Overview

INCI name: Acetyl Glutamyl Heptapeptide-1
Contents: 0.05 % SNAP-8 Powder

The synthesis of SNAP-8 involves a final freeze-drying step. Freeze-dried products are commonly obtained as a polymorphous crystalline powder, which means that locally some aggregates and differences in crystal size may appear. This polymorphism is not associated to chemical differences and extensive work performed by the analytical department has ensured the homogeneity of the product. SNAP-8 is presented either as SNAP-8 Powder, an octapeptide in powder form which can be easily dissolved in water, or as SNAP-8 Solution, an aqueous solution containing 0.5 g/L of the powder version. It can be incorporated at the final stage of the manufacturing product, provided the temperature is below 40 degrees Celsius. Taking into consideration the concentration of peptide in SNAP-8 Solution, it is recommended that 3 to 10% of the solution is present in the final formulation in order to obtain significant anti-wrinkle activity.

Storage & Shelf Life

SNAP-8 Powder and SNAP-8 Solution must be kept in a cool, dark and clean place to ensure a shelf life of at least twelve months. For long term storage it is recommended to store both forms at 4 ºC which extends shelf life to at least eighteen months. In rare cases, refrigerated storage of SNAP-8 Solution can cause precipitation of the preservative. This does not affect the integrity of the product.

ALL ARTICLES AND PRODUCT INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

The products offered on this website are furnished for in-vitro studies only. In-vitro studies (Latin: in glass) are performed outside of the body.  These products are not medicines or drugs and have not been approved by the FDA to prevent, treat or cure any medical condition, ailment or disease.  Bodily introduction of any kind into humans or animals is strictly forbidden by law.

The Benefits of SNAP-8

– Reduces the depth of wrinkles on the face caused by the contraction of muscles of facial expression, especially in the forehead and around the eyes.

– A safer, cheaper, and milder alternative to Botulinum Toxin, topically targeting the same wrinkle-formation mechanism in a very different way.

– Has been incorporated in cosmetic formulations such as emulsions, gels, sera, etc., where removal of the deep lines or wrinkles in the forehead or around the eyes area is desired.

200mg Cosmetic Peptide

Sequence: Acetyl-Glu-Glu-Met-Gln-Arg-Arg-Ala-Asp-NH2
Molecular formula: C41H70N16O16S
Molecular weight: 1075.16

SNAP-8 is a mimic of the N-terminal end of SNAP-25 which competes with SNAP-25 for a position in the SNARE complex, thereby modulating its formation. If the SNARE complex is slightly destabilized, the vesicle can not release neurotransmitters efficiently and therefore muscle contraction is attenuated, preventing the formation of lines and wrinkles

How SNAP-8 Works

SNAP-8 — acetyl glutamyl heptapeptide-1, an eight-residue acetylated peptide — is modeled on the N-terminal region of SNAP-25, one of the three proteins that assemble into the SNARE complex. The SNARE complex is the machinery that pulls neurotransmitter-filled vesicles into the nerve-cell membrane so their cargo can be released at the neuromuscular junction, the point where a nerve signals a facial muscle to contract. By mimicking SNAP-25, SNAP-8 competes for a place in that complex; when it occupies a position the complex is slightly destabilized, vesicle fusion becomes less efficient, and the contraction signal is attenuated. Less contraction of the muscles of facial expression means less repeated folding of the overlying skin — the rationale for its use in topical anti-wrinkle formulations [1].

Relationship to Argireline

SNAP-8 is the elongated, higher-molecular-weight cousin of Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-3), the first widely used topical SNARE-targeting cosmetic peptide. Argireline is a six-residue fragment; SNAP-8 extends the motif to eight residues to bind SNAP-25’s position in the complex more tightly. Both are used topically in serums, gels, and emulsions, and both are positioned as milder, non-injectable alternatives to botulinum toxin — which works by cleaving SNAP-25 outright rather than competing for a slot in the complex. Researchers comparing the two usually track wrinkle-depth reduction over several weeks of twice-daily application, the endpoint reported in the ingredient manufacturers’ cosmetic-efficacy testing.

Formulation and Handling Notes

SNAP-8 is supplied as a freeze-dried powder that dissolves readily in water, or as a 0.5 g/L aqueous solution. It is heat-sensitive, so it is added at the end of manufacturing below 40 °C, and the powder form is preferred where long-term stability matters. Because the peptide acts at the cell surface rather than penetrating deeply, formulations are designed for topical leave-on use. As with all materials on this site, it is supplied for cosmetic and analytical research only.

References

[1] Südhof TC, Rizo J. Synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2011.

Related Product: SNAP-8 — for laboratory research use only.

Storage: For the refrigeration question, see Does SNAP-8 need to be refrigerated? and the peptide storage guide.