Melanotan-1 — Research Summary

Research Use Only · Not for Human or Veterinary Use

Linear melanocortin peptide analog studied for skin pigmentation, photoprotectio

Melanotan-1

An evidence summary of published preclinical research on Melanotan-1. This page is educational and summarizes findings reported in third-party scientific literature. No claims are made regarding safety or efficacy in humans.

Molecular Data

FORMULA C78H111N21O19
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 1,646.85 g/mol
SEQUENCE Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NHâ‚‚

Compound Overview

Melanotan-1 (also known as afamelanotide) is a synthetic linear analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) developed at the University of Arizona. It is a 13-amino acid peptide that activates melanocortin-1 receptors (MC1R) on melanocytes to stimulate eumelanin production. It has been the subject of clinical research for photoprotective applications and has received regulatory approval in some regions for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP).

Reported Mechanism (Preclinical)

Melanotan-1 binds to MC1R on melanocytes, activating adenylyl cyclase and increasing intracellular cAMP levels. This triggers the MITF transcription factor cascade, upregulating tyrosinase and other melanogenic enzymes that convert tyrosine to eumelanin. The resulting increase in eumelanin (the brown/black pigment) provides natural UV photoprotection. Unlike Melanotan-II, Melanotan-1 is selective for MC1R with minimal activity at MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R.

Mechanisms described above are reported in preclinical (animal and in vitro) literature and have not been established for human use.

Key Research Highlights

  • Increased skin eumelanin density and reduced UV-induced DNA damage in fair-skinned subjects (Barnetson et al., 2006)
  • Received EMA approval as Scenesse for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) in 2014
  • Demonstrated dose-dependent melanogenesis without UV exposure in phase II trials
  • Reduced actinic keratosis incidence in organ transplant recipients (Wallance et al., 2020)
  • Showed favorable safety profile across multiple clinical trials spanning over a decade

Published References

  1. Protective effect of sunless tanning with afamelanotide against UV-induced DNA damage
    Exp Dermatol, 2006
  2. Afamelanotide and narrowband UV-B phototherapy for the treatment of vitiligo
    JAMA Dermatol, 2015
  3. MC1R signaling and its protective role against UV-induced skin cancer
    Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 2018

Available for Research

Lab-tested, third-party COA published, U.S. ships same day.

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