Neuropeptide - Amino Polypetide Comparison
To determine why neuropeptide products are different from other effective antiaging skin care treatments on
market, we first have to determine difference between neuropeptide and amino polypetide ingredients.
Neuro- and pentapaptides are both peptides but “neuro” refers to very specific functions of this peptide group, while “penta” merely refers to size of certain peptide molecules.
“Peptide” seems to be “IT” word in antiaging skin creams today. We have copper peptides, amino-polypeptides, hexapeptides, pentapeptides and now neuropeptides. And then there are all variants like acetyl hexapeptide-3 and palmitoyl pentapeptide (a.k.a palmitoyl oligopeptide).
The list is virtually endless and very confusing to non-biochemist. Let me try to help you wade through some of jargon.
A peptide is simply a small protein which is made up of amino acids. Peptides are active at very small doses, are highly specific and have a very good safety profile when used physiologically – that is, to assist or change an organism’s physical processes. If we take apart some of peptide labels above, we can begin to discriminate among them.
The use of “amino” in amino- polypeptide is a bit redundant because all peptides are made of amino acids. The “poly” just means this is a peptide of several amino acids.
A “hexapeptide” is a chain of exactly six (hexa) amino acids; a pentatpeptide
is a chain of five (penta). One chemist working with a palmitoylated five-amino-acid-chain peptide named it “palmitoyl pentapeptide”, while another chemist studying same molecule called it “palmitoyl oligopeptide”. This is a legitimate, though less specific, label since “oligo” means “few”. And so confusion grows.
The term “neuropeptide” is a bit more helpful in that it actually describes function of peptide.
Neuropeptides act as neuromodulators, neurotransmitters, neurohormones, and hormones. Research into neuropeptides has exploded in recent years to extent that there is a scientific journal named Neuropeptides whose aim is rapid publication of original research and review articles, dealing with structure, distribution, actions and functions of peptides in central and peripheral nervous systems.
What is exciting about neuropeptides is their power and reach.
Other neurotransmitters transmit central nervous system signals in one direction and along a path from A to B.
Neuropeptides transmit omnidirectionally outward and can even direct transmissions in reverse. As neuromodulators, they can activate and deactivate other neurotransmitters. The scientific mind boggles at potential.
The names of some of neuropeptides may be familiar and help you to understand potential of unlocking secrets of these peptide molecules. Neuropeptides are grouped into families based on similarities in their amino acid sequences.
There are Tachykinins; Insulins; Somatostatins; Gastrins such as cholecystokinin used to diagnose gallbladder and pancreatic problems; and Opioids such as enkephalins – body’s own opiates or painkillers.
As to how neuropeptides might affect skin, an abstract in July/August 2003 Brazilian Annals of Dermatology states: “There is increasing evidence that cutaneous nerve fibers play a modulatory role in a variety of acute and chronic skin processes.
