P21 (P021)

P021 (also called P21) is a small synthetic peptide derived from the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) interaction domain. It was developed by Gong et al. at the New York Medical College as a small peptide mimic of neurotrophic activity that could cross the blood-brain barrier more readily than intact CNTF.

Research has examined P021's neuroprotective and neurogenic properties, with studies reporting effects on adult hippocampal neurogenesis, BDNF expression, and tau phosphorylation in models relevant to Alzheimer's disease research. Its small size (~1.8 kDa) is proposed to facilitate CNS penetration compared to full-length neurotrophin proteins.

Type

CNTF-derived peptide — short synthetic fragment

Research Areas

Neurogenesis, cognitive function, tau pathology

Origin

CNTF-derived neurotrophin peptide

Molecular Weight

~1.8 kDa

Proposed Target

CNTF receptor · TrkB signalling

Developer

Gong et al. — NY Medical College

Key Research

Alzheimer's disease models

Primary Effects

Neurogenesis · Tau reduction

Research Models

Aged & tau transgenic mice

1. 01Neurogenesis StimulationP021 is derived from the neurotrophin-binding domain of CNTF (ciliary neurotrophic factor). Research has examined its ability to stimulate adult neurogenesis in hippocampal regions, with studies reporting effects on neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
2. 02Tau PhosphorylationResearch has investigated P021's effects on aberrant tau phosphorylation in models of Alzheimer's disease, with studies examining whether it reduces tau hyperphosphorylation through BDNF/TrkB and CNTF receptor signalling pathways.
3. 03Cognitive FunctionPreclinical studies have examined P021's effects on cognitive performance in aged and tau transgenic mouse models, reporting improvements in spatial learning and memory tasks alongside histological markers of synaptic density.