OXIDATIVE PATHWAY RESEARCH

Melanotan II: MC Receptor Agonism in Preclinical Research

Velox Peptides Research Team·Published May 2026·5 min read
Peptide Class
Cyclic α-MSH analogue
Targets
MC1R–MC5R
Key Receptors
MC1R, MC3R, MC4R
HPLC Purity
≥99.3% (batch-verified)
For in vitro research use only. Melanotan II is supplied solely as a research reagent for in vitro use and is not for human or veterinary consumption.

What is Melanotan II?

Melanotan II (MT-2) is a synthetic, cyclic analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Its cyclic structure makes it more stable and more potent than the natural hormone, and it acts as a non-selective agonist across the melanocortin receptor family.

It is studied as a research tool for probing melanocortin-receptor pharmacology — a receptor system involved in a notably broad range of physiological pathways.

Melanocortin receptor agonism

Non-selective agonism. Melanotan II activates multiple melanocortin receptors (MC1R through MC5R). In preclinical research, MC1R activation is associated with the pigmentation pathway (melanogenesis), while MC3R and MC4R are studied for their roles in energy homeostasis and other central pathways.

Research interest in receptor selectivity. Because MT-2 engages several receptors at once, it is frequently used as a reference agonist in studies aiming to characterise or distinguish the individual contributions of MC3R and MC4R — a central question in melanocortin research.

Velox Peptides supply information

Velox Peptides supplies Melanotan II as a lyophilised powder at ≥99.3% HPLC-verified purity with a batch certificate of analysis available on request. For reconstitution, see the reconstitution calculator. Supplied strictly as a research reagent for in vitro use.

References & further reading

  1. Hadley ME, Dorr RT. “Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization.” Peptides, 2006.
  2. Wikberg JE et al. “New aspects on the melanocortins and their receptors.” Pharmacological Research, 2000.

Summaries are paraphrased from the peer-reviewed literature. For full source citations, email veloxpeps@gmail.com.

Frequently asked questions

What is Melanotan II?
Melanotan II (MT-2) is a synthetic cyclic analogue of alpha-MSH that acts as a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist. Velox Peptides supplies it as a research reagent for in vitro use only.
Which receptors does Melanotan II act on?
In preclinical models it activates the melanocortin receptor family (MC1R–MC5R), with research interest particularly in MC1R (pigmentation) and MC3R/MC4R (central pathways).
What purity is Velox Peptides Melanotan II?
Melanotan II is HPLC-verified at a minimum of 99.3% purity, with batch documentation available on request.
Is Melanotan II legal to buy in the UK?
Research peptides including Melanotan II are legal to purchase in the UK for in vitro research purposes only. They are not licensed medicines and not for human use. Velox Peptides supplies it solely as a research reagent.
Compliance statement. Velox Peptides supplies research reagents for in vitro use by qualified researchers. Every compound is sold strictly as a research reagent. No product is a medicinal product within the meaning of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. No product has been evaluated by the MHRA or FDA. No product is intended for human or veterinary consumption, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any condition. Any use outside lawful scientific research is outside the scope of sale. See our Research Use Policy and MHRA Statement.

All research summaries on this page are derived from publicly available peer-reviewed literature. Velox Peptides makes no therapeutic claims. For research use only.