Melanotan II

Buy Melanotan II (MT-II) 10 mg

Melanotan II (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analogue of the alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) to increase peptide stability and biological activity. As a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist, Melanotan II interacts with multiple melanocortin receptor subtypes, including MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R. Its broad receptor profile has made it an important research tool for investigating melanogenesis, pigmentation biology, melanocortin receptor signaling, energy homeostasis, appetite regulation, and neuroendocrine function. 

In this study, “The melanocortin-1 receptor and human pigmentation”, published in Pigment Cell Research, the researchers found that activation of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) stimulates the production of eumelanin, the darker form of melanin that is responsible for skin pigmentation and provides natural protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. According to this study, “Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study“, scientists utilize Melanotan II as a research tool to investigate melanocortin receptor pharmacology, pigmentation biology, and the physiological functions of multiple melanocortin receptor subtypes by inducing skin pigmentation under controlled clinical research conditions. 

Beyond studying the effects of MT-II on increasing melanin production, scientists are also researching the effects of this substance on melanocortin receptors in the context of studying the mechanisms that control body weight, diet, and brain function. As it was stated in the article, “Melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II microinjected in the nucleus accumbens decreases feeding behaviour”, the center of the brain involved in reward is one of the regions where the distribution of MT-II affects a person’s eating patterns. The activation of these particular receptors strongly decreases active eating and the intake of food in general. On the other hand, as it was mentioned in this article, “Activation of the central melanocortin system chronically decreases body mass without the necessity of long-term caloric restriction”. Preclinical studies have investigated effects on appetite and energy balance, but these findings should not be interpreted as evidence of effectiveness in humans.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that scientists have not approved the use of this substance by the Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory agencies. Therefore, it is not allowed to use Melanotan II for human consumption or clinical purposes.

Buy Melanotan II at Sequora Peptides. Research-grade peptide with third-party testing, COA availability, and fast shipping for laboratory research.

Research Specification

Melanotan II (MT-II) 10mg — Detailed Research Overview

Melanotan II (MT-II) is an artificial cyclic analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), which was synthesized to increase the stability and biological activity of the natural hormone. The synthesis of Melanotan II included the introduction of structural changes into the polypeptide chain, which allowed increasing the resistance to enzymatic destruction and biological activity of this product.

1. Development of Melanotan II

Melanotan II was created as a result of research dedicated to the study of the physiological role of α-MSH and melanocortin receptors. Unlike the natural α-MSH, which has a short time of action in vivo due to rapid enzymatic degradation, Melanotan II contains the substitution of norleucine (Nle) and D-phenylalanine (D-Phe) amino acids along with the presence of the cyclic structure of the polypeptide chain.

2. Pharmacology of Melanocortin Receptors

As per The melanocortin-1 receptor and human pigmentation, published in Pigment Cell Research, melanocortin receptors control various physiological processes like melanogenesis, pigmentation, energy balance, and neuroendocrine signaling. As Melanotan II acts on several subtypes of melanocortin receptors (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R), it has emerged as an excellent model compound to study the coordination of diverse biological functions by these receptors.

3. Expanding Scientific Research

For the last two decades, Melanotan II has found wide use as a laboratory research compound to study:

• Melanogenesis and pigmentation biology
• Signaling through melanocortin receptors
• Energy homeostasis
• Appetite regulation
• Neuroendocrine physiology
• Photobiology of ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• Receptor pharmacology

Such research efforts have made significant contributions to the scientific knowledge about the melanocortin system and the biological role of its receptor subtypes. Many observations are still experimental and warrant further studies.

4. Current Scientific Perspective

While it is true that Melanotan II has shown various biological actions in preclinical studies as well as limited studies in human beings, the fact remains that it is still a drug under investigation. It is different from Afamelanotide (Melanotan I) because while Afamelanotide is a drug that has been approved by a regulatory body for a particular clinical application, Melanotan II has yet to be approved by the FDA or any other regulatory body.

Melanotan II: Mechanism of Action

Melanotan II is a biomimetic pan-agonist that acts on endogenous neural and cutaneous circuits. Due to the non-selective nature of MT-II, the mechanism of action depends on the target tissue.

