Vilon Technical Overview
Vilon is the research designation for the KE dipeptide, one of the shortest sequences in the Khavinson bioregulator series. At two residues it sits at the low end of the peptide size range, which is the property that makes it a frequent subject of molecular modeling work on how very short sequences associate with double-stranded DNA.
The compound is produced synthetically rather than extracted, so the material supplied for research is a defined single sequence rather than a tissue fraction. This distinction matters in laboratory work, because the historical thymus-derived preparations that preceded it were multi-component extracts.
Research interest in Vilon centers on epigenetic regulation, cultured immune-cell models, and cell-aging models. It is frequently studied alongside related short sequences such as Epitalon (AEDG) and KED for comparison across the same assay panels.
Compound Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| CAS Number |
45234-02-4 |
| PubChem CID |
7010502 |
| Chemical Name (IUPAC) |
(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2,6-diaminohexanoyl]amino]pentanedioic acid |
| Molecular Formula |
C₁₁H₂₁N₃O₅ |
| Molecular Weight |
275.30 g/mol |
| Monoisotopic / Exact Mass |
275.14812 Da |
| InChIKey |
UGTZHPSKYRIGRJ-YUMQZZPRSA-N |
| Amino Acid Sequence |
Lys-Glu (one-letter: KE) |
| Sequence Length |
2 residues |
| Source |
Synthetic |
| Synonyms |
Vilon, KE dipeptide, Lys-Glu, Lysylglutamic acid, N-L-Lysyl-L-glutamic acid, L-Lysyl-L-glutamic acid, H-Lys-Glu-OH, Normophthal, AB-0 peptide |
| Purity |
≥99% (HPLC) |
| Appearance |
Lyophilized white powder |
| Solubility |
Soluble in water |
| Vial Size |
20 mg |
| Storage |
-20°C, protect from light |
Storage and Handling
- Store the lyophilized compound at -20°C, protected from light.
- After reconstitution, store at 2°C to 8°C and use promptly.
- Maintain aseptic handling to preserve compound integrity.
- Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles of reconstituted material.
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
Vilon 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 Vilon and What Class of Compound Is It?
Vilon is a synthetic dipeptide with the sequence Lys-Glu (KE), classified as a Khavinson short peptide bioregulator. It carries CAS number 45234-02-4 and PubChem CID 7010502.
What Is the Molecular Weight of Vilon?
Vilon has a molecular weight of 275.30 g/mol and a molecular formula of C₁₁H₂₁N₃O₅. Its monoisotopic mass of 275.14812 Da is the value used for LC-MS confirmation.
How Is Vilon Supplied and Stored?
Vilon ships as a lyophilized white powder in a 20mg vial and should be held at -20°C protected from light. Reconstituted material is kept refrigerated and used promptly.
How Is the Purity of Vilon Verified?
Vilon is tested to ≥99% purity by HPLC, with identity confirmed by mass spectrometry against the compound’s monoisotopic mass. Third-party analytical documentation accompanies each lot.
What Research Areas Is Vilon Studied In?
Vilon is studied in laboratory models of gene expression regulation, peptide-DNA binding, cultured immune-cell signaling, and replicative cell aging. All of these are in vitro and animal-model research contexts.
Vilon Research
Molecular docking work has modeled how the Lys-Glu sequence associates with double-stranded DNA, reporting binding along the minor groove and a higher calculated interaction energy for the intact dipeptide than for free lysine and glutamic acid measured separately [1]. In the same work, Lys-Glu and its constituent amino acids produced opposite outcomes on proliferation in organotypic spleen culture, which is the observation most often used to argue that the peptide bond itself carries the activity [1].
Earlier cell-culture work examined Vilon in mouse thymocyte preparations, where it was reported to act comitogenically on thymocyte proliferation and to modulate sphingomyelinase activity in thymocyte membranes, with Epitalon and Cortagen tested in parallel as comparators [2]. In rat pineal organotypic culture, Vilon was associated with differentiation of low-differentiated CD5-positive lymphocytes toward T-helper, cytotoxic T, and B-cell phenotypes, while a tripeptide comparator affected proliferation rather than differentiation [3].
More recent work has moved into defined cell lines. In the THP-1 monocytic leukemia cell line, Vilon was one of five Khavinson peptides examined for changes in tyrosine phosphorylation of mitogen-activated cytoplasmic kinases and on TNF and IL-6 expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cultures [4]. A separate study using peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures under lipopolysaccharide stimulation reported reduced IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the presence of the KE dipeptide, alongside molecular docking that identified GCGC as a preferred double-stranded DNA sequence for KE binding [5].
