Melanotan II

Melanotan II has a molecular weight of 1024 Da, exceeding typical mass spectrometer limits of 1000 Da.; The peptide is multi-charged, which is unusual for common drugs of abuse.; No UV spectrum match was found in the library initially, complicating HPLC-DAD identification.; Reference standard confirmed the drug with 30% purity, and it is unapproved due to safety concerns.

The melanocortin receptor family comprises five Class A GPCR subtypes with roles in pigmentation, steroidogenesis, and energy homeostasis.; Synthetic derivatives of α-MSH, including NDP-MSH, melanotan II, and SHU9119, are key tool compounds for studying these receptors.; These tool compounds serve as scaffolds for FDA-approved drugs, validate stably expressing cell lines, and are core ligands for cryo-EM structure analysis.; They are essential references for high-throughput discovery and mechanism of action studies, advancing understanding of receptor physiology and druggability.

5-Hydroxypyrroloindoline condenses with cysteine-thiol or tryptophan-indole to form tryptathionine or 2,2'-bis-indole staples.; Protecting groups enable chemoselective stapling in α-MSH-based peptides.; Both staple types yield peptides with nanomolar Ki values, including one sub-nanomolar Ki.

MTII activates the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in non-social contexts; During social interactions, MTII selectively increases oxytocin-dependent activation of the nucleus accumbens; The nucleus accumbens is described as critical for social learning; Results suggest a mechanism for MTII-induced acceleration of partner preference formation and support activating the endogenous oxytocin system during behavioral therapy to facilitate social learning

Short-term HF diet (3 weeks) impaired recognition memory in zebrafish.; HF diet elevated anxiety levels and reduced exploratory behavior.; MT-II treatment reversed all HF diet-induced behavioral abnormalities.; This is the first study to show MT-II reverses diet-induced memory and emotional changes.

5-HT2C receptors, but not GLP-1Rs or MC4Rs, were widespread in PPG NTS clusters, and lorcaserin significantly activated PPG NTS neurons.; Ablation of PPG NTS neurons prevented lorcaserin-induced food intake reduction but not that of MC4R agonist melanotan-II.; Combining lorcaserin with GLP-1R agonists liraglutide or exendin-4 produced greater food intake reduction than either monotherapy.; Brainstem PPG NTS neurons are identified as a necessary mechanism for lorcaserin's therapeutic benefit.

MT-II microinjected into the NAcc reduced food consumption in both home cage and operant self-administration tests.; MT-II decreased appetitive responding to gain access to food.; Anorexic doses of MT-II did not produce conditioned taste avoidance or change metabolic parameters.; Melanocortin signaling in the NAcc selectively affects appetite and satiety without impacting metabolism or inducing aversion.

What is Melanotan II?

**Mechanism of Action** Melanotan II (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that acts as a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist. It binds with high affinity to melanocortin receptors MC1R (expressed on melanocytes) and MC4R (expressed in the hypothalamus and

How does Melanotan II work?

Non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist that stimulates melanogenesis (tanning) and increases libido via MC1R/MC4R.

What is the research status of Melanotan II?

Melanotan II is currently classified as experimental, with 196 research references on record. This is for research purposes only and is not medical advice.

What is the molecular weight of Melanotan II?

Melanotan II has a molecular weight of approximately 1024.2 g/mol (formula C50H69N15O9).