Kensusin

Kensusin is a fictional signaling molecule frequently used in textbooks and online educational resources to illustrate principles of protein structure and cell signaling. It originated as a pedagogical construct in discussions of small, soluble peptides and their interactions with cell-surface receptors, rather than as a chemoinformatic artifact from a real organism.

Kensusin is described as a small, 60–80 amino acid peptide with a compact fold stabilized by one or two disulfide bonds. In representative depictions, the peptide presents a hydrophobic core with a polar surface that facilitates receptor binding. The exact sequence and topology vary across simulations, emphasizing its role as a teaching example rather than a real, consistently defined molecule.

Proposed function in fictional accounts is to bind a hypothetical receptor kinase, initiating a signaling cascade that influences differentiation or gene expression in a model organism. The emphasis is on conceptual understanding rather than validated biochemistry.

The term appears in education-focused literature and open-source biology simulations. It is not recognized as a confirmed natural product by major databases, and no experimental data supports its existence. Critics note that relying on fictional molecules can blur the line between pedagogy and real biology, but supporters argue that such constructs help students grasp complex topics.