What is SS-31 / Elamipretide?
SS-31 (Elamipretide) is a synthetic tetrapeptide that selectively targets the inner mitochondrial membrane by binding cardiolipin. It is studied in preclinical models for mitochondrial bioenergetics, oxidative-stress resilience, and ATP production.
SS-31 (also known as Elamipretide or MTP-131) is a synthetic tetrapeptide that selectively localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane by binding cardiolipin, a phospholipid unique to that membrane.
Research focus:
- Mitochondrial bioenergetics — protection of cardiolipin organization, support of electron-transport-chain function in stressed models.
- Oxidative-stress mitigation — reduction of reactive-oxygen-species generation in preclinical mitochondrial models.
- ATP production restoration in models of mitochondrial dysfunction.
What makes SS-31 distinctive in mitochondrial research is its structural specificity: it preferentially accumulates in mitochondria rather than other cellular compartments, enabling cleaner experimental attribution. See the Mitochondrial pathway for related research compounds.
// Related research pathways