MT-2

Mechanism of Action

Melanotan II — C₅₀H₆₉N₁₅O₉ · MW 1024.18 Da · CAS 121062-08-6. A synthetic cyclic lactam heptapeptide (Ac-Nle-c[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH₂) analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), originally developed at the University of Arizona. MT-2 exhibits non-selective binding affinity across melanocortin receptor subtypes MC1R through MC5R. MC1R agonism has been studied in the context of melanogenesis cascade activation, while MC4R activity has been investigated in preclinical models of energy homeostasis signaling and hypothalamic neuropeptide pathways. The cyclic lactam bridge between Asp and Lys residues confers enhanced enzymatic stability and receptor residence time compared to linear α-MSH fragments.

Documented Research Observations

• check_circle Dose-dependent melanogenesis activation via MC1R agonism observed in murine and in vitro models.
• check_circle MC4R-mediated modulation of energy homeostasis signaling pathways documented in preresearch literature.
• check_circle Structural stability of cyclic lactam ring confers enhanced receptor binding half-life versus linear α-MSH fragments.

Research Applications

Melanocortin receptor signaling studies, MC1R/MC4R pathway characterization, melanogenesis cascade research, and cyclic peptide structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis. Widely cited in neuroendocrine and dermatological research literature.