Melanotan 2

What is Melanotan 2?

Melanotan II (MT-2) is a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It acts as a non-selective agonist of melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R), producing effects related to pigmentation, appetite suppression, and other melanocortin-mediated pathways in laboratory research models.

Melanotan 2 Structure

Melanotan 2 Research

1. Melanotan 2 and Skin Pigmentation

MT-2 binds MC1R on melanocytes, stimulating melanin production and melanogenesis. It has been used in research models investigating UV-independent pigmentation pathways.

2. Melanotan 2 and Appetite Regulation

Via MC4R agonism in the hypothalamus, MT-2 has been shown to reduce food intake and body weight in animal feeding models, making it relevant to obesity research.

3. Melanotan 2 and Melanocortin Receptor Pharmacology

As a non-selective melanocortin agonist, MT-2 is widely used as a research tool for characterising MC receptor subtype functions across various tissue systems.

Future Melanotan 2 Research

Research continues in areas of pigmentation disorders, melanoma models, energy homeostasis, and the role of central melanocortin signalling in metabolic regulation.

Melanotan 2 Resources

• Hadley ME, Dorr RT. – Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization. Peptides, 2006.
• Cone RD. – Anatomy and regulation of the central melanocortin system. Nature Neuroscience, 2005.