Semaglutide: Research Reference
Research Use Only. This page is a technical reference for in-vitro laboratory research. Reserve Research compounds are not for human or veterinary use, and nothing here is guidance for administration of any kind.
In simple words
Semaglutide is a chain of 31 amino acids. It is made in a lab. It is a copy of a natural hormone called GLP-1. It has a fatty tail too. The tail helps it last longer.
Cells have switches on the outside. Semaglutide turns on one kind, the GLP-1 switch. Scientists use it in the lab to see how this switch sends signals into cells.
Reserve Research sells semaglutide only for lab research. See Semaglutide on our product page →
Semaglutide is a synthetic, lipidated 31-amino-acid analogue of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that activates the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). It was developed by Novo Nordisk from the GLP-1(7–37) sequence with three changes: α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) at position 8 to resist DPP-4 cleavage, arginine at position 34, and a C18 fatty diacid on lysine 26 that binds serum albumin. Its CAS number is 910463-68-2, its formula is C187H291N45O59, and its molecular weight is about 4,113.6 g/mol.
Semaglutide key facts
| Name | Semaglutide |
|---|---|
| Compound class | Synthetic lipidated peptide; GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Length | 31 amino acids (numbered 7–37 after native GLP-1), free C-terminal acid |
| Sequence | H-Aib-E-G-T-F-T-S-D-V-S-S-Y-L-E-G-Q-A-A-K*-E-F-I-A-W-L-V-R-G-R-G-OH (K* = lipidated lysine 26) |
| Lipidation | C18 fatty diacid (17-carboxyheptadecanoyl) on the lysine-26 side chain through a γ-glutamic acid and two OEG (8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctanoic acid) spacers |
| CAS number | 910463-68-2 |
| Molecular formula | C187H291N45O59 |
| Molecular weight | ≈4,113.6 g/mol |
| Receptor target | GLP-1R (class B GPCR, Gs/cAMP coupled) |
| Appearance | White to off-white lyophilized powder |
| Storage (lyophilized) | −20 °C, dry, protected from light |
Structure
Native GLP-1(7–37) is broken down within minutes by the enzyme DPP-4 and cleared quickly. Semaglutide keeps the native backbone almost unchanged and adds three targeted modifications:
- Aib8. Replacing alanine 8 with α-aminoisobutyric acid blocks DPP-4 cleavage at the N-terminus.
- Arg34. Replacing lysine 34 with arginine leaves lysine 26 as the only lysine, so the lipid chain attaches at a single defined position.
- Lipidated Lys26. A C18 diacid on a γGlu–2×OEG linker binds serum albumin strongly, which extends the peptide’s persistence in experimental systems.
Mechanism studied in research models
- Albumin binding vs. receptor potency. The discovery program tuned the fatty-acid length and linker to balance strong albumin binding against GLP-1 receptor potency, measured in receptor assays with and without albumin (Lau et al., 2015).
- Receptor signaling. Semaglutide activates GLP-1R, a Gs-coupled receptor, raising intracellular cAMP in receptor-expressing cells.
- Design lineage. Semaglutide was developed from the earlier lipidated analogue liraglutide; Knudsen and Lau (2019) review how the two were designed.
How semaglutide compares with related research peptides
| Compound | Receptors activated | Lipid |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | GLP-1R | C18 diacid |
| Tirzepatide | GIPR + GLP-1R | C20 diacid |
| Retatrutide | GCGR + GIPR + GLP-1R | C20 diacid |
| Cagrilintide | Amylin + calcitonin receptors | C20 diacid |
Laboratory handling and storage
- Lyophilized powder: store at −20 °C, sealed and dry, away from light. Let the vial reach room temperature before opening.
- Solvent: labs commonly reconstitute in sterile bacteriostatic water. Solubility depends on pH and concentration.
- Prepared solutions: keep at 2–8 °C, avoid vigorous shaking, and avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles. Low-binding tubes reduce losses of lipidated peptide to plastic.
What a semaglutide certificate of analysis should show
- Identity: mass consistent with ≈4,113.6 g/mol for the intact lipidated peptide.
- Purity: chromatographic purity reported for the specific batch.
- Batch traceability: a lot number that matches the vial label.
Every Reserve Research batch is tested by an independent lab. You can look up any batch number on our COA verification page.
Frequently asked questions
What is semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a synthetic, lipidated 31-amino-acid GLP-1 analogue that activates the GLP-1 receptor. Laboratories use it to study GLP-1 receptor signaling.
What is the CAS number for semaglutide?
910463-68-2.
What is the molecular weight and formula of semaglutide?
C187H291N45O59, with a molecular weight of about 4,113.6 g/mol.
How is semaglutide different from native GLP-1?
It has Aib at position 8 (blocks DPP-4 cleavage), arginine at position 34, and a C18 fatty diacid on lysine 26 that binds albumin. The rest of the sequence matches GLP-1(7–37).
What is the difference between semaglutide and tirzepatide?
Semaglutide activates only the GLP-1 receptor and is built on the GLP-1 sequence. Tirzepatide activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors and is built on a GIP-based sequence.
How should semaglutide be stored?
Store the lyophilized powder at −20 °C, dry and protected from light. Keep reconstituted solutions at 2–8 °C and avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
Is Reserve Research semaglutide sold for laboratory research only?
Yes. It is sold strictly for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not a drug or supplement, and it is not for human or veterinary use.
Research-grade semaglutide from Reserve Research
Semaglutide is supplied as a lyophilized powder in sealed vials, independently tested batch by batch, with the COA available through the product page and /verify. Related: tirzepatide reference, retatrutide reference and bacteriostatic water.
References
- Lau J, Bloch P, Schäffer L, et al. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2015;58:7370–7380. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00726
- Knudsen LB, Lau J. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2019;10:155. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00155
Last reviewed: October 2026. This page summarizes published laboratory literature for reference. It makes no claims about the safety or effectiveness of any compound in humans or animals.