Melanotan-2 Research Overview
MC1R and MC4R receptor pharmacology, published preclinical findings, and what researchers should know about reconstitution and stability.
Melanotan-2 (MT-2) is a synthetic cyclic analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It is one of the most-cited melanocortin agonists in preclinical literature, with published research spanning pigmentation biology, sexual behavior in rodents, and appetite regulation.
1. Receptor profile
MT-2 is a non-selective agonist of the melanocortin receptor family. Binding studies show meaningful activity at MC1R (skin pigmentation), MC3R and MC4R (central appetite and sexual behavior circuits), with weaker activity at MC5R.
- MC1R: Drives melanogenesis in cutaneous melanocytes — the most-published endpoint in MT-2 rodent studies.
- MC4R: CNS receptor implicated in appetite suppression and, in male rodent models, spontaneous erectile response.
2. Published preclinical findings
Rodent and in-vitro literature has characterized MT-2 as producing dose-dependent increases in eumelanin synthesis, dose-dependent reductions in food intake in fasted animals, and pro-erectile effects in male rat models mediated centrally via MC4R rather than peripherally. These studies inform mechanistic research design, not human application.
3. Reconstitution and stability
| Parameter | Standard practice in literature |
|---|---|
| Diluent | Bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol) |
| Reconstituted concentration | 1 mg / mL is a common working stock |
| Storage (lyophilized) | 2–8 °C, desiccated, protected from light |
| Storage (reconstituted) | Refrigerated, used within ~30 days |
| Freeze-thaw | Aliquot; avoid repeated cycles |
4. Purity considerations
MT-2 is a small cyclic peptide that is comparatively straightforward to synthesize, so vials on the market at very different price points can genuinely differ in purity. HPLC ≥ 99% with mass-spec identity is the benchmark and should be verified per batch, not per product line.
Ready to source it?
Every peptide referenced in this guide ships with a batch-specific third-party COA.