Melanotan-2 10mg

🔬 Melanotan-2 (MT-2) — Overview

Melanotan-2 (MT-2) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide and a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist. It was developed as an analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and is studied in research settings for its effects on melanogenesis, appetite regulation, and central nervous system signaling. Melanotan-2 is not naturally occurring and is used exclusively in experimental and investigational contexts.

📌 Brief Functional Description

• Melanogenesis stimulation: Activates melanocortin receptors (primarily MC1R) involved in melanin production.
• Central melanocortin signaling: Interacts with MC3R and MC4R, which are associated with appetite, energy balance, and sexual behavior pathways.
• Potent and stable: Cyclization and amino-acid substitutions significantly increase resistance to enzymatic degradation compared with native α-MSH.
• Research relevance: Studied in pigmentation biology, neuroendocrine signaling, and melanocortin receptor pharmacology.

🧪 Chemical & Structural Information

🔢 CAS Number

• 121062-08-6

🧬 Molecular Formula

• C₅₀H₆₉N₁₅O₉

⚖️ Molecular Weight

• ≈1,024.2 g/mol (Da)

🧬 Amino Acid Sequence & Structure

• Melanotan-2 is a cyclic heptapeptide derived from α-MSH.
• The structure includes:
  • Cyclization between amino acid residues, enhancing stability
  • Non-native amino acid substitutions that improve receptor affinity
• These modifications give MT-2 a longer half-life and higher potency than linear melanocortin peptides.

General structural description:

Cyclic 7-amino-acid peptide with enhanced stability and melanocortin receptor affinity 

🧠 Mechanism & Biological Context

• Melanotan-2 binds to melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R), with strongest functional relevance at:
  • MC1R: melanocyte activation and melanin synthesis
  • MC3R / MC4R: central regulation of appetite, energy balance, and sexual signaling
• Unlike hormones that act through endocrine cascades, MT-2 exerts direct receptor agonism across multiple melanocortin pathways.
• Its broad receptor activity explains both its potent effects and wide-ranging biological responses in research models.

⚠️ Safety & Regulatory Notes

• Research Use Only: Melanotan-2 is not FDA-approved as a drug or cosmetic agent.
• It appears on anti-doping prohibited lists due to central nervous system and metabolic activity.
• Effects are dose-dependent and influenced by receptor distribution and individual biological variability.

🧪 Quick Reference