line of work in the 16HBE14o- bronchial epithelial line examined the intracellular step directly. KPV was observed to enter the nucleus, stabilize IκBα, and suppress nuclear translocation of YFP-tagged p65RelA, with competition assays pointing to an interaction at the importin-α3 binding site on p65RelA [2]. That places the observed signaling change downstream of transporter uptake rather than at a cell-surface receptor.
The melanocortin-receptor-independent framing is well established in review literature. KPV lacks the entire sequence motif required for binding to any of the known melanocortin receptors, yet retains the signaling profile associated with the parent alpha-MSH sequence in research models [3]. Consistent with that, activity has been reported in rodent research models carrying a nonfunctional melanocortin-1 receptor [4], and the tripeptide is grouped with the broader alpha-MSH-related peptide class in reviews of the field [5].
Cell-signaling work in keratinocyte models adds a second dimension. In HaCaT and primary keratinocyte cultures, KPV was not associated with cyclic AMP elevation but was associated with rapid intracellular calcium transients across a wide concentration range, alongside alpha-MSH and ACTH peptides [6].
Because both the parent hormone and KPV are studied in the same signaling space, laboratories working with melanotan-1 and related melanocortin analogs often run KPV as a receptor-independent comparator.
PepT1 Expression and Structural Stability
Transporter-focused work using PepT1-overexpressing and PepT1-deleted rodent models reported that the tripeptide’s observed activity was absent when the transporter was deleted, which supports transporter dependence as the entry route [7]. Separately, chemistry work on glycoalkylated KPV analogs found the modified peptides showed stability toward proteolytic enzymes, giving synthetic chemists a handle for structure-activity studies [8].
| Research Area |
In Vitro Application |
| NF-κB signaling |
Reporter-gene and IκBα stabilization assays in cultured epithelial cell lines |
| Peptide transporter kinetics |
PepT1 uptake and competition studies using radiolabeled substrates |
| Melanocortin receptor pharmacology |
Receptor-independent comparator alongside alpha-MSH and MC3R agonists |
| Nuclear import biology |
p65RelA translocation and importin-α interaction assays |
| Peptide chemistry |
Structure-activity and proteolytic stability studies on modified analogs |
| Analytical method development |
LC-MS and HPLC reference standard for short cationic tripeptides |
References
- Dalmasso G, Charrier-Hisamuddin L, Nguyen HTT, Yan Y, Sitaraman S, Merlin D. (2007). PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2431115/
- Land SC. (2012). Inhibition of cellular and systemic inflammation cues in human bronchial epithelial cells by melanocortin-related peptides: mechanism of KPV action and a role for MC3R agonists. International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3403564/
- Brzoska T, Böhm M, Lügering A, Loser K, Luger TA. (2010). Terminal signal: anti-inflammatory effects of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone related peptides beyond the pharmacophore. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6354-3_8
- Kannengiesser K, Maaser C, Heidemann J, Luegering A, Ross M, Brzoska T, Bohm M, Luger TA, Domschke W, Kucharzik T. (2008). Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1002/ibd.20334
- Luger TA, Brzoska T. (2007). alpha-MSH related peptides: a new class of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating drugs. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2095288/
- Elliott RJ, Szabo M, Wagner MJ, Kemp EH, MacNeil S, Haycock JW. (2004). alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone, MSH 11-13 KPV and adrenocorticotropic hormone signalling in human keratinocyte cells. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0022-202X.2004.22404.x
- Viennois E, Ingersoll SA, Ayyadurai S, Zhao Y, Wang L, Zhang M, Han MK, Garg P, Xiao B, Merlin D. (2016). Critical role of PepT1 in promoting colitis-associated cancer and therapeutic benefits of the anti-inflammatory PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV in a murine model. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4957955/
- Songok AC, Panta P, Doerrler WT, Macnaughtan MA, Taylor CM. (2018). Structural modification of the tripeptide KPV by reductive “glycoalkylation” of the lysine residue. PLoS ONE. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6023233/
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KPV (260399)
KPV (11442)
KPV (11217)
KPV (251443)
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