PeptideFederation

Mitochondrial-derived peptide

Humanin

Also known as HN, HNG (S14G analog)

Animal studies

Summary

Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide discovered in 2001 in a screen for factors that protect neurons from Alzheimer’s-related cell death. It was the first mitochondrial-derived peptide identified. Circulating levels decline with age, and in animals it protects heart, brain and pancreatic cells from several kinds of stress.

Structure

  1. M1
  2. A2
  3. P3
  4. R4
  5. G5
  6. F6
  7. S7
  8. C8
  9. L9
  10. L10
  11. L11
  12. L12
  13. T13
  14. S14
  15. E15
  16. I16
  17. D17
  18. L18
  19. P19
  20. V20
  21. K21
  22. R22
  23. R23
  24. A24

HydrophobicGly / ProPolarBasic (+)Acidic (−)

Encoded within the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. HNG, with Gly replacing Ser14, is about 1,000 times more potent in cell assays.

How it works

Humanin acts both inside cells, where it binds pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax, and outside them, through a receptor complex involving CNTFR, WSX-1 and gp130, and through FPRL1.

Research use cases

Areas where Humanin has been studied. Inclusion here does not mean it works for that purpose.

  • Neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s disease models
  • Cardioprotection in ischaemia–reperfusion
  • Insulin sensitivity
  • Ageing biology

What the research found

Discovery

Hashimoto and colleagues identified humanin by screening a cDNA library from an Alzheimer’s patient’s brain for sequences that rescued neurons from death caused by familial Alzheimer’s mutations and amyloid-beta.1

Safety and open questions

No controlled human data.

Regulatory status

Not approved. Research compound.

Status was accurate when this page was last reviewed on October 26, 2026. Regulations change; check with the relevant authority before relying on it.

Humanin: common questions

Why is humanin paired with MOTS-c?

Both are mitochondrial-derived peptides with overlapping metabolic and protective effects in animals. There is no published research on the combination.

Is Humanin approved for human use?

Not approved. Research compound.

References

  1. Hashimoto Y, Niikura T, Tajima H, et al. (2001). A rescue factor abolishing neuronal cell death by a wide spectrum of familial Alzheimer’s disease genes and Abeta. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Links open a PubMed search for the exact title, or the original source where one is given.