1. Cellular Mechanism of Pigmentation (The Cutaneous Axis)

In the context of cutaneous biology, MT-II functions as a direct activator of cellular tanning mechanisms, effectively bypassing the need for systemic stimulation from ultraviolet light exposure.

• Receptor Binding: The cyclic peptide acts on melanocortin 1 receptors (MC1R) expressed on individual melanocytes.
• Intracellular Signaling: As postulated in this study, “The melanocortin-1 receptor and human pigmentation”, MT-II binding activates Gs alpha subunits, thereby stimulating adenylyl cyclase activity and subsequent production of cyclic AMP (cAMP).
• Enzymatic Cascade: As explained in this article, “Melanocortins in research: complete guide to Melanotan II, PT-141, afamelanotide”, the second messenger cAMP triggers Protein Kinase A, which in turn phosphorylates the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor. This initiates transcription of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in melanin biosynthesis.
• Pigment Production: The cells switch their endogenous biochemical priorities from production of yellow-red pheomelanin to dark eumelanin. As a result of this melanin conversion, according to this research, “Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study”, the subject’s skin undergoes darkening across all tested areas.

2. Appetite Suppression Mechanisms (The Hypothalamic Axis)

In regard to neuroendocrine research, the use of MT-II acts to target relevant neurological centers regulating hunger and satiety.

• Satiety Cascade Initiation: The given peptide is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to bind to melanocortin 4 receptors densely expressed in the paraventricular nucleus region of the hypothalamus.
• Anorexigenic Action Potential: As suggested by this study, “Melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II microinjected in the nucleus accumbens decreases feeding behavior”; the binding to this region initiates a cascade leading to the short-term suppression of hunger. In particular, the activation of MC4R receptors in the paraventricular nucleus region can be postulated to mimic the physiological processes determining satiety and interrupting active feeding behavior. This mechanism is similar to the natural processes occurring after food intake, signifying the potential of MT-II to trigger them artificially.

3. Overall Energy Expenditure and Obesity Regulation (The Metabolic Axis)

Further, the melanocortin 3 and 4 receptor agonist can be considered to cause long-term changes to energy expenditure regulation.

• Metabolic Efficiency Modulation: The involvement of MT-II in both central melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors suggests the alteration of metabolic efficiency to be energy-consuming in terms of fat expenditure.
• Central Energy Expenditure Regulation: According to this article, “Activation of the central melanocortin system chronically reduces body mass without the necessity of long-term caloric restriction”; specifically, the stimulation of these receptors in the hypothalamus can affect the autonomic nervous system function. The increased sympathetic activity subsequently promotes thermogenesis while increasing overall metabolism to create a negative energy balance over time. As a result, the long-term continuous application of MT-II without additional caloric intake leads to a decrease in overall adipose tissue contents as per the altered energy budget requirements set by the hypothalamic area.

Preclinical and Clinical Research

1. Preliminary Research Streams

Beyond the established capacity of Melanotan II (MT-II) to demonstrate its pharmacological properties on the epidermis, preclinical investigations often report on the peptide’s expanded biochemical range regarding its metabolic and neuronal effects:

• Appetite suppression and resistance to weight_gain: animal models are often utilized to identify downstream effects of the peptide on hypothalamic appetite centers. As noted by the current research piece, “Melanotan II”, published in Current Opinion in Biotechnology, while systemic administration of MT-II reliably increased the metabolic rate and decreased short-term food intake in wild-type mice, knockout models with MC4R disruption were entirely insensitive to the anorexigenic effects of the peptide, providing sufficient evidence for MT-II’s capacity to suppress hunger via central MC4R activation.

• Energy expenditure modulation: monitoring the long-run metabolic efficiency of the peptide requires continuous peripheral or central administration, which is reported by this study, “Activation of the central melanocortin system chronically decreases body mass without the necessity of long-term caloric restriction”, to demonstrate that chronic central treatment profiles of MT-II reliably reduce peripheral adipose deposition and counteract weight gains over prolonged observation windows through increased sympathetic expenditure.

• Impact on oncological indications and downstream signaling: while not yet applied in clinical settings, the ability of MT-II to bind to MC1R was investigated within the context of melanoma progression and was found to provide preclinical anti-tumor effects in animal models, warranting further investigation. As described by this research article, “Topical MTII Therapy Suppresses Melanoma Through PTEN Reactivation and AKT Inhibition”, topical applications of MT-II were found to significantly reduce tumor progression by interrupting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway and inhibiting cell proliferation and vasculature development in favor of PTEN reactivation in mice.

