免疫组织 raises a handful of sensible questions. This page answers them in order, starting with the fundamentals and moving to applications.
This page was last updated on 2025-12-15 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
Thymosin alpha-1 is a synthetic peptide of 28 amino acid residues that corresponds to a naturally occurring fragment first isolated from thymus tissue. Its chain is acetylated at the amino terminus, a modification that shields the peptide from rapid cleavage by aminopeptidases. The molecule carries a net negative charge at physiological pH and dissolves freely in water. Researchers classify it as an immune-modulating agent rather than a classical hormone, because it acts on several cell types of both the innate and the adaptive immune system.
The peptide was identified during work in the 1970s on thymosin fraction 5, a partially purified extract of calf thymus. Investigators separated that mixture and characterized individual components, one of which they named thymosin alpha-1. The same compound later received the international nonproprietary name thymalfasin. Commercial material is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis rather than by extraction, so synthetic and natural forms share an identical sequence. Naming conventions vary across the literature, and readers should distinguish the alpha-1 peptide from other thymosins that have unrelated sequences and functions.
Thymosin beta-4 is a separate 43-residue peptide that binds actin and participates in cell migration; it shares no sequence similarity with thymosin alpha-1 despite the common family name. Other preparative materials, such as thymosin fraction 5 and thymopoietin, contain distinct mixtures or peptides. The shared thymosin label reflects the tissue of origin used in early purification, not a common structural core. Treating these molecules as interchangeable is a frequent source of confusion in laboratory reports and in popular summaries alike.
Within the immune system, the peptide acts on several cell types rather than a single target. Reported activities include promotion of T-cell maturation, enhancement of natural killer cell activity, and modulation of cytokine production by dendritic cells and macrophages. Some of these effects appear to operate through toll-like receptor signaling, though the precise receptor-level mechanism remains debated. Whether the observed immune changes translate into clinical benefit is a separate question and depends on the indication studied.
The peptide was described in the 1970s as a component of thymic extracts, and early research focused on restoring immune function in immunodeficiency states. A synthetic version entered clinical development in the 1980s and is approved as a drug in several countries for conditions such as chronic hepatitis B and certain immunodeficiencies. Approval status varies widely by jurisdiction, and in the United States it is not an approved therapeutic. Regulatory and clinical positions differ, so statements about efficacy should be tied to specific indications and studies.
Thymosin alpha-1 is a synthetic peptide of 28 amino acids, corresponding to the N-terminal fragment of prothymosin alpha. Its sequence begins with acetylation at the N-terminus, a modification that affects stability and receptor interaction. The peptide is acidic, with a calculated isoelectric point near 4.2, and carries no disulfide bonds, so its secondary structure is largely flexible in solution. Molecular mass is approximately 3108 daltons. The native form was first isolated from bovine thymus tissue, while pharmaceutical material is produced by solid-phase peptide synthesis.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular mass | About 3.1 kDa | 28 residues, N-terminally acetylated |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Lyophilized solid |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water | Also soluble in aqueous buffers |
| Storage temperature | 2 to 8 °C | Protect from light and moisture |
| Common synonyms | Thymalfasin; Tα1 | Same peptide sequence |
Immunological studies connect the peptide to multiple parts of the immune response. It has been reported to engage Toll-like receptor signaling, to promote dendritic cell maturation, and to influence the balance of T helper cell subsets. Changes in natural killer cell activity and in cytokine release appear in cell culture and animal models. These observations describe broad immunomodulatory behavior rather than a single defined receptor target, and the primary molecular interaction has not been settled.
Thymosin alpha-1 is a synthetic 28-amino-acid peptide whose sequence was first identified in extracts of bovine thymus tissue during the 1970s. The chain carries an acetyl group on its N-terminal serine. Its acidic residue content is high, which produces strong water solubility and an isoelectric point well below neutrality. Material supplied for laboratory and clinical use is manufactured by solid-phase peptide synthesis rather than purified from animal tissue. Different salt forms, such as the acetate, alter the counter-ion content without changing the peptide backbone.
