Scientific Reference
SLU-PP-332
Evidence profile: Predominantly preclinical
SLU-PP-332 is a synthetic small molecule, not a peptide, reported to activate all three oestrogen-related receptors: ERRα, ERRβ and ERRγ. Despite their name, these receptors are not activated by oestrogen; they are orphan nuclear receptors, related in structure to the oestrogen receptors but with no confirmed natural ligand. The original reports describe the compound as most active at ERRα. Published work is recent and preclinical, made up of cell studies, including cultured muscle cells, and mouse experiments on skeletal muscle and whole-body energy metabolism. We are not aware of any published human study, and published toxicology data are scarce.
Mechanism of Action
ERRs are transcription factors that bind DNA at ERR response elements and act with coactivators, notably PGC-1α, on genes for oxidative phosphorylation, fatty-acid oxidation and the formation of new mitochondria. SLU-PP-332 has been reported to increase ERR-driven transcription in cell-based reporter assays. In mouse skeletal muscle, studies describe higher expression of ERR target genes linked to oxidative metabolism, with some changes reported to depend at least partly on ERRα. Most of this work comes from a small number of laboratories, and independent confirmation is limited.
Molecular Information
- Type: Small molecule
- Molecular weight: 290.3 g/mol
- Molecular formula: C18H14N2O2
Published Research
[Pharmacological Activation of ERRα/β/γ as an Exercise Mimetic: Potential Therapeutic Applications]
de Souza-Lima J et al. · Revista medica de Chile · 2026 · Review
PMID 42024694 — View on PubMed