Two further research threads round out the picture of how this compound is characterized in the laboratory.
Gene Expression in Cell Aging Models
In cultured mesenchymal stem cell aging models, the KE dipeptide was applied at nanomolar concentrations and associated with changes in IGF1, FOXO1, and NFκB gene expression, with the direction of the FOXO1 change depending on whether cells were aged by serial passage or in stationary culture [6].
Cellular Transport Modeling
Computational docking of 26 ultrashort peptides against the LAT1, LAT2, and PEPT1 transporters placed KE among the sequences with higher calculated binding scores than non-active di- and tri-peptide controls, which the authors offer as one hypothesis for how sequences of this size reach intracellular targets [7].
| Research Area |
In Vitro Application |
| Peptide-DNA interaction |
Molecular docking and binding-energy modeling against double-stranded DNA sequences |
| Immune-cell signaling |
Cytokine expression assays in THP-1 and peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures |
| Cell aging |
Gene and protein expression panels in serially passaged mesenchymal stem cell cultures |
| Organotypic culture |
Differentiation and proliferation readouts in spleen, thymus, and pineal explant models |
| Peptide transport |
Computational ligand docking against LAT and PEPT family transporters |
References
- Khavinson VK, Tarnovskaya SI, Lin’kova NS, et al. (2015). Role of peptide bond in the realization of biological activity of short peptides. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 158(4), 551-554. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10517-015-2805-0
- Khavinson VK, Rybakina EG, Malinin VV, et al. (2002). Effects of short peptides on thymocyte blast transformation and signal transduction along the sphingomyelin pathway. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 133(5), 497-499. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1019830308824
- Linkova NS, Khavinson VK, Chalisova NI, et al. (2011). Peptidegic stimulation of differentiation of pineal immune cells. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 152(1), 124-127. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10517-011-1470-1
- Avolio F, Martinotti S, Khavinson VK, et al. (2022). Peptides Regulating Proliferative Activity and Inflammatory Pathways in the Monocyte/Macrophage THP-1 Cell Line. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(7), 3607. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8999041/
- Linkova N, Khavinson V, Diatlova A, et al. (2023). The Influence of KE and EW Dipeptides in the Composition of the Thymalin Drug on Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis Involved in the Pathogenesis of COVID-19. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(17), 13377. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10488166/
- Ashapkin V, Khavinson V, Shilovsky G, et al. (2020). Gene expression in human mesenchymal stem cell aging cultures: modulation by short peptides. Molecular Biology Reports, 47(6), 4323-4329. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11033-020-05506-3
- Khavinson VK, Linkova NS, Rudskoy AI, Petukhov MG (2023). Feasibility of Transport of 26 Biologically Active Ultrashort Peptides via LAT and PEPT Family Transporters. Biomolecules, 13(3), 552. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10046148/
Certificate of Analysis (COA) for Every Batch
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document that verifies a compound’s identity, purity, and batch quality through independent laboratory testing. Every compound from BioLongevity Labs ships with a COA tied to its specific batch, so researchers can confirm exactly what they received before it enters a protocol.
Each COA reports results from third-party laboratory analysis, including:
- Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) for purity, typically confirmed at 99% or higher
- Mass identification for molecular confirmation and content quantitation
- Endotoxin quantitation by Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay where applicable
- Visual and physical characterization of the finished material
How to verify a COA independently
Every certificate can be checked against the issuing laboratory’s own records, not just the copy hosted here. Verification does not depend on BioLongevity Labs.
- MDx BioAnalytical Laboratory certificates carry a QC tracking number and a search code. Newer certificates also carry a QR code. Scan the code, or enter the search code at mdxbiolabs.com, to pull the official record.
- BioRegen reports of analysis carry a Report ID and a Validation Key. Scan the QR code on the certificate to open the official record, or reference both identifiers when contacting the laboratory at the address printed on the report.
- SafeCert Labs certificates, which appear on a number of earlier batches, carry a COA number and the signature of the reporting chemist. Reference that number when requesting confirmation from the laboratory directly.
Batches are frequently tested by both laboratories independently. When two certificates exist for the same lot, each one resolves at its own issuing laboratory, which lets a researcher confirm the same material twice through two unrelated sources.
COAs are sourced from independent certified labs rather than in-house testing alone, giving researchers a verifiable record of molecular integrity for each batch. All compounds are supplied for research use only.
Review the COAs for this batch below, or browse the full COA library.
Vilon (261413)
Endotoxin Vilon
Vilon (11352)
Vilon (251536)
Vilon (251536E)
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