Whether the free 28-residue peptide circulates in human tissue remains debated. The best-documented human source is prothymosin alpha, a larger acidic protein that carries the sequence at its N-terminus. Reports of measurable peptide levels in serum and lymphoid tissue exist, yet some of that signal may come from cross-reacting fragments or from the parent protein. Most reviews therefore treat prothymosin alpha as the established human molecule and describe independent circulation of the small peptide as an unresolved question.
市售的胸腺素α1通常以冻干粉形式提供，溶解后用于注射。其氨基酸组成包括多个酸性残基，因此在中性pH下带负电荷。该肽可溶于水和生理盐水，但在有机溶剂中溶解度有限。储存条件通常为冻干状态下负20摄氏度，溶解后需冷藏并避免反复冻融。常见的同义词包括胸腺肽α1、thymalfasin和Tα1。
胸腺素α1（thymosin alpha 1，Tα1）是一种由28个氨基酸组成的酸性肽，N端被乙酰化，分子量约为3108道尔顿。该肽最早从牛胸腺组织提取物中分离，属于胸腺素组分5的一个成分。其序列在不同哺乳动物中高度保守，提示其具有基本的生物学功能。名称中的“α1”指其在电泳中的迁移位置，并非表示亚型编号。它既存在于胸腺，也存在于脾脏和淋巴结等免疫组织。
While many other authors had published works of fantasy before Tolkien, the great success of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings led directly to a popular resurgence and the shaping of the modern fantasy genre. This has caused Tolkien to be popularly identified as the "father" of modern fantasy literature—or, more precisely, of high fantasy, as in the work of authors such as Ursula Le Guin and her Earthsea series. In 2008 The Times ranked him sixth on a list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945", and in 2024, Forbes ranked him #60 on a list of 101 greatest authors of all time. His influence has extended to music, including the Danish group the Tolkien Ensemble's setting of all the poetry in The Lord of the Rings to their vocal music; and to a broad range of games set in Middle-earth. Among literary allusions to Tolkien, he appears as the elderly "Professor J. B. Timbermill" in all five novels in J. I. M. Stewart's series A Staircase in Surrey. The scholar Tom Shippey describes Tolkien as the "author of the [20th] century", and states that "I do not think any modern writer of epic fantasy has managed to escape the mark of Tolkien, no matter how hard many of them have tried". John Clute, writing in The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, similarly credits Tolkien with being "the twentieth-century's single most important author of fantasy". His work has had a massive impact on Western pop culture, and remains extremely influential.
Probable UIP pattern: Predominantly subpleural and basal Often heterogenous distribution Reticular pattern with peripheral traction bronchiectasis or bronchiolectasis There may be mild ground-glass opacity Indeterminate for UIP: Predominantly subpleural and basal Subtle reticular pattern May have mild ground-glass opacity or distortion (“early UIP pattern”) Findings suggestive of another diagnosis, including: Other predominant distribution: Peribronchovascular Perilymphatic Upper or mid-lung Cysts Marked mosaic pattern Predominant ground-glass opacity Profuse lung micronodules Lung nodules, especially centrilobular Consolidation Pleural plaques (indicating asbestosis) Dilated esophagus (indicating connective tissue disease) Distal clavicular erosions (indicating rheumatoid arthritis) Extensive lymph node enlargement Pleural effusion Pleural thickening (indicating connective tissue disease/drugs)
=== Duplicate private keys === Collision (two or more wallets having the same private key) is theoretically possible, since keys can be generated without being used for transactions, and are therefore offline until recorded in the blockchain ledger. However, this possibility is effectively negated because the theoretical probability of two or more private keys being the same is extremely low. The number of possible wallets and thus private keys is extremely high, so duplicating or hacking a certain key would be inconceivable.
