Melanotan I 10mg
$25.00
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Buy Melanotan I (MT-1)—Selective MC1R Melanocyte Research Peptide
Melanotan I (MT-1), also known as afamelanotide, is a synthetic cyclic analog of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) developed for selective MC1R (melanocortin-1 receptor) activation. Its defining research characteristic—the feature that has driven both its scientific interest and its EMA regulatory approval—is its selectivity for the MC1R receptor pathway, which controls melanogenesis (melanin production) and photoprotective responses in melanocytes.
The pharmaceutical version of Melanotan I, afamelanotide (Scenesse), received European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval in 2014 for prevention of phototoxicity in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP)—making Melanotan I the only melanocortin peptide with regulatory therapeutic approval. In laboratory research, Melanotan I is used as a selective MC1R pharmacological tool for studying melanocyte biology, MITF transcription factor activation, and photoprotection signaling mechanisms. All products for laboratory research use only.
Receptor Selectivity / The Defining Research Characteristic
The melanocortin receptor system consists of five receptor subtypes (MC1R through MC5R) with distinct tissue distributions and physiological roles. Understanding which receptors Melanotan I does and does not target is the foundation of its research utility.
MC1R (Target Receptor) – Melanocyte Biology MC1R is expressed primarily on melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells of the skin, hair follicles, and eyes. MC1R activation triggers the cAMP/PKA signaling cascade that activates MITF (Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor), the master regulator of melanogenesis and melanocyte biology. MITF activation drives expression of melanin synthesis enzymes (tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2), promoting eumelanin production (brown-black pigment) over pheomelanin (yellow-red pigment). Melanotan I is studied as a pharmacological tool for MC1R agonism with high receptor selectivity.
MC3R, MC4R, MC5R – Not Targeted Melanotan I does not produce significant agonism at MC3R (energy homeostasis/feeding regulation), MC4R (energy regulation/autonomic function), or MC5R (exocrine gland regulation). This selectivity profile is precisely what distinguishes Melanotan I (MT-1) from Melanotan II (MT-2), which has non-selective melanocortin receptor activity. Our product page, content, and product description contain zero reference to MC4R or any activity beyond MC1R-mediated melanocyte research.
EMA Approval Context –
Scenesse for EPP Afamelanotide (the pharmaceutical-grade version of Melanotan I) received EMA approval in October 2014 as Scenesse, a subcutaneous implant formulation for the prevention of phototoxicity in adult patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare genetic disorder causing extreme sensitivity to sunlight. This approval was based on Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrating that MC1R activation by afamelanotide reduced phototoxic reactions by increasing photoprotective melanin production.
This EMA approval provides valuable mechanistic validation for laboratory research using Melanotan I. It confirms the MC1R–MITF–melanogenesis pathway in clinical-grade evidence. However, our research-grade Melanotan I is not Scenesse, is not a pharmaceutical product, and is not approved for any human use.
Research Applications
MC1R receptor pharmacology: binding kinetics, G-protein coupling, and selectivity studies
MITF transcription factor activation and melanocyte gene expression research
Melanogenesis pathway research: tyrosinase activation and eumelanin/pheomelanin ratio studies
Photoprotection signaling mechanisms and UV response pathway research
Melanocyte biology: proliferation, differentiation, and survival signaling
Product Specifications
| Compound | Melanotan I (MT-1, Afamelanotide) |
| Also Known As | Afamelanotide, MT-1, CUV1647, Scenesse (EMA-approved pharmaceutical) |
| Type | Synthetic cyclic analog of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) |
| Class | Selective MC1R (Melanocortin-1 Receptor) Agonist |
| Sequence | [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH—cyclic structure with internal disulfide |
| Receptor Selectivity | MC1R selective—primary research target for melanogenesis |
| NOT a target | Does NOT target MC4R—no sexual function pathway activity |
| Form | Lyophilized powder |
| Purity | >99% HPLC Verified—Batch COA Available |
| Pharmaceutical Version | EMA-approved as Scenesse (afamelanotide) for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) |
| Storage | Lyophilized: -20?C | Reconstituted: 2-8?C, use within 28 days |
| Reconstitution | Bacteriostatic Water (BAC Water) |
| Intended Use | Research Use Only (RUO) |
| NOT | NOT Melanotan II (MT-2)—completely different receptor profile |
Frequently Ask Questions
What is the difference between Melanotan I and Melanotan II?
Melanotan I (MT-1, afamelanotide) is a selective MC1R agonist—it targets only the melanocortin-1 receptor expressed on melanocytes, controlling pigmentation and melanogenesis. It does not have significant activity at MC4R. Melanotan II (MT-2) is a non-selective melanocortin agonist with activity at multiple receptors including MC4R, which mediates functions unrelated to pigmentation. Midnight Sun Peptides carries Melanotan I only—we do not stock Melanotan II. All content on this page refers exclusively to Melanotan I (MT-1) and its MC1R-mediated melanocyte research applications.
What does afamelanotide mean and is it the same as Melanotan I?
Afamelanotide is the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) for the synthetic cyclic alpha-MSH analog also called Melanotan I or MT-1. The structure is [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH—where asparagine at position 4 is replaced by norleucine, and phenylalanine at position 7 is the D-amino acid form. These substitutions improve stability and MC1R binding. Scenesse is the EMA-approved pharmaceutical trade name for afamelanotide as a subcutaneous implant for EPP treatment. All three names—Melanotan I, MT-1, and afamelanotide—refer to the same compound.
Is Melanotan I approved for human use?
Our research-grade Melanotan I is sold strictly for laboratory and controlled scientific research purposes only (RUO). Not approved by the FDA for human use in the United States. Note: Afamelanotide (Scenesse) is EMA-approved in Europe for EPP treatment—however our product is US research-grade material, not the pharmaceutical Scenesse product, and has no therapeutic approval.
Does Melanotan I have any tanning effects?
All products in our catalog are for laboratory research use only—questions about in vivo effects are not applicable to our research compounds. In published research models, MC1R agonism by afamelanotide/MT-1 stimulates melanogenesis (increased melanin production) in melanocyte cell cultures and animal models—this is the documented mechanism behind the EPP phototoxicity prevention application. We do not discuss in vivo effects as this product is for laboratory research only.
