What is Melanotan 1?
Melanotan 1, international name afamelanotide, is a synthetic analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). It was developed at the University of Arizona in the 1980s. Two changes from natural alpha-MSH (norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7) make it more stable and longer-acting. It acts mainly on the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) in skin pigment cells.
Melanotan 1 product specifications
- Compound: Melanotan 1 (afamelanotide, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH)
- Sequence: Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2 (13 residues)
- Molecular formula: C78H111N21O19
- Molecular weight: about 1646.9 g/mol
- Vial size: 10mg
Melanotan 1 vs Melanotan 2 and PT-141
- Melanotan 1 is linear, 13 amino acids long, and acts mainly on MC1R.
- Melanotan 2 is a shorter cyclic peptide (7 residues) that acts on several melanocortin receptors, including MC3R and MC4R in the brain.
- PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a close relative of Melanotan 2.
Regulatory status
Afamelanotide is the active ingredient of a prescription implant (Scenesse), approved in the EU in 2014 and the US in 2019 for a rare light-sensitivity disorder. This product is research material, not that medicine, and is sold for laboratory research use only. Regulators including the UK MHRA have warned the public against unlicensed tanning products sold as “Melanotan”.
Handling and research-use notice
Store and handle this material as stated on the label and certificate of analysis for your batch; see our guide to storing research peptides. This product is sold for laboratory research use only. It is not a medicine, cosmetic or tanning product and is not for human or veterinary use.