Ronald E. Blaylock, Managing Partner of GenNx360 Capital Partners Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer Mortimer J. Buckley, former CEO of The Vanguard Group Sue Desmond-Hellmann, former CEO of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Joseph J. Echevarria, former CEO of Deloitte LLP Scott Gottlieb, former Commissioner of the FDA Helen Hobbs, Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Susan Hockfield, 16th President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dan Littman, professor of Molecular Immunology at New York University Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe Suzanne Nora Johnson, former Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs James Quincey, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company James C. Smith, former CEO of Thomson Reuters Cyrus Taraporevala, former president and CEO of State Street Global Advisor
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
matrix for protein evolution in other ways have been proposed. With the large-scale genome sequencing still producing very large amounts of DNA and protein sequences, there is enough data available to create empirical models with any number of parameters, including empirical codon models. Because of the problems mentioned above, the two approaches are often combined, by estimating most of the parameters once on large-scale data, while a few remaining parameters are then adjusted to the data set under consideration. The following sections give an overview of the different approaches taken for DNA, protein or codon-based models.
=== EC 2.5.1: Transferring alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups (only sub-subclass identified to date) === EC 2.5.1.1: dimethylallyltranstransferase EC 2.5.1.2: thiamine pyridinylase EC 2.5.1.3: thiamine-phosphate diphosphorylase EC 2.5.1.4: Now EC 4.4.1.42 adenosylmethionine cyclotransferase EC 2.5.1.5: galactose-6-sulfurylase EC 2.5.1.6: methionine adenosyltransferase EC 2.5.1.7: UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 1-carboxyvinyltransferase EC 2.5.1.8: transferred to EC 2.5.1.75, tRNA dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.9: riboflavin synthase EC 2.5.1.10: (2E,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.11: Now covered by EC 2.5.1.84 (all-trans-nonaprenyl-diphosphate synthase [geranyl-diphosphate specific]) and EC 2.5.1.85 (all-trans-nonaprenyl diphosphate synthase [geranylgeranyl-diphosphate specific]) EC 2.5.1.12: deleted, now included with EC 2.5.1.18 glutathione transferase EC 2.5.1.13: deleted, now included with EC 2.5.1.18 glutathione transferase EC 2.5.1.14: deleted, now included with EC 2.5.1.18 glutathione transferase EC 2.5.1.15: dihydropteroate synthase EC 2.5.1.16: spermidine synthase EC 2.5.1.17: cob(I)yrinic acid a,c-diamide adenosyltransferase EC 2.5.1.18: glutathione transferase EC 2.5.1.19: 3-phosphoshikimate 1-carboxyvinyltransferase EC 2.5.1.20: rubber cis-polyprenylcistransferase EC 2.5.1.21: squalene synthase EC 2.5.1.22: spermine synthase EC 2.5.1.23: sym-norspermidine synthase EC 2.5.1.24: discadenine synthase EC 2.5.1.25: tRNA-uridine aminocarboxypropyltransferase EC 2.5.1.26: alkylglycerone-phosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.27: adenylate dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.28: dimethylallylcistransferase EC 2.5.1.29: farnesyltranstransferase EC 2.5.1.30: trans-hexaprenyltranstransferase EC 2.5.1.31: ditrans,polycis-undecaprenyl-diphosphate synthase [(2E,6E)-farnesyl-diphosphate specific] EC 2.5.1.32: 15-cis-phytoene synthase EC 2.5.1.33: deleted, now covered by EC 2.5.1.82 hexaprenyl diphosphate synthase [geranylgeranyl-diphosphate specific] and EC 2.5.1.83 hexaprenyl diphosphate synthase [(2E,6E)-farnesyl-diphosphate specific] EC 2.5.1.34: tryptophan dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.35: aspulvinone dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.36: trihydroxypterocarpan dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.37: Now EC 4.4.1.20, leukotriene-C4 synthase EC 2.5.1.38: isonocardicin synthase EC 2.5.1.39: 4-hydroxybenzoate polyprenyltransferase EC 2.5.1.40: Now EC 4.2.3.9, aristolochene synthase EC 2.5.1.41: