What Is Melanotan II?

Classification and structure

Melanotan II — also written MT-2, MT2 or Melanotan 2 — is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). An agonist is a molecule that activates a receptor; MT-II is studied as a broad, non-selective agonist across the melanocortin receptor subtypes.

It originated in medicinal-chemistry work on cyclic melanotropic peptides designed to be more stable and potent than native α-MSH, and in the literature it is grouped with other melanocortin-system research peptides.

Mechanism studied in research

Research into the melanocortin system characterises these receptors as follows:

• MC1R — studied for its role in melanin-pigment signalling.
• MC3R / MC4R — central melanocortin receptors investigated in energy-balance and neural-signalling research.
• MC5R — studied in exocrine and peripheral-signalling models.

Published research characterises MT-II as a potent, non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist and examines its activity across these receptor subtypes in laboratory models.

These statements describe the published scientific record; they are not claims about any effect in humans.

Research background

Melanotan II emerged from medicinal-chemistry research on cyclic analogues of α-MSH and has since been used in laboratory studies as a reference melanocortin agonist — including work on melanocortin receptor pharmacology and, in animal models, on neuroprotective signalling. Findings are reported in the primary scientific literature listed below.

Purity, testing and handling

Lazarus Labs supplies Melanotan II as a lyophilised (freeze-dried) reference material, independently tested to 99%+ purity, with a batch Certificate of Analysis (COA) available. Lyophilised peptides are typically stored cold and protected from light, in line with standard laboratory practice for reference materials.