Melanotan-2
Melanotan-2 (MT-II), a cyclic alpha-MSH analog and melanocortin receptor agonist, 10mg. Ships from the U.S..
What it is
Melanotan-2 (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog of alpha-MSH. Its sequence is Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2: norleucine, aspartate, histidine, D-phenylalanine, arginine, tryptophan and lysine. A lactam bridge between the aspartate and lysine side chains closes the ring, and both termini are capped (N-acetyl, C-terminal amide). Molecular formula C50H69N15O9, molecular weight 1024.2 g/mol, CAS 121062-08-6, PubChem CID 92432.
In receptor-pharmacology research Melanotan-2 is described as a potent, non-selective melanocortin ligand with agonist activity at MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R. It came out of a series of lactam-cyclized alpha-MSH and NDP-MSH analogs reported in 1989, and it has served as a template in structure-activity work, including backbone N-methylation studies that produced analogs selective for hMC1R. USA Warehouse Supply lists Melanotan-2 as a 10mg lyophilized powder for laboratory research use only.
Storage
- Manufacturer data sheets list solid melanotan II at -20°C, with stability of 3 to 4 years.
- For solutions they differ: one lists stock solutions in solvent at -80°C for 1 year, another recommends against keeping an aqueous solution beyond the short term.
- A manufacturer's general peptide handling guide advises dividing peptide solutions into aliquots kept frozen below -15°C.
Cited research applications
Questions
What is Melanotan-2?
Melanotan-2 (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog of alpha-MSH, Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2, in which a lactam bridge between aspartate and lysine closes the ring. Molecular formula C50H69N15O9, molecular weight 1024.2 g/mol, CAS 121062-08-6, PubChem CID 92432.
In receptor-pharmacology research it is described as a potent, non-selective melanocortin ligand with agonist activity at MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R. It came from a series of lactam-cyclized alpha-MSH and NDP-MSH analogs reported in 1989, and later work used it as a template for backbone N-methylated analogs selective for hMC1R.
Reference datasheets list the solid for storage at -20°C and report sparing solubility in aqueous buffer, so stock solutions are made in DMSO or DMF first. USA Warehouse Supply lists Melanotan-2 as a 10mg lyophilized powder for laboratory research.
Compound identifiers & literature
Public database identifiers and a selection of peer-reviewed publications for Melanotan II, provided so researchers can verify this compound independently. Each entry links to the primary source.
Selected literature
- [1]Hadley ME, Dorr RT (2006). Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization Peptides 27(4):921-930.A review tracing the laboratory development, clinical investigation and commercialization history of melanocortin analogues, including melanotan-I and melanotan-II and the derivation of the later analogue PT-141 (bremelanotide) from melanotan-II.
- [2]Jain S, Panyutin A, Liu N, Xiao C, Pinol RA, Pundir P, Girardet C, Butler AA, Dong X, Gavrilova O, Reitman ML (2018). Melanotan II causes hypothermia in mice by activation of mast cells and stimulation of histamine 1 receptors American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism 315(3):E357-E366.In mice, melanotan-II produced transient hypometabolism and hypothermia that persisted in animals lacking melanocortin receptors 1, 3, 4 or 5 but was abolished in mast-cell-deficient KitW-sh/W-sh mice, and the authors attributed the effect to mast cell activation, raised plasma histamine and signalling through histamine H1 receptors.
These references are provided for scientific context only. They describe published research on this compound and are not evidence of safety or efficacy, not an endorsement of any use, and not medical advice. This product is supplied for laboratory research use only — not for human or animal consumption.
For Research Use Only. Not for human or animal consumption. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Melanotan-2 is sold strictly as a research chemical for in-vitro and pre-clinical laboratory investigation only.