phosphoglycerol geranylgeranyltransferase EC 2.5.1.42: geranylgeranylglycerol-phosphate geranylgeranyltransferase EC 2.5.1.43: nicotianamine synthase EC 2.5.1.44: homospermidine synthase EC 2.5.1.45: homospermidine synthase (spermidine-specific) EC 2.5.1.46: deoxyhypusine synthase EC 2.5.1.47: cysteine synthase EC 2.5.1.48: cystathionine γ-synthase EC 2.5.1.49: O-acetylhomoserine aminocarboxypropyltransferase EC 2.5.1.50: zeatin 9-aminocarboxyethyltransferase EC 2.5.1.51: β-pyrazolylalanine synthase EC 2.5.1.52: L-mimosine synthase EC 2.5.1.53: uracilylalanine synthase EC 2.5.1.54: 3-deoxy-7-phosphoheptulonate synthase EC 2.5.1.55: 3-deoxy-8-phosphooctulonate synthase EC 2.5.1.56: N-acetylneuraminate synthase EC 2.5.1.57: N-acylneuraminate-9-phosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.58: protein farnesyltransferase EC 2.5.1.59: protein geranylgeranyltransferase type I EC 2.5.1.60: protein geranylgeranyltransferase type II EC 2.5.1.61: hydroxymethylbilane synthase EC 2.5.1.62: chlorophyll synthase EC 2.5.1.63: adenosyl-fluoride synthase EC 2.5.1.64: The reaction that was attributed to this enzyme is now known to be catalysed by two separate enzymes: EC 2.2.1.9 2-succinyl-5-enolpyruvyl-6-hydroxy-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic-acid synthase and EC 4.2.99.20 2-succinyl-6-hydroxy-2,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxylate synthase EC 2.5.1.65: O-phosphoserine sulfhydrylase EC 2.5.1.66: N2-(2-carboxyethyl)arginine synthase EC 2.5.1.67: chrysanthemyl diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.68: (2Z,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.69: lavandulyl diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.70: naringenin 8-dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.71: leachianone-G 2′′-dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.72: quinolinate synthase EC 2.5.1.73: O-phospho-L-seryl-tRNA:Cys-tRNA synthase EC 2.5.1.74: 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate polyprenyltransferase EC 2.5.1.75: tRNA dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.76: cysteate synthase EC 2.5.1.77: Now EC 2.5.1.147, 5-amino-6-(D-ribitylamino)uracil—L-tyrosine 4-methylphenol transferase and EC 4.3.1.32, 7,8-didemethyl-8-hydroxy-5-deazariboflavin synthase. EC 2.5.1.78: 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine synthase EC 2.5.1.79: thermospermine synthase EC 2.5.1.80: 7-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase EC 2.5.1.81: geranylfarnesyl diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.82: hexaprenyl diphosphate synthase [geranylgeranyl-diphosphate specific] EC 2.5.1.83: hexaprenyl diphosphate synthase [(2E,6E)-farnesyl-diphosphate specific] EC 2.5.1.84: all-trans-nonaprenyl-diphosphate synthase (geranyl-diphosphate specific) EC 2.5.1.85: all-trans-nonaprenyl diphosphate synthase [geranylgeranyl-diphosphate specific] EC 2.5.1.86: trans,polycis-decaprenyl diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.87: ditrans,polycis-polyprenyl diphosphate synthase [(2E,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate specific] EC 2.5.1.88: trans,polycis-polyprenyl diphosphate synthase [(2Z,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate specific] EC 2.5.1.89: tritrans,polycis-undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase [geranylgeranyl-diphosphate specific] EC 2.5.1.90: all-trans-octaprenyl-diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.91: all-trans-decaprenyl-diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.92: (2Z,6Z)-farnesyl diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.93: 4-hydroxybenzoate geranyltransferase EC 2.5.1.94: adenosyl-chloride synthase EC 2.5.1.95: xanthan ketal pyruvate transferase EC 2.5.1.96: 4,4′-diapophytoene synthase EC 2.5.1.97: pseudaminic acid synthase EC 2.5.1.98: Rhizobium leguminosarum exopolysaccharide glucosyl ketal-pyruvate-transferase EC 2.5.1.99: The activity was an artifact caused by photoisomerization of the product of EC 2.5.1.32, 15-cis-phytoene synthase EC 2.5.1.100: fumigaclavine A dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.101: N,N′-diacetyllegionaminate synthase EC 2.5.1.102: geranyl-pyrophosphate—olivetolic