IN COSMETICS
Peptides in Cosmetics
COSMETIC PEPTIDES
OFFERED BY BACHEM
Peptides are involved in many physiological processes. Their broad
acceptance as natural molecules, relatively high stability and well-
defined actions have made them attractive for many skin-related
indications, most notably in anti-aging therapy. The aging popu-
lation and their prevalent wish to keep a young and healthy ap-
pearance have substantially driven the development of anti-aging
products. Many peptides marketed in cosmetic products are ad-
vertised to slow down or even reverse the aging process of the skin.
Common modes of action include stimulation of collagen synthesis
and inhibition of neurotransmitter release in order to reduce fine
lines and wrinkles caused by the repetitive muscular activities of
facial expression. We have considerable expertise and long-stand-
ing experience in peptide synthesis. With our capacity to upscale
the production of simple and modified peptides, we are the partner
of choice for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
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and extreme weather conditions. DNA. The premature skin-aging effects of
The continuous generation of reactive tobacco smoking are caused by induction of
oxygen species (ROS) during cellular me- collagenase activity and the reduced blood
tabolism and genetic predispositions are ow to the skin due to nicotine-induced
considered as intrinsic factors. vasoconstriction. Intrinsic factors such as
Extrinsic factors, most notably UV irradia- the generation of ROS contribute to the loss
tion and smoking, seem to be the major of extracellular matrix proteins, a decrease
contributors to premature skin aging. in cutaneous blood ow, and a loss of cells
Exposure of skin to UV-light increases ROS and cell function.
levels leading to changes in gene and pro-
tein structure and function and subsequent Peptides in Cosmetics
skin damage. Obvious effects of UV expo- Peptides have become very important
sure are the disruption of ongoing collagen ingredients in cosmetic products, especially
synthesis, induction of collagenase and in anti-aging preparations. According to
other extracellular matrix protein-degrad- their mode of action, they have been divided
ing enzymes, and the damage of cellular into three main groups: signal peptides,
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Peptides in Cosmetics
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neurotransmitter-affecting peptides, and ment of collagen synthesis was shown for
carrier peptides. The rst group mainly con- the tripeptide in complex with copper (see
sists of peptides which are able to increase below) it was not clear whether the activity
collagen synthesis, or alternatively, inhibit was intrinsic to GHK or whether it was re-
the breakdown of collagen by collage- sulting from the formation of active copper
nase. The second group includes peptides complexes due to the presence of copper
mimicking the effects of botulinum neuro- ions in the tissue culture medium.
toxins whereas the third group, the carrier As various matrix metalloproteinases are
peptides, acts by delivering trace elements involved in the degradation of collagen and
required for enzymatic processes. elastin, inhibition of these enzymes repre-
sents another strategy to prevent extracel-
Signal peptides lular matrix breakdown and its inuence
Aged skin is, amongst others, characterized on skin aging. Several peptides have been
by reduced levels of collagen and elastin. shown to act in this way: H-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Ala-
Increasing the number of broblasts or Asp-Asp-Ala-OH (YYRADDA) corresponds to
their collagen production and/or inhibiting a sequence in -1 type I procollagen which
further collagen hydrolysis are therefore is cleaved during the conversion of procol-
considered effective means to halt or slow lagen to collagen. The peptide was shown to
the aging process of the skin. Many of the attenuate collagen breakdown by inhibiting
peptides used in cosmetic preparations are procollagen-C proteinase, which cleaves the
compounds which act on broblasts. One C-propeptide from type I procollagen. An-
of the peptides described to act in this way other compound, the tripeptide H-Lys-Phe-
is H-Val- Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly-OH (VGVAPG) Lys-OH (Product: H-4210) linked to elaidic
(Product: H-2390 Chemotactic Domain acid, was demonstrated to activate TGF-, a
of Elastin). H-2390 is an elastin-derived factor showing the capacity to increase col-
peptide sequence repeated several times lagen, elastin and TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor
in tropoelastin. It was found to stimulate of metalloproteinase 1) expression, and to
the proliferation of human skin broblasts inhibit MMPs via its lipophilic moiety, elaidic
presumably via the elastin receptor. The acid. The sequence of H-Lys-Phe-Lys-OH
N-terminally palmitoylated peptide is corresponds to the consensus BFB (B: basic
marketed under the name of palmitoyl- amino acid, F: phenylalanine) shown to
oligopeptide and is supposed to penetrate activate LAP-TGF- in several in vitro and ex
more efciently through the epidermis than vivo studies. Elaidic acid was chosen due to
the parent compound. its inhibitory effect on gelatinase A (MMP-
H-Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser-OH (KTTKS) (Prod- 2) and B (MMP-9). Similar effects on TGF-
uct: H-1592 Procollagen Type I (212-216)) were shown for the palmitoylated peptide
is a subfragment of the carboxy-terminal Palmitoyl-Lys- Val-Lys-OH and Palmitoyl-
propeptide of type I collagen (residues 197- Val-Gly-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly-OH, an elastin-
241) and represents the minimal sequence derived peptide.
