SS-31 (Elamipretide) at a glance
A fast read for beginners, with evidence strength, route context, safety depth, and community activity surfaced before the deeper sections.
SS-31 (Szeto-Schiller peptide 31, also known as Elamipretide) is a synthetic aromatic-cationic tetrapeptide that selectively concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Developed by Hazel Szeto and Peter Schiller, it interacts with cardiolipin - a unique phospholipid critical for mitochondrial membrane structure and the electron transport chain.
By stabilizing cardiolipin and the proteins associated with it (including cytochrome c and the electron transport chain complexes), SS-31 reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, restores ATP synthesis efficiency, and prevents cytochrome c from functioning as a peroxidase - a damaging role it assumes when cardiolipin is oxidized.
SS-31 has produced striking results across a broad range of disease models including heart failure, renal disease, neurodegenerative conditions, and aging. It is among the very few compounds demonstrated to meaningfully improve mitochondrial function in aged tissue and is in clinical trials for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
Key Benefits
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