PT-141 10mg

Research applications

• Melanocortin receptor (MC3R/MC4R) binding and activation studies
• Central nervous system signalling pathway research
• Comparative receptor-selectivity research against related melanocortin peptides
• Structure-activity research on cyclic lactam peptide design

What the literature reports on PT-141

PT-141 is derived from the core active sequence of alpha-MSH, cyclised through a lactam bond between an aspartate side chain and a lysine side chain to stabilise the peptide's bioactive conformation. This cyclic lactam design is documented in the medicinal chemistry literature describing melanocortin receptor agonist development.

Melanocortin receptor pharmacology

Receptor-binding studies have characterised PT-141's activity across the melanocortin receptor family (MC1R through MC5R), reporting relatively balanced activity at MC3R and MC4R compared with some other melanocortin agonists. This receptor profile has been a focus of structure-activity research examining how peptide modifications shift selectivity among the five melanocortin receptor subtypes.

Central nervous system signalling research

Because MC3R and MC4R are expressed within the hypothalamus and other central nervous system regions, research using PT-141 has examined downstream signalling pathways implicated in central melanocortin receptor activation, extending the broader melanocortin receptor literature into central nervous system pharmacology research.

Comparative research with Melanotan II

PT-141 and Melanotan II share the same core cyclic heptapeptide scaffold but differ at the C-terminus, PT-141 carrying a free acid and Melanotan II an amide. Researchers frequently compare the two compounds to study how this single structural difference affects receptor selectivity and signalling outcomes, with both peptides available in this catalogue for comparative research purposes; see the Melanotan II listing for the amidated variant.

Cyclisation chemistry research

The lactam-cyclisation strategy used in PT-141 is itself a subject of peptide chemistry research, with studies examining how constraining the peptide backbone into a defined ring conformation improves metabolic stability and receptor-binding specificity relative to linear alpha-MSH fragments.

Laboratory handling

PT-141 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.