2. Early Clinical Trial Data

Unlike its linear counterpart, Melanotan I (Afamelanotide), which was eventually approved for clinical use in patients with particular photodermatitis, Melanotan II failed a phase III trial because of its nonselective receptor engagement. In parallel, the early-stage clinical investigation in humans identified several pharmacological properties of the compound:

• The Baseline Dose Escalation Phase I Trial: According to this first-line single-blind placebo-controlled trial, “Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study”, the incremental subcutaneous dosing of 0.01 mg/kg to 0.03 mg/kg resulted in the production of substantial pigment spots on the face, torso, and buttocks in a UV-independent manner.

• The Stretching-Yawning-Erection Complex: Additionally, the investigators of “Melanotan-II: a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide: results of a phase-I clinical trial in healthy volunteers” have observed a unique set of adverse effects associated with melanotan-II administration. Specifically, the subjects frequently experienced a characteristic stretching/yawning complex that invariably led to erection. According to the study, this effect was related to a drug-induced central nervous system activation and involved the initiation of spontaneous penile erection episodes lasting from 1 to 5 hours after the injection. These pharmacological properties eventually prompted the generation of a more selective MC4R agonist, Bremelanotide (PT-141), which underwent successful phase III trials and was approved for the treatment of sexual dysfunction.

3. Modern Research Context and Synthesis

Modern laboratory research is using MT-II to study receptor crosstalk and the possibility of obtaining an orally available version of this peptide.

As stated in the study, “Novel approaches to the design of bioavailable melanotropins,” MT-II’s cyclized analogs are considered crucial for analyzing the ability of a molecule to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

This way, researchers are trying to create modern MT agonists with improved tissue selectivity by studying their constrained conformations and overcoming the systemic side effects of pan-agonistic neuropeptides.

Research Applications & Current Regulatory Status

Active Research Applications

Melanotan II (MT-II) is extensively used in preclinical laboratory settings to determine the receptor structure and downstream signaling networks of G-protein coupled receptors. The current research applications make use of the peptide as a reference control in several key areas:

• Satiety and Metabolic Circuitry: Preclinical studies utilize MT-II to understand the role of the arcuate nucleus and nucleus accumbens in the regulation of feeding. As noted in this article, “Melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II microinjected in the nucleus accumbens decreases feeding behavior”, MT-II serves as an essential reference point for understanding the role of synthetic melanocortin agonists on short-term feeding behaviors and overall body composition.
• Melanogenesis: MT-II is used as a reference control to study the expression profile and structural variations in the MC1R receptor. As highlighted in this article, “Melanocortins in research: complete guide to Melanotan II, PT-141, afamelanotide”, the peptide’s high affinity for the melanocortin receptor allows researchers to determine baseline cAMP levels and tyrosinase activity without the need for ionizing radiation.
• Energy Homeostasis: Researchers are using MT-II to determine the effects of multi-receptor agonism on body mass regulation. As mentioned in this article, “Activation of the central melanocortin system chronically reduces body mass without the necessity of long-term caloric restriction”, MT-II is used in long-term studies to understand the mechanisms by which the melanocortin system regulates body mass and promotes sympathetic weight loss.

Current Regulatory Status

Unlike Afamelanotide (Melanotan I), which has been approved by the FDA as Scenesse® for the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria, Melanotan II has not been approved by the FDA or other global regulatory agencies for therapeutic use or as a treatment for any medical condition.

As of now, Melanotan II is an investigational research peptide, and the published scientific literature refers to MT-II as an experimental pharmaceutical agent undergoing research and development.

Melanotan II (MT-II) 10mg from Sequora Peptide is provided for Research Use Only (RUO). This product is for laboratory research and should not be used for human consumption, therapeutic use, diagnostic use, or self-administration.

Storage Guidelines 

Proper storage of MT-II 10mg is essential to ensure the stability, purity, and integrity of this peptide during lab experimentation. The following guidelines should be followed to guarantee proper MT-II storage and prevent peptide instability:

Before reconstitution

• It is advisable to store the peptide vial at 2-8°C (36-46°F) before use. 
• In addition, the MT-II vial may also be stored at –20°C (-4°F) or lower, under appropriate laboratory conditions, until it is ready for use.
• During storage, it is important to keep the vial away from heat, light, and moisture and to minimize temperature fluctuations.

