Description
Structure & Identity
Melanotan 2 is a cyclic heptapeptide, a seven-amino-acid chain closed into a lactam ring. That ring is the whole design idea: by locking the peptide into a fixed shape, it resists breakdown and binds the melanocortin receptors more durably than the flexible natural hormone. It is a synthetic analog of alpha-MSH rather than a copy of it.
Research Background
Melanotan 2 research runs across the melanocortin receptor family (MC1R-MC5R), studied in pigmentation and metabolic-signaling research.
- Alpha-MSH analog. MT2 is a cyclic analog of alpha-MSH, developed alongside melanogenic-drug research [PMID: 9760697].
- Melanocortin signaling. It acts on melanocortin receptors studied in melanin-synthesis assays [PMID: 35188390].
- Metabolic signaling. It has been examined for MC-receptor metabolic-signaling readouts [PMID: 33332767].
- Metabolic research. In rat models it was linked to MC4R metabolic-signaling readouts [PMID: 15350695].
- Central signaling. Microinjection studies probed its melanocortin activity in the brain [PMID: 36155088].
These are laboratory research areas, not approved uses, and the material is supplied only to support that work.
Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
| Chemical name | Melanotan 2 (MT2), alpha-MSH analog |
| Also Known As | MT-II, MT2 |
| CAS number | 121062-08-6 |
| Molecular formula | C50H69N15O9 |
| Molecular weight | 1024.2 g/mol |
| Structure | Cyclic heptapeptide (lactam) |
| Purity | ≥99% by reverse-phase HPLC |
| Length | Cyclic 7 amino acids |
| Identity | Confirmed by ESI mass spectrometry |
| Physical form | Lyophilized powder |
| Appearance | White to off-white solid |
| Quantity | 10 mg per vial |
| Storage | -20°C, protected from light |
| Classification | Research use only |
Storage & Handling
Keep the sealed vial frozen at -20°C, out of the light, until use. After you reconstitute it, refrigerate the solution at 2-8°C and use it within about two weeks. Letting a cold vial warm to room temperature before opening cuts down on condensation, and keeping freeze-thaw cycles to a minimum helps the cyclic peptide hold its ring structure.
Quality Assurance
Melanotan 2 is manufactured under research-grade controls and verified by an independent lab before it ships. Reverse-phase HPLC sets the purity figure and mass spectrometry confirms the identity, with that testing performed by third-party laboratories, including Janoshik Analytical and domestic US labs. Each batch carries its own certificate of analysis, so the numbers apply to the exact vial you receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Melanotan 2?
Melanotan 2 (MT2) is a synthetic cyclic peptide based on alpha-MSH, the hormone that signals pigment production. It is studied in melanocortin-receptor research and is supplied for research use only.
How is Melanotan 2 different from PT-141?
Both come from melanocortin research, but they are different molecules studied for different things. MT2 research leans toward pigmentation and metabolic signaling; PT-141 (bremelanotide) research focuses on other melanocortin-receptor effects. Their structures differ too.
Why is Melanotan 2 cyclic?
Its seven amino acids are closed into a ring, which locks the molecule into a stable shape. That makes it more resistant to breakdown and a more durable research tool than the flexible natural hormone.
Which receptors does Melanotan 2 act on?
It is an agonist across melanocortin receptors, including MC1R and MC4R, which is why it appears in pigmentation and metabolic-signaling research.
Is Melanotan 2 FDA approved?
No, Melanotan 2 is not an FDA-approved drug or supplement. It is a research-use-only material and is not intended for human or veterinary use.
What is Melanotan 2’s molecular weight?
Its molecular formula is C50H69N15O9 and its molecular weight is about 1024.2 g/mol, with CAS number 121062-08-6.
How should Melanotan 2 be stored?
Store the powder frozen at -20°C and protected from light. After reconstitution for research, keep it at 2-8°C and use within about two weeks.
How is this Melanotan 2 tested?
It is verified to ≥99% purity by reverse-phase HPLC with mass-spec identity confirmation by an independent lab, and every batch includes a certificate of analysis.
References
- Melanotan II, a melanocortin agonist, in MC-receptor metabolic-signaling research. 2021. PMID: 33332767.
- The melanocortin agonist melanotan II increases metabolic signaling in OLETF rats. 2004. PMID: 15350695.
- CLIPSing Melanotan-II to Discover Multiple Functionally Selective hMCR Agonists. 2022. PMID: 35188390.
