Degradation
Also known as: peptide degradation · breakdown · oxidation
The breakdown of a peptide into inactive fragments — by hydrolysis, oxidation or enzymes — reducing purity and potency.
Degradation is any process that breaks a peptide down or alters it so it no longer works as intended. Common routes are hydrolysis of the peptide bond, oxidation of residues such as methionine, and enzymatic cleavage.
Degradation lowers both purity and potency, which is why it is controlled through cold storage, dry lyophilised form and short in-solution windows — and why a fresh Certificate of Analysis reflects a batch at its best.
RELATED TERMS
Stability
How well a peptide resists degradation over time under given conditions — the property that dictates storage and handling.
Hydrolysis
The water-driven breaking of a peptide bond — the main way peptides degrade in solution, and why they are supplied dry.
Purity
The percentage of a sample that is the intended peptide, as measured by HPLC — the headline quality figure.
Half-Life
The time for a compound’s concentration to fall by half — a key determinant of dosing frequency in research.
Cold Chain
Keeping temperature-sensitive peptides consistently cool from dispatch to storage to preserve integrity.
Educational content, not medical advice. All products supplied for research purposes only — not for human consumption.