A peptide research glossary

Peptide research has a vocabulary of its own, and the same terms recur across product listings, protocols, and certificates. This short glossary defines the words most often encountered when working with research peptides at the bench.

Building-block terms

A peptide is a short chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds; proteins are simply longer chains. Each amino acid in the chain is a residue, and the specific order of residues is the sequence, which determines how the molecule behaves in research models.

Handling and formulation

Lyophilised means freeze-dried: most research peptides ship as a stable dry powder. Reconstitution is the act of dissolving that powder into liquid, usually bacteriostatic water — sterile water containing a preservative that limits microbial growth. An aliquot is a measured portion divided off from a larger solution for separate use.

Quality and documentation

A certificate of analysis, or COA, is the document reporting a batch's identity and purity; every Vela batch ships with one. Purity is commonly assessed by HPLC — high-performance liquid chromatography — while identity is confirmed by mass spectrometry, which measures molecular weight.

Classification and study terms

An analogue is a peptide whose sequence has been modified from a reference molecule to change its properties. An agonist is a compound that activates a receptor. Half-life describes how long a compound persists before half has degraded. In vitro studies take place in cells or test systems, while in vivo studies use living research models.