Melanotan I (MT-1)

Synthetic alpha-MSH analog (melanocortin peptide)

Melanotan I (MT-1) is a synthetic peptide analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a member of the melanocortin family. In the scientific literature it appears primarily in pigmentation and melanocortin-signaling research models. This page provides neutral background about the molecule as a research material and is not medical guidance and not for human or veterinary use.

Classification and structure

Classification and structure: MT-1, also referred to as afamelanotide in the research literature, is a linear synthetic peptide modeled on the endogenous ligand alpha-MSH. It is studied as an agonist at melanocortin receptors, and its sequence modifications relative to native alpha-MSH are of interest in structure-activity research. Describing a compound as 'studied in' an area is a statement about where scientific attention has gone, not a claim that it produces any result.

Areas of research

MT-1 appears in several defined areas of the research literature.

• Melanocortin signaling — Investigated in models examining melanocortin receptor interactions and downstream signaling pathways.
• Pigmentation research — Appears in the literature on melanin biology and cutaneous pigmentation models.
• Structure-activity studies — Studied in comparisons of synthetic analogs against the native alpha-MSH sequence.

As always in this library, describing a compound as “studied in” an area is a statement about where scientific attention has gone — not a claim that it produces any result in humans or animals.

Handling and verification

Store lyophilized material cold and protected from light per standard peptide handling practice. Every in-stock lot ships with a verifiable third-party certificate of analysis (COA).