Back to Profile

Melanotan-2

MT-II, Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2

Synthetic analogue of α-MSH that stimulates melanogenesis for skin tanning and may increase sexual arousal.

Quick Stats

Studies 3

Trials 100

Formula C₅₀H₆₉N₁₅O₉

Overview Studies 3 Clinical Trials 100

Provider

Minimum Utility

Sort By

Clear All

Utility 2

pubmed May 25, 2006

Sim1 haploinsufficiency impairs melanocortin-mediated anorexia and activation of paraventricular nucleus neurons.

Kublaoui. Bassil M BM; Holder. J Lloyd JL; Gemelli. Terry T; Zinn. Andrew R AR

This study shows that a protein called SIM1 in the brain is needed for the appetite‑blocking effects of the peptide melanotan‑2 (MTII). Mice with only one working copy of the Sim1 gene still eat a lot, even though they have higher levels of the appetite‑reducing hormone POMC, and MTII doesn’t curb their eating as well as it does in normal mice. However, MTII still raises their energy use, so the drug’s effect on metabolism stays intact.

Utility 2

pubmed Aug 8, 2016

Disruption of Gpr45 causes reduced hypothalamic POMC expression and obesity.

Cui. Jing J; Ding. Yi Y; Chen. Shu S; Zhu. Xiaoqiang X; Wu. Yichen Y; Zhang. Mingliang M; Zhao. Yaxi...

Scientists found that mice missing a brain protein called GPR45 become obese because they have less of a hormone that reduces appetite. Giving these mice a brain injection of melanotan‑2, which mimics that hormone, helped them lose weight. The study shows a link between GPR45, the appetite‑controlling hormone POMC, and obesity, but the treatment used is not practical for everyday use.

Utility 2

pubmed Sep 3, 2020

CAPS2 deficiency induces proopiomelanocortin accumulation in pituitary and affects food intake behavior in mice.

Fujima. Shuhei S; Amemiya. Natsuki N; Arima. Tomoki T; Sano. Yoshitake Y; Furuichi. Teiichi T

In mice that lack the protein CAPS2, the precursor to the appetite‑controlling hormone alpha‑MSH builds up in the pituitary, and giving them a tiny dose of melanotan‑2 (an alpha‑MSH receptor agonist) makes them eat less relative to their body weight. Normal mice don’t show this effect.