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IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes
Machine-readable facts for this Lab article. The full page is https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des.
TL;DR
IGF-DES, or Des(1-3)IGF-1, is a truncated form of IGF-1 missing its first three amino acids, studied only in lab research. Reference and handling notes.
Facts Index
| Fact ID | Category | Entity | Attribute | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| igf-des:title | identity | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | title | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:published | identity | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | published | 2026-08-15 | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:author | identity | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | author | Preppin' Peppers Editorial Team | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:topics | identity | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | topics | research, Research-only | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:summary | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | summary | IGF-DES, or Des(1-3)IGF-1, is a truncated form of IGF-1 missing its first three amino acids, studied only in lab research. Reference and handling notes. | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-1 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | What it is | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-2 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | IGF-DES | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-3 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | What it is | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-4 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | Research context and categorization | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-5 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | Status | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-6 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | Reconstitution notes (general) | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-7 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | Dilution and handling notes (compound-specific) | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-8 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | Handling and storage | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-9 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | Related reading | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-10 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | Tools and supplies | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:section-12 | content | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | section | What the research community gets wrong about IGF-DES | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:product-gansulin-metal-peptide-pen | products | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | references product | Gansulin Pen ยท Reusable Click-Dial, 3 ml (1-60 Units) | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:product-gansulin-3ml-cartridge | products | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | references product | Gansulin-Compatible 3 ml Glass Cartridge for Pens (10-Pack) | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:source-pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov | source | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | cites | Simes et al., J Endocrinol 1991: The effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF-II and des(1-3)IGF-I, a potent IGF analogue, on growth hormone and IGF-binding protein secretion from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:source-pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov-2 | source | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | cites | Ricort and Binoux, Endocrinology 2001: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-3 inhibits type 1 IGF receptor activation independently of its IGF binding affinity - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:source-pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov-3 | source | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | cites | Ramsey et al., J Neurophysiol 2005: Functional characterization of des-IGF-1 action at excitatory synapses in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:source-www-uniprot-org | source | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | cites | UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot P05019: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1, Homo sapiens), UniProt release 2026-03 - www.uniprot.org | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
| igf-des:source-pubmed-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov-4 | source | IGF-DES: Reference Overview and Reconstitution Notes | cites | Li et al., Mech Ageing Dev 2003: Age-related differences in the des IGF-I-mediated activation of Akt-1 and p70 S6K in mouse skeletal muscle - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov | Lab article (https://www.preppinpeppers.com/blogs/the-lab/igf-des) (evidence) |
FAQ
- What is IGF-DES and how does it differ from IGF-1?
- IGF-DES, or Des(1-3)IGF-1, is a naturally occurring truncated form of IGF-1 lacking the first three N-terminal amino acids (glycine, proline, glutamate), first identified in bovine colostrum and human brain tissue in the early 1990s.
- Why does IGF-DES show greater potency than IGF-1 in cultured cell research?
- Removing the three N-terminal residues sharply reduces binding to IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), which normally sequester IGF-1. IGF-DES therefore engages the IGF-1 receptor more freely, producing a stronger signal per unit in vitro.
- How is reconstitution concentration calculated for an IGF-DES research vial?
- Divide the vial's peptide mass in milligrams by the solvent volume added in millilitres. Example: 1 mg dissolved in 2 mL yields 0.5 mg/mL. Add solvent slowly down the inner vial wall and allow dissolution without shaking.