What is melanotan-2, and what is it studied for?
Melanotan-2 is a cyclic lactam heptapeptide analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, formula C50H69N15O9, mass 1024.2, designed by Hruby and colleagues in 1989 as a potent, long-acting melanotropin. Unlike melanotan-1 it is active across several melanocortin receptors, which is why it is used in receptor-mapping research and why its effects are harder to attribute to one receptor. No certificate for the current stock has been published yet; the product page says so. The material here is for in-vitro research only.
What is the structure of Melanotan-2?
Seven residues closed by a lactam bridge between aspartate and lysine side chains, with a norleucine and a D-phenylalanine, N-acetylated and C-amidated. PT-141 is the same ring with a free C-terminal acid, one dalton heavier. The D-residue and the ring geometry are not visible to mass spectrometry; a certificate confirms mass and composition.
| Identifier | Value |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C50H69N15O9 |
| Molecular weight | 1024.2 g/mol |
| Residues | 7 |
| CAS number | 121062-08-6 |
| PubChem CID | 92432 |
| Current lot | not recorded |
How is Melanotan-2 thought to work?
Agonist at MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R with little selectivity, raising cAMP in cells expressing any of them. Al-Obeidi, Hruby and colleagues designed the cyclic lactam series in 1989 on molecular-dynamics grounds; Dorr and colleagues reported a small early clinical study in 1996, which concerns a pharmaceutical candidate and is context only.
Which research areas use Melanotan-2?
| Area | Typical models and endpoints |
|---|---|
| Melanocortin receptor mapping | Binding and cAMP assays across MC1R to MC5R. |
| Melanogenesis | Melanocyte cultures with melanin readouts, compared with melanotan-1. |
| Central melanocortin signalling | Rodent hypothalamic models, often as the comparator for PT-141. |
| Cyclic peptide chemistry | A lactam-bridged, capped peptide for stability and fragmentation work. |
What does the published literature show?
Al-Obeidi et al. (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1989) described the design and potency of the cyclic lactam analogues; Dorr et al. (Life Sciences, 1996) reported a pilot phase 1 study. No melanotan-2 product is approved anywhere. Research use of the material here is in-vitro and preclinical.
How is Melanotan-2 handled in the laboratory?
Dissolves in water. Norleucine replaces the oxidation-prone methionine; the tryptophan is light-sensitive, so protect solutions. Store lyophilized at minus 20 °C; aliquot and freeze. The concentration table covers volumes and syringe units; the storage guide covers stability by compound class.
What does the current certificate show?
A laboratory certificate for the current lot has not been published yet; email support with the lot number on your vial and we will send it. Sold as 10 mg per vial at $55, for laboratory research only.
Certificate history for Melanotan-2
Every certificate the library holds for this compound, newest first. A replaced lot stays listed so the history can be read; the certificate dataset reads all 114 together.
No certificate for this compound has been published yet.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no certificate?
Because the laboratory has not yet issued one for the current stock. The product page states this, and the library will show it when it is published; ask support for the lot report before ordering.
How does melanotan-2 differ from melanotan-1?
Melanotan-1 is a linear 13-residue analogue selective toward MC1R. Melanotan-2 is a cyclic 7-residue analogue active across the receptor family. Different sequences, masses and selectivity.
How does it relate to PT-141?
PT-141 is its free-acid metabolite: the same ring with a C-terminal carboxyl instead of an amide, one dalton heavier.
References
- Al-Obeidi F, Castrucci AM, Hadley ME, Hruby VJ. Potent and prolonged acting cyclic lactam analogues of alpha-melanotropin: design based on molecular dynamics. J Med Chem. 1989;32(12):2555-2561.
- Dorr RT, Lines R, Levine N, et al. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study. Life Sci. 1996;58(20):1777-1784.
- PubChem CID 92432, Melanotan II. National Library of Medicine. Read 2 October 2026.
Clinical results cited above describe regulated trials of pharmaceutical products and are given as context for research interest only. Nothing on this page describes or recommends use of the material sold here in humans or animals.
Melanotan-2 10 mg
$55 per vial
Certificate on request
View productRelated
- PT-141 research guide · PT-141 10 mg
- Melanotan-1 research guide · Melanotan-1 10 mg
- Melanotan-1 and melanotan-2 certificates: what to check on a 10 mg vial, and why only one currently has one
- PT-141 and the melanocortin receptor family
- The melanocortin receptors, and why melanotan-1 and -2 differ
- Melanotan-1 as a research reagent: lot MT110-0318 line by line, the molar amount in 10 mg, and the regulatory status a product page should state
- Glossary of certificate terms
