{"product_id":"melanotan-i","title":"Melanotan I","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMelanotan I (Afamelanotide)\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMelanotan I, also known as Afamelanotide, is a synthetic linear tridecapeptide analogue of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), developed at the University of Arizona. Unlike Melanotan II, which is a cyclic heptapeptide, Melanotan I retains the full 13-amino acid sequence of α-MSH with a single amino acid substitution ([Nle4, D-Phe7]-α-MSH) that confers enhanced potency and metabolic stability. Melanotan I is a selective MC1R agonist with significantly reduced activity at MC3R and MC4R compared to Melanotan II, making it a more selective research tool for studying MC1R-mediated pigmentation and photoprotection pathways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMechanism of Action\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMelanotan I acts as a potent, selective agonist of MC1R expressed on epidermal melanocytes. MC1R activation stimulates adenylyl cyclase via Gs-protein coupling, increasing intracellular cAMP and activating the MITF (Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor) pathway. This upregulates tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 enzyme expression, promoting the synthesis of eumelanin — the photoprotective brown-black pigment — over phaeomelanin. MC1R activation also induces DNA repair mechanisms in melanocytes, including nucleotide excision repair (NER) of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), independent of pigmentation. These dual mechanisms make Melanotan I a valuable tool for studying MC1R pharmacology, melanogenesis, and UV-induced DNA damage repair.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eResearch Applications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMC1R pharmacology and selective melanocortin receptor agonism studies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMelanogenesis, eumelanin synthesis, and MITF pathway research\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUV-induced DNA damage repair and nucleotide excision repair investigation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePhotoprotection and erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) preclinical models\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMelanocyte biology and pigmentation disorder research\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMolecular Formula:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eC₇₈H₁₁₁N₂₁O₁₉ ⋅ xC₂H₄O₂\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMolecular Weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e 1706.90 g\/mol\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCAS Number:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e1566590-77-9\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePurity:\u003c\/strong\u003e ≥98%\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForm:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lyophilised powder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStorage:\u003c\/strong\u003e -20°C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShelf Life:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24 months\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis product is intended for legitimate laboratory and analytical research use only. Not for diagnostic, therapeutic, or consumer use.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vanta Labs","offers":[{"title":"10mg","offer_id":58103429497096,"sku":"MT1-10MG","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1049\/8886\/8872\/files\/melanotan-i.png?v=1782915436","url":"https:\/\/vantalabsuk.com\/products\/melanotan-i","provider":"Vanta Labs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}