After reconstitution

• It is always recommended to reconstitute MT-II using appropriate laboratory equipment and under sterile conditions. 
• A suitable laboratory solvent that has been approved for research purposes should also be used.
• The reconstituted Melanotan II must be stored at 2-8°C (36-46°F) under appropriate laboratory conditions. 
• Moreover, it is important not to subject the reconstituted peptide to multiple freezing-thawing cycles, as this can compromise its stability.
• The vial containing the reconstituted Melanotan II should be labeled with the date of reconstitution and handled in accordance with established laboratory protocols.

Best lab practices

When working with MT-II, the following guidelines should be followed:

• Use sterile laboratory equipment when reconstituting the peptide
• Avoid exposing the peptide to high temperatures
• Do not use MT-II vials that have become discolored during storage
• Only use appropriate laboratory equipment when handling MT-II
• Always follow institutional laboratory guidelines for handling the peptide
• Dispose of any unused MT-II in accordance with institutional laboratory regulations.

By adhering to the above recommendations, researchers can ensure the integrity of their peptides while also maximizing their chances of obtaining reliable lab results.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Melanotan II (MT-II) 10mg?

Melanotan II (MT-II) 10mg is a cyclic analogue of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone or α-MSH that has been developed as a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist. MT-II is often used in scientific research to study the function of the melanocortin system and its impact on various physiological processes, including pigmentation, energy metabolism, feeding behavior, and neuroendocrine function.

2. How does Melanotan II work?

Melanotan II works by binding to various types of melanocortin receptors (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R) and activating their signaling cascades, leading to increased production of melanin, regulation of receptor pharmacology, control of energy homeostasis, and other related physiological effects. Scientists are studying Melanotan II to gain a better understanding of the melanocortin system and its implications for health and disease.

3. What is Melanotan II used for?

Melanotan II is used in research settings to study the functions related to:

• Melanocortin receptor pharmacology
• Melanogenesis
• Melanocortin-1 receptor signaling
• Energy homeostasis
• Appetite regulation
• Neuroendocrine function
• UV photobiology
• Structure-activity relationship studies

These are just a few examples of the many ways that scientists might use Melanotan II in their research.

4. Is Melanotan II FDA approved?

Melanotan II is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory agency for human use or treatment of any medical condition. It is a research peptide that is only intended for use in laboratory experiments by qualified personnel.

5. Is Melanotan II the same thing as Melanotan I?

No, Melanotan II is different than Melanotan I (also called Afamelanotide or Scenesse). Both peptides were developed from alpha-MSH, but they have different amino acid sequences and target different sets of melanocortin receptors. While Melanotan I is an FDA-approved therapy for patients with EPP, Melanotan II is an investigational peptide that has not been approved by any regulatory authority.

6. Is Melanotan II (MT-II) 10mg for human use?

No, the product provided by Sequora Peptide is for Research Use Only (RUO). It is strictly for laboratory investigations and should not be used for human consumption, clinical trials, diagnostic assays, veterinary applications, or personal experimentation.

Research Use Only Disclaimer

Melanotan II (MT-II) 10mg from Sequora Peptide is for research purposes only. The peptide is not intended for human consumption, therapy, diagnosis, veterinary purposes, or self-experimentation.

Melanotan II is an investigative drug that has not received approval from the US FDA or other global regulatory agencies for human use or the treatment of any disease. Do not interpret any of the statements contained in this document as a claim related to disease diagnosis, treatment, cure, mitigation, or prevention.

The information provided on this page is solely for educational purposes and provides only a summary of research findings in scientific literature. Any mention in this document of preclinical findings, initial clinical studies, or receptor-level research details is provided for educational and scientific publishing purposes and does not support or suggest that these products are safe or effective for human use.

Researchers are responsible for ensuring this product’s purchase, storage, preparation, and use are consistent with all applicable federal, state, local, and institutional laws and regulations.

Melanotan II should only be purchased, stored, prepared, and used in a qualified laboratory by trained personnel under appropriate laboratory conditions and safety procedures.