shown to stimulate extracellular matrix bio-
synthesis in broblasts. It augments type I Neurotransmitter-affecting peptides
and II collagen and bronectin production in Many of the peptides used in cosmetic prep-
a dose- and time-dependent manner with arations belong to the group of neurotrans-
no effect on total protein synthesis or on mitter-affecting peptides. These peptides act
the ratio of secreted proteins to cell-asso- in a similar way as botulinum toxin (Botox).
ciated proteins. The N-terminally palmi- By inhibiting signal transduction pathways
toylated peptide is marketed as a cosmetic at neuromuscular junctions they attenu-
ingredient under the designation palmitoyl ate the formation of wrinkles and ne lines
pentapeptide-3. which appear over time due to the repetitive
Another peptide shown to enhance col- contraction of the intrinsic muscles of facial
lagen production when added to cultured expression. Botulinum toxin, synthesized by
broblasts is H-Gly-His- Lys-OH, also the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, is the
known as GHK (Product: H-3510 Liver Cell most potent toxin known. It is a disulde-
Growth Factor). Since similar enhance- linked heterodimer consisting of a heavy and
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Peptides in Cosmetics
Neuron
Acetylcholine Receptor
Muscle Cell
a light chain. Upon binding to the peripheral complex, thereby modulating its formation.
neuronal presynaptic membrane mediated The resulting destabilization of the SNARE
by the heavy chain the toxin is internalized complex leads to an inhibition of neurotrans-
by receptor-mediated endocytosis. After mitter release and a subsequent attenuation
translocation from the endocytotic vesicle of muscle contraction.
into the cytoplasm, the light chain proteolyti-
cally cleaves either SNAP-25 or synapto- Another class of potentially interesting sub-
brevin depending on the serological subtype stances in the cosmetic industry includes
of the neurotoxin. Cleavage of these proteins peptides derived from snake venoms.
which are essential for docking to and fusion Waglerin-1 (H-Gly-Gly-Lys-Pro-Asp-Leu-
of acetylcholine vesicles with the inner side of Arg-Pro-Cys-His-Pro-Pro-Cys-His-Tyr-Ile-
the nerve terminal membrane results in the Pro-Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Arg-OH), for example,
inhibition of neurotransmitter release at neu- is a peptide isolated from the venom of
romuscular junctions. A well-known mimic the temple viper, Tropidolaemus wagleri. It
of botulinum toxin used in cosmetic prepara- consists of 22 amino acids and selectively
tions is Acetyl-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg- blocks the epsilon form of the muscular
NH2. It is a synthetic peptide corresponding nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (mnAChR)
to a sequence within the N-terminal region of thereby keeping the affected muscles in a
SNAP-25 (amino acids 12-17) and competes relaxed state. Another compound, the tri-
with SNAP-25 for a position in the SNARE peptide H--Ala-Pro-Dab-NHBzl mimicking
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the activity of waglerin-1 is now marketed late prooxidative metals. It also inactivates
in anti-wrinkle creams. reactive mono- and dialdehydes released
Many other peptides acting similarly by during the oxidative breakdown of unsatu-
affecting neurotransmitter release are rated lipids thereby protecting hydrophilic
promoted by the cosmetic industry. Com- and lipophilic biological molecules from
pounds include: a) a pentapeptide, which oxidative damage. However, in contrast
binds to the enkephalin receptors on the to carcinine it is sensitive to enzymatic
outside of neurons and thereby initiates a hydrolysis by carnosinase. A tetrapeptide of
cascade leading to a decrease in acetyl- unpublished sequence is a mimic of decorin
choline release and subsequent muscle which interacts with collagen and inu-