acid geranyltransferase EC 2.5.1.103: presqualene diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.104: N1-aminopropylagmatine synthase EC 2.5.1.105: 7,8-dihydropterin-6-yl-methyl-4-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)aminobenzene 5′-phosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.106: tryprostatin B synthase EC 2.5.1.107: verruculogen prenyltransferase EC 2.5.1.108: 2-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)histidine synthase EC 2.5.1.109: brevianamide F prenyltransferase (deoxybrevianamide E-forming) EC 2.5.1.110: 12α,13α-dihydroxyfumitremorgin C prenyltransferase EC 2.5.1.111: 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate 3-dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.112: adenylate dimethylallyltransferase (ADP/ATP-dependent) EC 2.5.1.113: [CysO sulfur-carrier protein]-thiocarboxylate-dependent cysteine synthase EC 2.5.1.114: tRNAPhe (4-demethylwyosine37-C7) aminocarboxypropyltransferase EC 2.5.1.115: homogentisate phytyltransferase EC 2.5.1.116: homogentisate geranylgeranyltransferase EC 2.5.1.117: homogentisate solanesyltransferase EC 2.5.1.118: β-(isoxazolin-5-on-2-yl)-L-alanine synthase EC 2.5.1.119: β-(isoxazolin-5-on-4-yl)-L-alanine synthase EC 2.5.1.120: aminodeoxyfutalosine synthase EC 2.5.1.121: 5,10-dihydrophenazine-1-carboxylate 9-dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.122: 4-O-dimethylallyl-L-tyrosine synthase EC 2.5.1.123: flaviolin linalyltransferase EC 2.5.1.124: 6-linalyl-2-O,3-dimethylflaviolin synthase EC 2.5.1.125: 7-geranyloxy-5-hydroxy-2-methoxy-3-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione synthase EC 2.5.1.126: norspermine synthase EC 2.5.1.127: caldopentamine synthase EC 2.5.1.128: N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine synthase EC 2.5.1.129: flavin prenyltransferase EC 2.5.1.130: 2-carboxy-1,4-naphthoquinone phytyltransferase EC 2.5.1.131: (4-{4-[2-(γ-L-glutamylamino)ethyl]phenoxymethyl}furan-2-yl)methanamine synthase EC 2.5.1.132: 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulopyranosonate 9-phosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.133: bacteriochlorophyll a synthase EC 2.5.1.134: cystathionine β-synthase (O-acetyl-L-serine) EC 2.5.1.135: validamine 7-phosphate valienyltransferase EC 2.5.1.136: 2-acylphloroglucinol 4-prenyltransferase EC 2.5.1.137: 2-acyl-4-prenylphloroglucinol 6-prenyltransferase EC 2.5.1.138: coumarin 8-geranyltransferase EC 2.5.1.139: umbelliferone 6-dimethylallyltransferase EC 2.5.1.140: N-(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)-L-glutamate synthase EC 2.5.1.141: heme o synthase EC 2.5.1.142: nerylneryl diphosphate synthase EC 2.5.1.143: pyridinium-3,5-biscarboxylic acid mononucleotide synthase EC 2.5.1.144: S-sulfo-L-cysteine synthase (O-acetyl-L-serine-dependent) EC 2.5.1.145: phosphatidylglycerol—prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase EC 2.5.1.146: 3-geranyl-3-[(Z)-2-isocyanoethenyl]indole synthase EC 2.5.1.147: 5-amino-6-(D-ribitylamino)uracil—L-tyrosine 4-hydroxyphenyl transferase EC 2.5.1.148: lycopaoctaene synthase EC 2.5.1.149: lycopene elongase/hydratase (flavuxanthin-forming) EC 2.5.1.150: lycopene elongase/hydratase (dihydrobisanhydrobacterioruberin-forming) EC 2.5.1.151: alkylcobalamin dealkylase EC 2.5.1.152: D-histidine 2-aminobutanoyltransferase EC 2.5.1.153: adenosine tuberculosinyltransferase
It has a unicameral national legislature known as the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República). Portugal is divided into seven mainland regions and two autonomous overseas regions, though it remains a highly centralised country. A developed country, Portugal has an advanced economy that chiefly relies upon services, industry, and tourism. Shaped by the various civilisations that have inhabited its territory, such as the Carthaginians and the Romans, Portugal developed a culture with a worldwide influence. This allowed Portuguese to become the world's fifth-most spoken native language, with more than 250 million native speakers. With a stable foreign policy shaped by its colonial and diplomatic history and location, Portugal is a member of multiple international organisations and forums.
