Melanotan II 10mg

Research applications

• Melanocortin receptor (MC1R-MC5R) pharmacology research
• Melanogenesis and pigmentation pathway studies in skin cell models
• Central nervous system melanocortin signalling research
• Comparative structure-activity research against selective melanocortin agonists

What the literature reports on Melanotan II

Melanotan II was designed as a metabolically stable, cyclic analogue of alpha-MSH, engineered through a lactam bond linking an aspartate and lysine side chain within the heptapeptide backbone, with a C-terminal amide distinguishing it from the related compound PT-141. This design is documented extensively in the medicinal chemistry literature on melanocortin receptor agonist development.

Melanocortin receptor pharmacology

Receptor-binding studies have characterised Melanotan II as a non-selective agonist with activity across MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R subtypes, a broader receptor engagement profile than more selective melanocortin agonists developed subsequently. This non-selective profile has made it a widely used reference compound in comparative melanocortin receptor research.

Melanogenesis research

Because MC1R is the primary receptor governing melanocyte pigment production, in vitro studies using skin cell models have reported increased melanogenic activity following Melanotan II exposure, research that has informed the broader pharmacology literature on MC1R-mediated pigmentation pathways.

Central nervous system research

Given its activity at MC3R and MC4R, which are expressed within central nervous system regions involved in energy homeostasis and other regulatory pathways, Melanotan II has been used in research examining central melanocortin receptor signalling, often in comparative studies alongside the more MC3R/MC4R-selective compound PT-141; see the PT-141 listing for the related free-acid analogue.

Structure-activity research

Because Melanotan II's non-selective receptor profile arises from its C-terminal amidation, medicinal chemistry research has used it as a reference scaffold for developing more receptor-selective melanocortin agonists, examining how targeted modifications at the C-terminus and elsewhere in the cyclic backbone shift activity toward individual receptor subtypes such as MC1R or MC4R specifically.

Laboratory handling

Melanotan II should be stored as lyophilised powder at -20°C, protected from light and moisture, until reconstitution. Reconstitution follows standard peptide practice: diluent introduced slowly along the vial wall, followed by gentle mixing.

• Lyophilised powder: store at -20°C, protected from light, until reconstitution.
• Reconstitution: introduce diluent slowly along the vial wall; mix gently, do not shake.
• Post-reconstitution: 2-8°C for short-term laboratory use; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
• Each batch ships with a certificate of analysis confirming ≥99% purity by HPLC and identity by mass spectrometry.

See the peptide reconstitution and storage guide for a full protocol reference. This product is intended for laboratory research use only.