Melanotan II

Melanotan II is a man-made ring-shaped peptide (seven building blocks) that copies a natural body signal called alpha-MSH. Because it is strong and does not break down easily, it is widely used in pharmacology as a tool for studying melanocortin receptors (a family of cell "switches" involved in pigment, appetite and other signals).

How it works

Melanotan II turns on several of these melanocortin switches (called MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R). Studies describe how turning on the MC1R switch, found on pigment cells, sets off an internal chemical chain (raising a messenger called cAMP). This is the main step studied in research on how the body makes pigment [1][2].

Pigment-cell research

The role of the MC1R switch in coloring has been studied in relation to how ultraviolet light controls the pigment response [1], and a closely related alpha-MSH copy was studied for its effect on pigment production in people carrying certain MC1R gene variants [2]. This work examines how the receptor and pigment cells behave; it is not about any cosmetic result.

Brain melanocortin research

Because melanotan II also acts on the MC3R and MC4R switches in the brain, the wider melanocortin research has studied these switches in relation to appetite, energy balance, and sexual-response brain circuits, as questions about the receptor pathway [3].

What the research has not shown yet

The cited studies are about receptor pharmacology and small basic investigations. They do not show that the research material supplied here is safe or effective, and no tanning, cosmetic, or other benefit is implied for anyone. This product is provided strictly for in-vitro research use only (test-tube and lab research only).

For laboratory use, store lyophilized Melanotan II at -20°C protected from light and moisture. Reconstitute with bacteriostatic or sterile water to prepare stock solutions, hold reconstituted material at 2-8°C for short-term use, aliquot to minimize freeze-thaw cycles, and protect solutions from light.