The 2021 edition of Fastlane would be the beginning of WWE phasing out the standalone WWE Network, with the company partnering with other platforms to distribute its content. Beginning with that edition of Fastlane in the United States, events began airing on NBCUniversal's streaming service, Peacock, following a merger of the American WWE Network under Peacock in March that year. The standalone version of the American WWE Network shut down on April 4. Over the next couple of years, other countries would see their own version of the WWE Network merge under other services. In Indonesia, the WWE Network merged under Disney+ Hotstar in January 2022, followed by a merger under Disney+ in the Philippines in November that year, while in Australia, it merged under Binge in January 2023 and then Abema in Japan that October. With this increased emphasis of digital platforms over traditional PPV outlets, WWE began to refer to all PPV and livestreaming events as "Premium Live Events" (PLEs), starting with the Day 1 event on January 1, 2022. In January 2025, the majority of the countries that still had the WWE Network merged under Netflix, with only a small number of countries maintaining the WWE Network due to pre-existing contracts. Beginning with Wrestlepalooza in September 2025, ESPN's direct-to-consumer streaming service assumed the streaming rights for main roster PLEs in the United States as part of a five-year deal following WWE's contract with Peacock. Also as part of the deal, select events also air on ESPN's linear channels.
In 2016, it was established that RagA and Lamtor4 were key to microglia functioning and biogenesis regulation within the lysosome. Further studies also indicate that the Ragulator-Rag complex interacts with proteins other than mTORC1, including an interaction with v-ATPase, which facilitates functions within microglia of the lysosome. In 2017, the Ragulator was thought to regulate the position of the lysosome, and interact with BORC, a multi subunit complex located on the surface of the lysosomal membrane. Both BORC and mTORC1 work together in activating the GTPases to change the position of the lysosome. It was concluded that BORC and GTPases compete for a binding site in the LAMTOR 2 protein to reposition the lysosome.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It is a 28-residue synthetic peptide studied as an immune-modulating agent and approved as a drug in some countries. The sequence matches a naturally occurring fragment isolated from thymus tissue. It is not a hormone in the endocrine sense.
The name traces back to thymosin fraction 5, a crude thymus extract examined in the 1970s. Individual peptides in that mixture were labeled with Greek letters, and alpha-1 was one of them. The international nonproprietary name thymalfasin was assigned later.
No. Thymosin beta-4 contains 43 residues and binds actin, while thymosin alpha-1 contains 28 residues and acts on immune cells. The two sit in a historical naming group but share no sequence similarity, and they are not substitutes for one another.
It corresponds to a fragment of the larger protein prothymosin alpha, which is present in many tissues. The isolated 28-amino-acid peptide was originally obtained from thymus preparations, and the pharmaceutical product is synthesized rather than extracted. The term therefore describes both a natural fragment and a manufactured drug substance.