Small Molecules & Peptides

Small molecules are organic chemical compounds that have biological activity. They may be used in biological and biomedical research to regulate the activity of proteins such as enzymes, ion channels, receptors and transporters. Many commonly prescribed drugs are small molecules, as they are metabolically stable and can be orally active. Small molecules can be designed to be selective, potent, water-soluble and cell permeable, so have many advantages as research tools.

Peptides are chains of amino acids linked by amide bonds. Bioactive peptides are found in all living organisms; examples include ghrelin, orexin, vasopressin and neuropeptide S. Endogenous peptides generally consist of the 20 naturally occurring L-amino acids. However, peptides as research tools can also incorporate D-amino acids or unnatural amino acids and can have further chemical modifications.

Small molecules and peptides are key tools in biological research as they can be used to modulate or degrade a target of interest to investigate the downstream consequences. Bioactive small molecules and peptides can be categorized according by pharmacological action, e.g. agonists, partial agonists, antagonists, activators, inhibitors and degraders. Our wide range of small molecules includes gold standard pharmacology tools, as well as fluorescent dyes and probes, molecular biology tools including viral transduction enhancers and glycan detection reagents, and biochemicals, such as buffers and chelators.

What are small molecules?

In biological and biomedical research, a small molecule refers to an organic compound that modulates biological activity. Small molecules are generally chemically synthesized, however some small molecules are derived from natural resources, e.g. toxins. As research materials small molecules have advantages; they can be designed to act selectively at a target of interest, and to be potent, water soluble or cell permeable. Many commonly used medicines are small molecules.

Small molecules may also be called biochemicals, chemical probes, and compounds.

What are peptides?

Peptides are short sequences of amino acids linked by amide bonds. Numerous endogenous peptides exist in all living organisms where they play a variety of roles, including within the cardiovascular, endocrine and metabolic systems. Peptides may be chemically synthesized, extracted from natural resources or manufactured recombinantly.

Are small molecules drugs?

Yes, many drugs, both clinically prescribed and illicit drugs, are small molecules. The range of small molecules offered by Tocris, a Bio-Techne brand, includes a large range of compounds that are currently approved for use as medicines. Our catalog also contains compounds that may have failed during clinical trial but are still useful research tools, and compounds that were developed to be tools for in vitro and in vivo research.

Please note that all Bio-Techne products are strictly for use in biomedical research only. They are not intended for human or veterinary use.