contraction; b) SNAP-8, an octapeptide ences collagen brillogenesis. As functional
related to and acting in the same way as decorin in the skin diminishes with age, the
Acetyl-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-NH2; and tetrapeptide is proposed to serve as a sub-
c) a hexapeptide that reduces the activa- stitute. By controlling collagen aggregation
tion of muscle-specic kinase (MuSK) by and homogenization of bril diameters and
blocking the agrin binding site. The peptide dimensions, it increases skin suppleness
was demonstrated to disrupt acetylcholine and thus improving its appearance. Rigin
receptor clustering, a requirement for ace- (Product: H-6920 H-Gly-Gln-Pro-Arg-OH
tylcholine to trigger the signal for muscle (GQPR)) corresponds to amino acid se-
contraction. quence 341- 344 of the human IgG H-chain
and has been shown to possess immuno-
Carrier peptides modulatory activity. By suppressing inam-
The tripeptide H-Gly-His-Lys-OH (GHK) mation the palmitoylated form is supposed
(Product: H-3510 Liver Cell Growth Factor) to accelerate tissue repair thereby leading
was originally identied in human plasma to increased skin rmness, smoothness,
and has a high afnity for copper2+ (Cu2+). and elasticity.
It acts as a signaling peptide and a carrier
molecule for copper which is a co-factor Conclusions
for several enzymes involved in collagen Synthetic peptides have become important
and elastin formation. The copper peptide for the cosmetic industry. Due to demo-
was shown to stimulate wound healing but graphic changes and the aging population
also to reduce ne lines and wrinkles and wishing to maintain a young lifestyle and
to improve elasticity and rmness of aged appearance, cosmetic industry research
skin. A wide variety of effects have been has focused on anti-aging skin therapy.
ascribed to GHK-Cu. The peptide exhibits Today, more than 25 peptides are used in
anti-inammatory actions by suppressing anti-aging skin care products and there are
the expression of pro-inammatory cyto- many more in development.
kines. It also chemoattracts capillary cells, Bachem is the market leader in the pro-
macrophages and mast cells, increases duction of synthetic peptides and has long
the synthesis of collagen and elastin, and standing partnerships with major rms in
stimulates the proliferation of broblasts the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry.
and keratinocytes. We are well-equipped for small to industrial
scale synthesis of peptides of any complex-
Other mechanisms ity. Bachem is therefore the ideal partner in
Many peptides used in cosmetic prepara- the development and production of cos-
tions act by other mechanisms to improve metic peptides.
skin appearance or delay skin aging. These
include ROS scavengers, collagen ber
organizing compounds, and anti-inam- For further details, please see literature
matory peptides: Peptides such as carno- references.
sine (Product: G-1250 ), anserine (Product:
G-4555 L-Anserine nitrate) and carcinine
(Product: G-4425) are histidine dipepep-
tides with antioxidant activity. Carnosine
has been shown to scavenge ROS and che-
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Colored transmission electron micro-
graph (TEM) of a section through healthy
collagen bres from human skin. Col-
lagen is the major structural protein in
the body, forming a large part of bones,
tendons and tissues. Magnication
unknown.
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Peptides in Cosmetics
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PRODUCT BROCHURES
AMYLOID ANTIMICROBIAL CALCITONIN CASPASE CELL- CLICK
PEPTIDES PEPTIDES GENE-RELATED SUBSTRATES PERMEABLE CHEMISTRY
PEPTIDES INHIBITORS PEPTIDES
H R H R
C C
G1 NH
PG COOH NH2 COO
C PG2
H R H R
C C
PG 1
NH CO NH COO PG2
T T
1
S
Americas
Bachem Americas, Inc.
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+1 310 539 4171
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